Habanos
English Market Selection
Masters of Havana Cigars

Masters of Havana Cigars

Nic Barker

BACK
Master of Havana Cigars : Nic Barker

What do you enjoy most about working with cigars?

It’s nice simply just to see the camaraderie born from the mutual appreciation of the product. People of every walk of life just getting on with each other, laughing, debating and so on. Brothers of the leaf, as it were.

What first interested you in cigars?

I knew very little of cigars when I started working with them in 2002, but was instantly hooked, I must of smoked at least 100 different cigars in my first 6 months in the trade, I wanted as much as anything to discern WHY I like a particular smoke rather than simply IF. It's a lot of fun learning what tastes in particular you gravitate toward in a cigar.

Do you remember your first cigar?

My first handmade cigar was a Partagas Serie D No 4, a classic in every sense, and I've loved the smoke ever since. Such a failsafe Habano, despite possessing a relative full-bodiedness.

What is the best piece of advice you have for someone just starting to smoke cigars?

Experiment! Try it all! Establish your go-to smokes while dabbling in new vitolas and brands as often as possible. And if possible, learn to appreciate different strengths of cigars, as big bold flavours, and complex amalgamations of subtleties, in my opinion, are equally satisfying. Pacing is especially important also, as so many people get put off of a cigar that they have smoked too quickly.

What are your favourite three cigars?

My favourite regularly produced cigar is the Bolivar Belicosos Finos, closely followed by the Ramon Allones Specially Selected, and the Partagas Lusitania. I've also been extremely lucky to try many heavily aged, rare, pre-embargo smokes etc over the years, and have thoroughly enjoyed them all.

Has becoming a Master in Havana Cigars helped you in your profession?

For sure. It’s great to have something to physically document my experience, appreciation and product knowledge to show as well. It is an honour to have such a title.

Meet the Masters

Claudio Chesini

Claudio Chesini

No.10 Manchester Street

Read More
Jorge Gonzalez

Jorge Gonzalez

La Casa del Habano James J Fox in Harrods

Read More
Samuel Jacobs

Samuel Jacobs

James J Fox (Selfridges)

Read More
Craig King

Craig King

Edward Sahakian Cigar Shop & Lounge

Read More
Alberto Mendoza Mirabal

Alberto Mendoza Mirabal

Casa del Habano at Pall Mall

Read More
Cristian Secchi

Cristian Secchi

Tomtom Cigars & Coffee

Read More
Maurizio Zatti

Maurizio Zatti

No.10 Manchester Street

Read More

*There are also a number of Masters of Havana Cigars working in private members clubs that are not listed here.

Keep up to date

Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the world of Havana cigars including new releases and upcoming UK cigar events.

Privacy Policy

Privacy Overview
Hunters & Frankau

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

3rd Party Cookies

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.