UK Cigar Scene Magazine September Issue 9 | Page 3

INTRODUCTION
Those who love to combine a fine cigar
with a special Whisky or Rum have an
excellent autumn ahead of them. With the
Whisky Exchange’s Whisky show at Old
Billingsgate in early October and Rum
Experience week later in October both
featuring cigar events, it looks like cigar
lovers have something to celebrate.
We are delighted to be profiling Nicola Bodano of
No Decanting and John DeCosta of Cigar Sanctum
in this month’s issue. Both have a new way of
looking at cigars and they are both bringing a fresh
energy to the cigar world in their own way.
Our video interview this month features British
Jazz saxophonist and cigar lover Ray Gelato. Ray
is a huge enthusiast for music, for food, for his
heritage and for cigars and that all comes out very
clearly in our interview.
There are always new cigars appearing to tickle
our palate; this month see’s a new Partagas
Maduro which must be a cigar being prepared for
our American cousins who demand the darker
sweeter Maduro wrappers. From the New World
you will soon be able to try the Dunhill Heritage
range, a cigar which in its design and presentation
harks back to the glory days of Cuban Dunhill’s so
beloved of collectors still.

But while new cigars appear there will always
come a time when stock runs out and I have been
particularly sad to hear of the retirement of Jean
Clark from James J Fox just as the beautifully
refurbished store emerges. Jean had been in the
business for a good few years and she knew her
stock extremely well. I would always leave the
selection of cigars from the Fox humidor to Jean,
I always got something interesting, I never had a
poor cigar and the cabinet selection Hoyo No 2 she
selected on one visit is one of the most memorable
cigars I ever smoked, with an incredible spring
meadow aroma. I am sure I shan’t be the only
customer to miss her but also to wish her a long
and very happy retirement.

Nic Wing
Proprietor and Editor

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