The Higher Certificate, developed by Hunters & Frankau, represents the most extensive & prestigious qualification within the UK Habanos market.
1-3 Avery Row
London
UK W1K 4AJ
Passed: 10th February 2022
Amongst many things, being able to have in-depth conversation with incredible people, being directly exposed to the rich history and provenance of cigars and being on the forefront of the premium tobacco world, the sheer joy of working with cigars is sharing the same common interest in what is still a not so common past time to the rest of the world. Being part of a community that appreciates the labour and love that goes into each individual cigar is a privilege that I am absolutely humbled to be a part of.
It was an obsession with food and drink that started me on the journey towards cigars. Having worked within many areas of hospitality, my interest piqued when it came to learning about wine, spirits and cocktails as well as working within kitchens creating high quality cuisine. I learned over time that palate training, flavour notes and overall discipline of tasting profiles between sommelier, bartender and chefs all have a running theme and with that knowledge I was able to apply these rules to distinguish various flavours and textures to commit to memory.
It would be the Romeo y Julieta modern classic, the Short Churchill. I associate my first committed memory to this cigar because of it’s powerful floral aroma and sweet palate. Nowadays I move towards cigars with more complexity and age but one never forgets the first time that they sit in a lounge and imbibe something that changes your perspective on life.
Know that everyone’s palate is different, and that the “best” cigar that someone recommends is not necessarily the same for everyone else. Start light, and work your way up. Trust the person who understands their humidor. Sample not so popular brands with uncommon shapes and sizes - you may find some you love, some you don’t. It’s the beauty of exploring the unknown- you may discover hidden treasures that may not be on everyone’s radar.
This is a difficult question to answer as there are many factors involved, such as the company that you keep whilst sipping a cigar; what time of year it may be, what I would be consuming with the cigar and even what mood I would be in in order to enjoy the cigar. Saying that though, I can tell you 3 excellent cigars that are at the top of my list. The Juan Lopez No.2 is my go to every day robusto-consistent, rich and always excellent. The Montecristo 80th Anniversario is my other favourite cigar- a commemorative release that I highly enjoy whenever I am able to source them, and only wish that this limited release was a regular production line. Lastly, my third favourite is none other than the Por Larranaga Montecarlos. A highly underrated cigar that can be smoked morning, noon or night. A cigar that has complexity and nuance in it’s slender form yet satisfies the palate of both novices and aficionados.
Studying the Master of Habanos has helped me appreciate the rich history and agriculture as well as the intense labour it takes to produce the finished product. In effect, I have far more respect and admiration for the craft of Habanos and this only further pushes me to highlight and educate the curious as well as future generations of cigar smokers.
James J Fox
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