SMOKING SECTION

At The Connaught, an age-old pastime is undergoing a renaissance; the measured pleasure of a perfect cigar. Tom Chamberlin meets Master Of Havana Adam Lajca for a frank discussion over a couple of ‘Wide Churchills’ Smoke and Mirrors

Photography by

RACHEL LOUISE BROWN

Despite legislative shackles, crop shortages and supply challenges, cigar-smoking is on the rise. Lockdown can take some of the credit: time indoors, working from home and reprioritising the ways we ll our days turned people on to

Cuba’s most combustible export. But it is not just a private passion: the hospitality industry has embraced cigars too. In the past two years luxury hotels and private members’ clubs have considered how they can be smoked in their establishments. At older counterparts, solutions are being sought to align with demand. e relatively new notion of a cigar sommelier has also entered the fray. e Masters of Havana Cigars exam by UK importers Hunters & Frankau has become as crucial as the bunch-of-grapes lapel pin for wine sommeliers. e Connaught is launching an extraordinary cigar sampling room for guests and friends: a dedicated space with a groundbreaking extraction system, marble ttings and elegant smoke lled glass tables. Overseeing this new arrival is Master of Havana

Adam Lajca. He understands how cigars bring something uplifting and inviting to hotels, and welcomes experienced and novice smokers alike. And he has amassed a collection that includes treasures akin to those from Sierra Madre or Sutton

Hoo.

TOM CHAMBERLIN: HOW DOES THE CONNAUGHT’S NEW ROOM DEAL WITH SMOKE? Adam Lajca: e Red Room bar is next door to the Merchants, so it’s vital to have a good extraction system. After much research, we selected the Swiss brand Airkel, which is extraordinarily clever. It will have thousands of holes in the oor and ceiling, the air will constantly be sent through the oor sending the smoke to the ceiling, to be extracted without any draught. Genius!

The Connaught selection boasts over 250 types of Cuban cigars limited edition. For me, having Trinidad Fundadores Gold Band is incredibly special.

THE ART OF CIGAR SMOKING. WHAT MAKES IT SO SPECIAL? It is always intriguing to hear the stories that people associate with the romance of cigars. I once met a man who spotted a cigar on the shelves that was exactly the same, including the year, as the first cigar he ever smoked with his son. That was a special moment and is the kind of memory that a great cigar can evoke.

WHICH CIGAR BRAND IS UNDERAPPRECIATED? It has to be Ramon Allones and San Cristobal de la Habana. Both brands age incredibly well and are great straight out of the box, but they are very often overlooked by most cigar connoisseurs. If you are a fan of full strength longer smokes, try Ramon Allones Gigantes. If your preferences are lighter, little, shorter smokes San Cristobal La Fuerza will be a great pick.

WHICH PAIRINGS OF CIGARS AND DRINKS DO YOU RECOMMEND? Some of my favourites are: Partagas D4 Reserva paired with blanc de blancs Champagne. Cohiba 1966 Limited Edition 2011 with old vintage Armagnac. Partagas Piramides Limited Edition 2000 with Macallan London Edition. Trinidad Esmeralda with vintage rum.

WHAT WAS THE FIRST CIGAR YOU EVER SMOKED? San Cristobal La Fuerza – a cigar I come back to often. San Cristobal is a slightly niche brand but one of my favourites. I don’t think new smokers are as adventurous as they could be. But that’s part of my job: to help people discover brands; to understand their tastes and expand their horizons.

WHAT IS THE NEXT BIG CIGAR TREND? I predict, people will become more adventurous and explore different shapes, sizes and colours. They will choose sizes which have fallen out of popularity such as long, slender ring cigars.

HOW CRUCIAL IS HUNTERS & FRANKAU? We are so lucky in how supportive they have been. Hunters & Frankau have a long-standing relationship with Cuba, which helps for supply and means the UK is in a much better position than a lot of other countries.

There’s a box of Cohiba Siglo VI Gran Reserva, the greatest cigar ever made DO YOU SEE THE CIGAR MERCHANTS LIKE A CLUB? Absolutely. I know guests who will come in every day. It’s so important that it feels like a second home. Ultimately, to operate the finest hotels in the world, you have to not just have strong Wi-Fi in every room, but also a world class cigar lounge. GIVEN GLOBAL SHORTAGES, HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE IT IS WELL STOCKED? Having been in the industry for a long time and having a strong network means that exclusive and exciting opportunities come our way. And of course, we seek them out! We will always aim to have one of the finest selections in London, with Gran Reservas, Reservas, limited editions and regional cigars.

WHICH CIGARS WILL YOU HAVE AVAILABLE THAT ARE PARTICULARLY RARE? There will be a box of Cohiba Siglo VI Gran Reserva, considered to be the greatest cigar ever made. I can’t even reveal how I got them - it’s part of the magic! But we have Cohiba Sublimes, Ramon Allones 225 and the Cohiba Piramides WHAT MAKES A GOOD CIGAR SOMMELIER? Knowledge is good but listening is so much more important. It’s also crucial to try lots of pairings. When you travel and meet experts, they amaze you with pairings that, on paper, look terrible – but when you try them, they’re absolute perfection. M Cigars will range from £35-£2000. See the-connaught.co.uk for more information about our extensive new cigar menu