Cigars to savour
The Field|January 2020
Churchill likened smoking one to falling in love; lighting a cigar certainly adds an air of celebration
Ettie Neil-Gallacher
Cigars to savour

They’re a totem of celebration, a symbol of success. It’s striking that cigars have retained their popularity, having somehow escaped the social persecution and prim disapproval meted out to cigarettes. Perhaps it’s because, even if you’re more than comfortably off, sitting down with a fat Cohiba is still a treat. But why is this? What is it that sets it apart from the humble fag?

We’re not really comparing like with like. Cigarettes are effectively a mass-produced, quick nicotine hit while cigars are an organic luxury. “It starts with the product,” explains Eddie Sahakian of Davidoff. “They’re very different. There’s a shared provenance, of course, but cigars are a pure item of high quality, which take years to produce.” Whilst there are lowgrade and machine-made cigars, what we’re talking about here are the real thing: from the hallowed terroirs of Cuba in particular but also those made in the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua, involving a complex, protracted process during which tobacco leaves are harvested, cured and fermented before being rolled by hand.

This story is from the January 2020 edition of The Field.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the January 2020 edition of The Field.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE FIELDView All
The apple of your eye
The Field

The apple of your eye

With scores to choose from in the UK, there is a delicious apple variety for everyone - and now is the ideal time to start thinking about planting one

time-read
3 mins  |
October 2023
Art in the field
The Field

Art in the field

Being able to study her subjects as she races alongside them has informed Belinda Sillars work, as she explains to Janet Menzies

time-read
3 mins  |
October 2023
A silvered sword from the Saxon armoury
The Field

A silvered sword from the Saxon armoury

With weaponry from the electoral court, the more silver on show, the higher the rank of the owner

time-read
2 mins  |
October 2023
Nicole Moore
The Field

Nicole Moore

The Shooting Girl With An Afro blogger explains her passion for fieldsports and outlines the importance of sharing skills and knowledge with newcomers

time-read
3 mins  |
October 2023
'Probably the greatest detective in the world'
The Field

'Probably the greatest detective in the world'

For 100 years, on page and screen, Hercule Poirot has captivated audiences around the globe with his supreme intellect and peculiar eccentricities

time-read
8 mins  |
October 2023
View from a Bridgerton
The Field

View from a Bridgerton

They were the 18th-century version of a drinks trolley and now hunt tables are popular once again, partly due to Regency-period television dramas

time-read
7 mins  |
October 2023
A brush with history
The Field

A brush with history

Britain is world renowned for its contribution to hair care and grooming, and, as its oldest firms will testify, heirlooms come in many forms

time-read
7 mins  |
October 2023
Practically perfect
The Field

Practically perfect

From modest origins, the gilet has evolved into a sporting wardrobe staple, combining function and fashion to become a status symbol in its own right

time-read
7 mins  |
October 2023
Best laid plans
The Field

Best laid plans

The ancient craft of hedgelaying is playing a central role in efforts to restore the balance of nature on our farms

time-read
7 mins  |
October 2023
Under the spell of spaniels
The Field

Under the spell of spaniels

Our favourite working breed comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, all of which have successfully carved out their own special niche in British sport

time-read
7 mins  |
October 2023