The festive season is the perfect excuse to indulge in a fine cigar. Whether you’re attending a glamorous black-tie event, hosting a family gathering, or enjoying a fireside dram with friends, the right cigar — and the right accessories — can make the moment truly memorable. Here are a few things to consider when choosing…
Category: Guide to Cigars
The Most Common Humidor Problems (and How to Fix Them)
Every cigar smoker invests in a humidor with the same goal: to keep cigars fresh, flavoursome, and ready to enjoy. Yet many smokers find themselves disappointed, often because of poor humidor design or simple mistakes in use. Here are the most common cigar humidor problems we see in the UK — and the straightforward solutions to fix…
How to Identify Cuban Cigars by Their Box Codes
For cigar lovers, there’s more to a Cuban box than the cigars inside. Flip a cedar box over and you’ll find a series of codes, stamps, and seals that tell a fascinating story: where the cigars were rolled, when they were packed, and whether they’re truly Totalmente a Mano (totally handmade). For collectors, dating and decoding Cuban…
The Story of the Aluminium Cigar Tube
Aluminium cigar tubes are as much a part of the Havana cigar world as cedar boxes and glass-fronted humidors. Today, tubed cigars are a familiar sight in every UK humidor, prized for their protection and presentation. But few smokers know the story behind the humble tube — or the eccentric character who brought it into…
Common Cigar Smoking Faux Pas (and How to Avoid Them)
Whether you’re a newcomer to the world of Havanas or a seasoned aficionado, there are a few habits that can quickly mark you out as inexperienced. Cigar smoking is meant to be a pleasure — unhurried, refined, and social. Avoiding these common faux pas not only improves your own experience but also earns you respect…
A Cigar-Lovers’ Guide to Surviving the Wedding Season
Wedding season is upon us — a time of champagne toasts, black-tie celebrations, and long evenings of dancing. For the cigar aficionado, these events also present the perfect opportunity to savour a fine smoke, celebrate in style, and even introduce friends to the ritual. But navigating weddings with cigars requires a little planning and a…
Should I Decant Wine & Spirits?
There’s nothing better than an evening of good company, good conversation, a fine cigar — and, of course, a glass of something special. But the question often arises: how should you serve your whisky or wine? Neat, on the rocks, or in a decanter? Are decanters classy? Pretentious? Necessary? Or pointless? The answer, as with…
What makes Cuban cigars so great?
Ask any aficionado to name the finest cigars in the world and you’ll almost always hear the same answer: Habanos. Cuban cigars have become the global benchmark, admired for their craftsmanship, tradition, and unmistakable flavour. But what is it that makes them so special — and why do UK smokers, in particular, hold them in such…
The UK’s Top-Selling Cuban Cigar Brands
With over 25 years of trading, Simply Cigars has built a reputation for offering continuity in quality, flavour, and character. Every Cuban cigar we sell has been aged for a minimum of 18 months and carries the trusted EMS certification — a guarantee of authenticity. It’s said that each Cuban cigar passes through over 222 meticulous…
The Origins of Cigar Aficionado
When Cigar Aficionado first hit newsstands in September 1992, few could have predicted it would grow into the world’s best-selling cigar magazine and the ultimate authority on cigar culture. Part glossy lifestyle publication, part insider’s guide to the cigar world, it brought luxury, celebrity, and Cuban mystique together in a way no magazine had attempted before. Published…