“ It is very rare to know a person you have never
heard a bad word said about, Edward is that
person - universally popular.
When the Davidoff Shop opened it created a new
impetus to the London cigar scene and to this
day helps to keep the UK cigar market among the
world leaders.”
Edward the ‘Seasick Steve’ of St James’s
Robert Emery
“ I first met Edward Sahakian in the summer
Store Manager, Dunhill Tobacco London
of ‘86, when I was attending Selwyn College,
Cambridge, on sojourn for studies in English
Literature. I made a habit of taking the train
from Cambridge to London on Saturday
mornings to tour cigar stores, and sampled
everything I could afford on a student’s stipend
(which wasn’t much) On my one of my first
expeditions, I found my way to the Davidoff of
London shop, where Edward greeted me with
both a brilliant smile and a form wrapped in
impeccable sartorial splendour.
Edward and Arnold Schwarzenegger at the
2014 Spectator Cigar Awards where both were
winners.
“ I have had the pleasure of knowing Edward
Sahakian a neighbour and friend ever since I
started working in St James over 20 years ago.
We could not have wished for a more generous,
co-operative, friendly and supportive neighbour
as Edward.
I have lost count of the times we have gone to
Davidoff cap in hand asking to borrow a step
ladder, duct tape or a light bulb and have always
been met with a smile and offer of the item in
need or the next best alternative! Being the
consummate professional, host and entertainer
we have had many opportunities of providing
canapés and staff at Davidoff as well as cohosting cigar dinners at Wiltons using Davidoff
at the start and end of the evening to sample
the finest cigars London has to offer. Edward
is always on hand to offer advice and has a
fantastic ability to match the perfect cigar to the
person in question. Edward is without doubt
a renowned icon not only Jermyn Street but on
Cigars in the international arena.”
Jason Phillips
Director, Wiltons & Franco’s Jermyn Street
11
During our first afternoon together I relentlessly
peppered Edward with every manner of
question on Cuban cigars that a young Yank
could possess, to which he effortlessly fired back
answers that never seemed to satisfy my endless
curiosity. At the end of what was undoubtedly
an exhaustive hour and a half or so, I purchased
one meagre five-pack of Davidoff No. 2. However
even then, after to what many would have
rightfully consider a supreme waste of time,
Edward never once made me feel like anything
other than his most prized patron, when quite
the opposite was clearly true. He is, quite simply,
the very embodiment of charm and grace.”
Aaron Sigmond
The founding editor of Smoke magazine, and The Cigar Report.
He is the author of Playboy: The Book of Cigars
“ Great men can be found in all walks of life, but
with absolute certainty I can say that Edward
Sahakian is the greatest retailer that I have ever
had the joy to meet.
Absolute knowledge of his subject, cigars, is
matched by a level of unparalleled service. Just
to walk into his shop on St James’s is to have the
troubles of the world lifted; you leave clutching
the world’s finest cigars, happy to have, once
again, met London’s foremost Gentleman.
Mark Hedges
Editor of Country Life