UK Cigar Scene Magazine January Issue 13 | Page 25

Daniel Marshall’s Whisky Tasting Cigar
Daniel Marshall was in London at the beginning of December for the launch and first ever
showcasing of a unique cigar created in collaboration with Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch
Whisky.
Whilst I’m familiar with Daniel Marshall cigars
having smoked a few of his sticks, his Torpedo
being a particular favourite, I’d not had the
pleasure of meeting him before this evening and
was very much looking forward to that as I made
my way down to London.
The evening was held at Cigars at No.10, one of
the finest cigar venues in London and winners
of the acclaimed Spectator ‘Best Cigar Terrace/
Lounge 2014’ Award, and hosted by Daniel himself
alongside Joel Eastman, Commercial Whisky
Specialist from William Grant & Sons with an
invited audience of cigar and Whisky specialists
including Whisky Quarterly Magazine Editor
Sir Colin Hampden-White, Habib Khan and
Mr. Osman of JJ Fox/Harrods, Simon Selkin of
Robusto House, Ike Latif of Hotel Rafayel London
and a brief visit from cigar and whisky lover
Nancy Dell’Olio
Daniel’s introduction told of his love of London.
After taking his first humidor to Alfred Dunhill in
1982 where his work was critically inspected and
rejected. Daniel went away and fixed every last
detail in order to present the humidor for a second
review. The rest, as they say is history, and a long
and successful relationship followed.
The cigar was a three tier Churchill (7” x 48G)
specifically created by Daniel along with master
blenders Manuel Quesada and Nestor Plasencia in
Nicaragua. Rolled in Nicaragua the cigar features
three different wrapper tobaccos. As the cigar is
smoked the three different wrapper tobaccos, each
chosen to complement a particular expression of
the Glenfiddich, bringing different flavours to each
specific whisky profile.
The DM Red Label Churchill Whisky Tasting Cigar
The first section, about an inch in length, is
wrapped in a Equadorian Connecticut Shade
wrapper grown in 2010. Designed to complement
The Glenfiddich 12 Year Old. The milder tasting
wrapper is perfect pairing with the Glenfiddich 12
Year Old complimenting its subtle oak tones and
delicate fresh fruit notes.

The second section has been chosen to
complement one of my favourite from their range,
The Glenfiddich 18 Year Old, features a Broadleaf
Maduro wrapper leaf grown in Pennsylvania USA
in 2010. The maduro wrapper brings out a rich
sweet flavour reminiscent of the richer, sweeter
honey and fruit notes in the Glenfiddich 18 Year
Old
The remainder of the cigar has been created with
The Glenfiddich 21 Year Old in mind, using an
Indonesian Sun Grown wrapper leaf grown in
Sumatra in 2010. The extra maturity and subtly
smooth flavours of the 21 Year Old expression
requires a cigar with something extra. The Sun
Grown Sumatra wrapper gives this section of
the cigar increased spice and complexity which
complement the Glenfiddich 21 with its more
intense oak and baking spice notes.
The cigar is, as previous experience has proven,
exceptionally well crafted burning evenly
throughout the tasting. The favour profile changes
were clearly noted, working in harmony which
each of the whiskies selected, although with five
inches of Sun Grown wrapper you will need to
sip the 21 Year Old slowly or have a spare bottle to
hand ‘just in case’
DM Red Label Cigars are available from Boisdales
Canary Wharf, Davidoff St James’s Street and
Edward Sahakian Lounge at the Bulgari Hotel. You
can also find the Daniel Marshall Golden Cigar
in JJ Fox St James’s Street, and in Harrods and
Selfridges.

A full gallery of images from the evening is
available at www.ukcigarscene.com/?p=1739
Dave Worthington is the author of the
www.whiskydiscovery.com/blog
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