INTRODUCTION
May I start 2016, and our second year, by
wishing all our readers a very Happy New
Year. I trust your Christmas stockings were
filled with all the cigars you asked for..
We have arrived at our January issue revitalised
after our Christmas break and committed
to delivering you more quality stories and
information about the burgeoning UK Cigar Scene.
Some 12 months after I first read this story, I
am thrilled to be able to bring the first part of
the amazing life story of Hugh Cecil Lowther,
sometimes called the Yellow Earl, otherwise The
Earl of Lonsdale, to the readers of UK Cigar Scene.
One of only three men to have had a cigar named
after him, to say he lead a colourful life would
be one of the understatements of the year. I am
delighted that Robert Jarman the Founder and
Editor of the Vintage Magazine has agreed to allow
us to reprint this wonderful story.
Rather than a video interview this month we have
created the first of what will be a short series of
technical videos for cigar lovers. We have started
with cutting a cigar. We selected the four most
popular cutter types and we trust you will find it
instructive and informative.
The 2016 Habanos Festival at the end of February
will mark the 50th Anniversary of the creation
of Cohiba so we thought it was time to tell the
story of the world’s most famous cigar brand. It’s
a fascinating tale and one of huge success when
you consider that the best known cigars were only
created 50 years ago.
I am particularly delighted by the cigar reviews
this month, If I drop this month’s two cigars into a
league table of all the cigars we have reviewed they
come out at no 2 and No 3. One of the reviewers
even wanted the date and box code so that he
could buy a box; he liked the cigar so much. I don’t
think you can say fairer than that.
We have many more articles which we hope
you will enjoy but I am extremely happy to be
able to include our item on the smoking haunts
and stores of Edinburgh. This came following a
social media ‘shout out’ from one of our readers
who asked about places to buy and enjoy cigars
in Edinburgh. Luckily another of our readers
happened to be in Edinburgh for his Christmas
break and was happy to do a little research
and pen a short article. I love it when the cigar
‘brotherhood’ can answer a call for help.
So I trust you will all enjoy the January Issue as
you ‘detox’ with your favourite cigar and a small
whisky.
Nic Wing
Proprietor and Editor
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