Darius Namdar
As Group Cigar Sommelier of The Birley Clubs, Director of Mark’s Club and winner of the 2018 World Habanosommelier Championship, Darius Namdar’s a bit of an overachiever in the epicurean side of smoking. Who better then to guide us through the smoke-veiled world of cigars?
It can be a daunting task to venture into the world of cigars. As with most things, you can read and learn as much as you like, but ultimately a personal preference will prevail. My suggestion is always to try, test and taste. What I mean by this is do not be afraid to make your own verdict, and you can only do so by stepping out of your comfort zone.
Firstly, I would highly recommend experiencing as many different brands as you can. As with wine, you will soon learn what aromas and flavours suit your palate. Experiment with strengths and at different times of the day. It is important to remember that before smoking a cigar you should consider what you have eaten, as this will determine what you can stomach. If you are between meals it may be best to choose something on the lighter end of the strength spectrum. If you have had dinner and have the rest of the evening to enjoy one, treat yourself to something stronger.
A fine cigar should be enjoyed in fine surroundings, be it Mark’s Club (above) or Annabel’s (below) © Images: Paul Griffiths
The smoke experience of a cigar will also vary with its shape, which is often cooler or rounder with longer or wider ring gauge cigars; becoming hotter or more concentrated with shorter, thinner cigars.
It is common for those who are not as familiar with cigar smoking to opt for a milder cigar. With time and practice you can actually start to tell the difference in body and strength between different cigar brands. Strengths range between five core categories from light to full. The colour of the wrapper does not in fact confirm the strength of the filler. A darker wrapper from higher up the tobacco plant – which has spent more time in fermentation – actually tends to leave a light sweetness to taste.
Caption: A cigar can be enjoyed from 15 minutes to two hours, so make sure you have the time to savour your selection.
The first question we ask members of Mark’s Club, who are looking to smoke a cigar, is “how much time do you have?” From this we can gauge (no pun intended) the size of the smoke. This can range from 15 minutes to two hours, so make sure you allow enough time to relax and enjoy the full cigar. Remember that a Cuban cigar will develop and strengthen as it draws to a close, as is the characteristic of premium-rolled Habanos.
Also consider your comfort when smoking… would you rather be on a terrace like that at Mark’s Club, or in a sampling room like the one at Annabel’s? Both suit different times of day and weather, but either way it is nice to have options. If you are on an exploratory mission, really try to find that defining feature of the cigar you are enjoying, so next time you have the same one you can recognise that hallmark within it. Eventually you will be able to recognise a brand and therefore the exact cigar with great assurance, which is an incredibly satisfying experience.
Once you have found your preferred brand, start to look in to the limited and regional editions, as you will be pleasantly surprised at some new shapes and sizes to your new favourite marque, and will also enjoy the treasure hunt of tracking them down when travelling. If you are enjoying cigars at home, invest in either a pair of premium cigar cutters like those made by Solinger, or a single blade guillotine cutter, which you can find at any cigar shop. Double blade cutters are also very popular – in my personal opinion they can cause the tobacco to pinch together at the centre when the two blades meet, but many expert smokers rely on them. Make sure not to cut below the cap line, which may result in unravelling the cigar.
For lighting the cigar you have several options, from the traditional cigar splints made of cedar wood, or from flavourless butane jet lighters for speed and consistency of heat direction. Concentrate on heating, not scorching the tobacco. Start with the outer leaves which are from lower down the plant and easier to burn, then work your way to the centre which holds the richer and stronger leaves. If it is your own cigar of course you can gently blow on the foot and observe the even glow of light you have made.
London has some of the best cigar sommeliers and specialist tobacconists in the world, so use their expert knowledge as much as you can. They will be able to both guide and talk you through the aromas and tastes you might be experiencing. Edward and Eddie Sahakian at Davidoff St James’ is, I believe, where the distance of the rest of London’s landmarks are measured from.
A final important tip… pick who you smoke with – with care!
