The Chase Archive
In 1977, Simon Chase was recruited by Nicholas Freeman to establish a Marketing Department at Hunters & Frankau. It was the first position of its kind in the UK cigar trade, and in many ways, it marked the beginning of a new chapter for how Havana cigars were presented, understood, and celebrated.
Simon quickly discovered that the Cuban cigar world offered a rich culture and craft that was little understood outside of Cuba itself. Seeing this gap, Simon set to work not with money, but with words. That same year, he published his first book, A Short Appreciation of Havana Cigars, opening a door for enthusiasts to glimpse the artistry behind every handmade cigar.
Between 1982 and 2001 he wrote and published Cigar World, a magazine that carried trade news, stories, and insights to a growing audience of aficionados. His contributions did not go unnoticed. In 1998, he was honoured with the “Habanos Man of the Year” award for Communication, a recognition of his contribution to the cigar industry.
Even after retiring from Hunters & Frankau, Simon continued to write and advise through his consultancy, Simon Chase Limited. His articles appeared in Cigar Journal, Cigar Magazine, Virtuozity, and elsewhere –always with the same meticulous research, wit, and attention to detail that had become his hallmark.
The Chase Archive gathers a selection of Simon’s writings from 2006 to 2017. We are deeply grateful to the publications that have allowed us to share them here. Within these essays lies a breadth of knowledge and a passion for Havana cigars that is unmistakably Simon’s.
We hope you will find in them not only information but also inspiration—an invitation to see cigars not merely as products, but as the living expression of culture, craft, and history that Simon so loved to celebrate.
