Here is your guide to cigars and cigar accessories for a simply successful Christmas party season. Whether you are hosting a lavish ball, a guest at a prestigious party at a London hotel, or mingling with your colleagues at your office Christmas party, you will want to be properly prepared – from your choice of cuff links and bow tie to the cigars you carry with you.

The venue

If you are organising the event, you will want your fellow guests to have the luxury of indulging in cigars in a comfortable environment. Fortunately there are now a wealth of London hotels offering a diverse selection of dedicated areas for cigar smokers, from opulent terraces to sumptuous lounges. Identifying the venue that will best suit your requirements could never be easier with Simply Cigars’ Cigar Venue & Guide App which allows you to explore many different styles of venue and the facilities they offer the cigar aficionado. Not only that, but Simply Cigars’ app goes one step further and tells you all about the wonderful offerings each venue has, from cocktail specialities to extensive ranges for the whisky connoisseur as well as a Cuban cigar Pronunciation Guide.

The Venue & Guide app is also invaluable if you are a guest at a party in a London hotel, as it provides you with a sneak preview of their facilities and allows you to plan your cigar requirements in advance and peruse Simply Cigars‘ online store to find the perfect cigars for the occasion.

Cigar selection

You will, no doubt, have your own favourite cigar for different occasions, but it is worth reviewing a few considerations for the Christmas party season:

• When in prestigious surroundings, you will want to project a stylish and confident demeanour, which is why choosing a Cuban cigar will give you that edge. Arguably reputed to be the best in the world, there is no denying the exceptional quality and choice of unique strengths and flavours. Simply Cigars has one of the most extensive selections of Cuban cigars, so you can be assured of finding the perfect cigar for your occasion.
• If you plan to share you cigars around, take into account the palate of your peers and choose accordingly. Hoyo de Monterey fall into the stronger category; Partagas are medium with a robust, spicy flavour and Romeo y Julieta are rich with a lighter spice; whilst Fonseca and Guantanamera offer a milder and lighter bodied smoke. If you cant make your mind up consider buying a cigar sampler.
• Will you be lounging around with your fellow cigar aficionados, or be keen to get back to the throng of the party? This will help you select the most appropriate vitola for your cigars: depending upon the size, it could be savoured for a couple of hours, take 30-45 minutes to smoke, or you could choose a petit corona for a shorter 30 minute experience. Alternatively you could try a Cuban small pack which are ideal to share around.

Don’t forget to accessorise

There are many rituals involved in cigar smoking from removing them from their case or tube, to cutting the end and lighting the cigar. For this you will want to select your own individual style of tools that reflect your personality:

• Tube or case? This is entirely a personal choice as both will keep the cigars in top condition when travelling. The tube affords you the opportunity to reinforce the quality of the brand of cigar you are carrying; whilst the case allows you to display your own unique style by way of the design and finish of the case. Simply Cigars has an impressive selection of luxury cigar cases to accommodate a multitude of different vitolas; utilising the finest quality leathers.
• What type of cigar cutter will you carry? A guillotine, a lightweight pair of cigar scissors, a V-shape for smaller ring cigars or a punch cutter for a deep circular cut? Whichever you prefer, you will find an array of clever design details on many of Simply Cigars’ cutters which can, literally, give you the cutting edge.
• Finally, what does your cigar lighter say about you? Perhaps you might choose satin polished chrome, diamond and silver, black lacquer or even the Lamborghini. The possibilities are endless.

Make a gift of it

Well, it is the Christmas party season, so if you are exchanging gifts with good friends, work colleagues or relatives and they love the occasional or frequent cigar, then what better choice than a luxury cigar gift? This could possibly be the perfect end to the perfect Christmas party.