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CIGARS

Much richer, less crass, more acceptable and aristocratic is the decent hand-rolled Cuban cigar, that clearly stands way above that of the common cigarette, and other cigars of its time.

From the famous, (on in the case of America, infamous), Habanos, to the American alternative of the 5 Vegas Miami, Romeo y Juliet seems to be the most favoured flavour illegally imported across the US boarder, or purchased legally in the UK and Europe.

Sir Winston Churchill first made a name for RyJ during World War II. He smoked them constantly with his brandy, so much so that they named a collection after him. The Churchill' cigar became his trademark and has a fine, romantic and enticing taste, that rolls around your mouth as you gently suck through the medium, carefully and tightly wrapped leaves, drawing the exceptional taste in, leaning back and allowing it to fester gently, before slowly exhaling, allowing the aroma to fill the room and the taste to gently surround your palettes, to then be renewed, (not increased, as with cigarettes), as you repeat the same illustrious process again and again.

Since the days of Sir Walter Raleigh, many have been thankful over the pond for his foresight in the introduction of such a fabulous pastime.

Amongst those that introduced Britain to cigars, one cannot help but recognise the American involvement. Some of the oldest and finest families in the States have been involved in the slow, but worthwhile fermentation process that, for a good cigar, can take as much as forty-five days to complete.

In recognition of their wonderful achievement, I name Edgar M. Cullman, who is chairman of the General Cigar Company in New York. His family produce the Macanudo, Partagas, Temple Hall, Ramon Allones cigars and the Garcia y Vega, but unfortunately the brand is machine-made and therefore, in my opinion, not as good as that of the hand-rolled cigars of both the past and present.

Zino Davidoff was born into a Jewish tobacco family and became the founder of Davidoff et Cie. in Geneva, now offering a wider range of products but not the original Henri Davidoff cigar of his father's time.

There are several others, but as with most things in both America and Europe, we now use machines to manufacture that which was perfect by hand, but now is cheaper and easier with modern technology.

Cigars are an International heritage that should be protected by every country as a sacred rite. Churchill once said:

"My rule of life prescribes as an absolutely scared rite, smoking cigars and also the drinking of alcohol before, after, and if need be, during all meals and in the intervals between them."

Learn more about this author, Richard E. Grant.
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