Wyndham Grand Cigar Launch

As promised the 'feedback' from the Hunters & Frankau launch of two 2009 UK Regional Editions: the Choix de L’Époque from El Rey del Mundo and the Selección Suprema from Juan Lopez at the new Cigar bar and terrace at the Wydham Grand (the Conrad at Chelsea Harbour as was).
OK, so, the 'where', Chelsea Harbour - generally considered a pain to get to unless you live arround the corner or work on the doorstep - which in all likelyhood means you'll be something to do with the world of interior design as Chelsea Harbour is pretty much the hub of soft furnishings and wallpapers in London. It's pretty much at the bottom of the New Kings Road, so no tube but cabbies are very happy to take you there and, thanks to the locals and the Hotel plentiful to get you home; car parking is also plentiful - a rarity in this neck of the woods! I took the 'healthy' option and cycled over from SE1 (35 mins flat run along the river).
The hotel itself is undergoing a significant make over, part of which is the new penthouse bar with smoking terrace open to non-guests.
Generally, the interior, I would suggest, is a 'work in progress - looking a little 'corporate' and soulless at present but it has a compact but well stocked bar with attentive staff (this is also intended as the VIP bar so to be expected). One thing missing was a 'proper' selection of cigars. Currently there is a single cabinet with a restricted selection of what I would consider the 'standards', a few Cohibas and other Cubans in limited sizes - the cabinet of a hotel that knows they should have cigars, rather than one that has a passion for them. My suggestion, at present, is don't forget to bring your own smokes.

The smoking terraces are on both sides of the internal space. They command fantastic views up the river and across London (image c/o Wyndham web site) - something to gaze over on warm, still summer nights and therein lies the 'rub'. with the elevated location and current 'set up' anything other than a mild and windless day/evening is going to lead to a rather uncomfortable experiance - OK for a quick smoke but not one to hang arround and enjoy a reasonable smoke and drink in.
As I mentioned this is a 'work in progress' and Micheal Schaefer, the GM, was well aware of the lack of cigar selection/presentation, wind 'baffling' and heating (even before he most patiently put up with me offering my humble opinions) and, hopefully, will address this in the near future - he has my card ....

The evening itself was a delight, the two cigars presented by Simon Chase of Hunters & Frankau (retired - so he says!) were both of excellent quality and construction and both 52 ring guage, the first, the Choix de L’Époque was a 'short' (110mm), light smoke, easy on the pallet and draw, although, for my taste and the gauge, possibly 'light' on complexity too. The second, the Selección Suprema a longer (170mm), 'heavier' stick was also more complex - and better for it - the draw was good and constant throughout, right down to the designer band.

Garden Room at The Lanesborough - Partagas series D no. 5

I had the opertunity of enjoying the fruits of my labour last week, meeting a friend and associate, David Vickerstaff - ex. director of Greens and now establishing himself as a specialist in Hospitality Management - at The Garden Room to discuss his new venture, with which I am confident will grow rapidly. He had to shoot off early, I stayed on, which gave me the opertunity to enjoy a Partagas series D no.5 and the people and atmosphere of the Garden Room in full swing - by 7.30 it was virtually full with Guests enjoying an early evening smoke.

Guiseppe - the 'in house' Expert ran me through the latest additions to the Humidor, including a half finished box of Cohiba Behikes at £1500 a stick (the empty box is going to the guest who smokes the greatest number of them). I enjoyed my more modest choice - I usually have series D no.4's in my humidor and found the no.5 an enjoyable, if shorter, experience.

I was fortunate to be invited to join Mr Gelardi, the M.D. of The Lanesborough, and his party, we discussed briefly the finishing touches we have planned for the space - once they are all sorted I'll get a couple of photos posted.

New Box (Cuaba Generosos) - New Location (Chelsea Harbour)

Brought a new box today - Cuaba Generosos - I was looking for a medium/light smoke and reckon, from the one I enjoyed watching The Dollhouse this evening, that I've got a winner.
I've smoked the larger Cuabas before and found them to be a good, well constructed smoke, quite strong and slightly 'green' in taste; these ones are more mature, softer on the flavour but still with character.
I like the Double Figurado shape, although slightly hard on the draw to start they open up to give a good smooth draw and build in strength as you progress.
I curently have Bolivar Belicosos Finos as my 'heavier' smoke which also 'builds' well.

I'm off to  the Wyndham Grand London, Chelsea Harbour on Monday to the first tasting of Choix de L’Époque from El Rey del Mundo and the Selección Suprema from Juan Lopez so will report on the space and smokes next week.

Welcome

Welcome to my new blog - and it's first post, and there's nothing like Demi Moore enjoying a cigar to set the tone.
So what has brought me out of my shell and into the blogisphere?
My passion for cigars and frustration at the lack of information as to where you can enjoy smoking them - especially in the UK and specifically in London.
I started smoking cigars a little over 12 years ago and having worked as an architect for over 27 years, this year 'married' the two by designing and managing the construction of The Garden Room at The Lanesborough Hotel - London's best Cigar Bar (if I say so myself) - more about this later.
The plan for my blog though is to publish my discoveries of the other places in London - up to date locations - where we can enjoy a good cigar and to hopefully make sure they do well or, where they need to encourage them to 'raise their game' to give us smokers the comfort we desire to enjoy a Cigar.