There are some moments in life that simply deserve a good Cuban cigar to commemorate them. A graduation, a new job, actually making money from an NFT, and so on. We often take a few sticks with us when heading to the bi-annual menswear gathering, Pitti Uomo, as there’ll be a point in the evening where old friends reunite over a shared passion of all of our favourite vices.
One occasion, however, that trumps them all, is a destination wedding. There’s no emotion that brings people together quite like love. Seeing people embark on a new journey for the rest of their lives, is a truly magical and heart-warming experience. The added beauty of destination weddings, however, is that there’s usually a considerable amount of downtime that can be shared with people you’re close to — family, friends — as well as new acquaintances, perhaps from the other side of the wedding party, in beautiful surroundings. These moments are the perfect opportunity for good conversation, drink, food and of course, cigars. So which ones should make the cut when you travel?
This lovely cigar travels well, and measures 143mm by a 46 ring gauge. It’s a widely popular Cuban format, and is certainly a conversation starter — whether you’re in a party of aficionados or people that are new to the cigar world. It is full of fine, earthy flavour notes including coffee, cedar and leather, and is all the more delicious when aged.
The Epicure No. 2 has for the longest time been my favourite Hoyo de Monterrey cigar. That was, however, until a recent excursion to The Beaumont in London swayed me. The Epicure Especial caught me off-guard. I was surprised at just how easy the draw was, and how smooth a cigar it really is. It’s almost becoming my new go-to when I’m feeling indecisive, which says a lot. It was introduced to the Epicure series during the 2008 Habanos Festival, and features a Gordito vitola — 141mm by 50 ring gauge. It’s light-bodied but full of rich coffee and earthy tones: a perfect balance.
Whether it’s the 50 or the 54, there’s not a person I’ve met that’s had a bad thing to say about either, which, again, says a lot. Unlike the Epicure Especial, this cigar is certainly full-bodied, even though it comes in shorter — 110mm by the same 50 ring gauge. It is filled with the finest Cuban tobacco and hand-rolled by expert torcedors. If you’re not keeping it in your humidor, it’s definitely one to pack in your suitcase.
If you prefer short, more compact smokes that don’t compromise on flavour nor intensity, the No. 5 is certainly one for you (as well as friends, if you opt for a pack or box). It’s an aficionado's cigar, and commonly smoked as an aperitif due to its diminutive size — 102mm by a 40 ring gauge. It’s a medium-bodied cigar and chock full of flavours typical of the Montecristo brand: spices and dark cocoa being the most prevalent.
Now, if you’ve ever smoked with me, you’ll know that my face will light up any time I see a Trinidad being bandied about. By far my desert island takeaway, if there was only one cigar brand I could smoke for the rest of my life, it would be Trinidad (don’t hit me, Cohiba fans). Whilst the Vigia is my usual, the Coloniales has been slowly climbing its way up into my favourites list due to its easy going and accessible nature. It’s a solid all-rounder and is great for beginners and experts. Hence why it makes the wedding cut, because you never really know who you’re going to end up smoking with. It’s well-balanced, creamy and smooth, measuring in at 132mm by a 44 ring gauge — perfect for the occasion, in my humble opinion.