The syllabus for the exam includes all
elements of the cigar world:
• Historical and social context (the history
of the industry and its structure, the UK
market, legislation).
• The agricultural processes (from seed to
harvest)
• The manufacturing processes Preparing the
leaves, blending and rolling)
• The post production processes (grading,
dressing, boxes and quality control)
• The Habano (cigar sizes, brands, history and
flavour profiles)
• Product Categories (standard, regional &
limited editions and special releases)
• Serving and enjoying a cigar (storage,
selecting, cutting, recommendations for
every occasion)
That all sounds quite straight forward and then
you start to dig down into the level of detail
required to be able to answer detailed questions in
each of these areas and it is daunting.
Once you have been accepted onto the course you
will be checked a couple of months before you
are due to take the exam to ensure that you are
reaching the necessary standard.
refreshing... The names of all the Masters also go
into a hat every year with one name being drawn
out. The lucky person goes on the Hunters &
Frankau educational trip to Havana.
If you would like to test yourself and your cigar
knowledge against the best, Hunters have set up
an online version of a small sample of questions
from the test, you will find it here:
www.cigars.co.uk/higher-certificate-test
Changes are planned to the format of the exams
during 2015 which are likely to make it even more
rigorous. So when you go into a British cigars
store or terrace and the person serving you has
the discreet silver badge on their lapel, you know
that you are in good hands, that you can trust their
advice and most importantly that you will be sure
to enjoy the cigars they suggest for you.
A list of the 13 individuals working in retail stores
and hotels who have passed the exam is available
on the Hunters & Frankau web site www.cigars.
co.uk/higher-certificate. If you click on each
individual picture you will be able to read a profile
of each of them and learn a little more about their
passion for Cuban cigars.
The other individuals who have passed the exam
are either working in Private Members clubs of
have left the UK having passed their exams.
The exam itself is held four times each year at
Hunters and Frankau’s offices. The first stage is a
one hour exam with 50 multiple choice questions
and 50 questions requiring short answers. The
next stage features a second phase of multiple
choice questions followed by a set of written
questions.
After a break for lunch comes the most daunting
session of the whole exam and one which highly
experienced cigar experts have described to me
as ‘totally nerve jangling’. Each person is called
in turn in front of a panel of Hunters & Frankau
Directors to run through various scenarios of
recommending cigars, giving advice, cutting,
lighting and presenting cigars.
In addition to the lapel badge Masters also receive
a certificate signed by the H&F Corporate Director
and Managing Director, a congratulatory box of
cigars and an invitation to an exclusive annual
event when they will enjoy smoking something
delicious and rare and drink something nice and
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