London’s Wellesley Hotel Opens Cigar Lounge

What could be more decadently luxurious that a place where you can enjoy whiskey, cigars and cool jazz? That’s what you’ll find at the Cigar Lounge soon to open at London’s posh Wellesley Hotel.

This sophisticated new nightspot combines vintage 1920s ambiance with contemporary luxury, plus it has the UK’s largest bespoke humidor. To add to the appeal, the Wellesley’s Crystal Bar has one of the city’s finest assortments of whiskeys, cognacs and wines.

The Jazz Room will be hosting live performances every night, and this is sure to be one of London’s top after-dark destinations.


Civil Lounge Opens This Month in Chevy Chase

There will soon be a new spot in the Washington D.C. area where cigar lovers can enjoy their favorite smokes and spirits, plus delicious food. The Civil Lounge opening in mid-November in the Chevy Chase Pavilion will offer cigars and libations as well as small plates from celebrity chef Bryan Voltaggio’s nearby Range restaurant.

Lounge co-owner John Anderson told the Washingtonian that the menu “could include a Cuban sandwich, salads, soups and charcuterie made at Range.” What could be better with a premium cigar than a Cuban sandwich and an ice-cold beer?


How to Be a HabanoSommelier

Most of us are familiar with the word sommelier when it describes an expert on wine that recommends wines in a restaurant and can provide tips on which to choose with a particular dish.

There’s also a category of expert known as a HabanoSommelier—an expert on recommending and adding to your enjoyment of cigars. One such expert is Peter Dobrontei, bar manager of the Hotel du Vin Harrogate in London. Dobrontei has been chosen to represent the UK at the International HabanoSommelier finals that will be taking place in February during the annual Cigar Festival in Havana, Cuba.

Contestants will be judged on their knowledge of cigars as well as their ability to recommend the best cigar for various occasions. There will be a written exam plus role-play that will show the contestants’ skill in cutting, lighting a serving cigars. 

Peter commented on the competition: “The exam covered topics including Cuban tobacco farming techniques, cigar production, vitolas (sizes), tastes, flavours and service.

“I’ve worked at Hotel du Vin for a number of years now and that experience definitely helped me through this process. I can’t wait to compete for the international title amongst the best in this field.”

Good luck, Peter!

Keep the conversation going and meet us on Facebook or Twitter.