Q & A with our resident aficionado, Ross

Here at Havana House, we pride ourselves on the wealth of knowledge that our staff hold on all things cigar related, from the newest releases of the world’s leading brands to the tasting notes each cigar holds.

To give you an insight into the minds behind the scenes here at Havana House, read our interview with Windsor-based staff member, Ross.

Name: Ross

Job: Head of Blind Tasting and Content Management

How did you first get into cigars?

My first cigar was at a New Year’s Eve party when I was 18. My mind was blown by the amazing flavours, and I knew I had to find out more about this mysterious product as soon as possible.

What drew you into the world of stogies?

As a cigar enthusiast, you will remember every great cigar as well as the occasion, time or place you were enjoying it. I will never forget my first cigar. That sparked an eternal interest with cigars that I will continue to enjoy right to the very end.

How did you get involved at Havana House?

I was a customer to start with, and they offered me a role helping in the shop part time. Six years later I am involved with most aspects of the business, and my passion for cigars is stronger than ever.

What is your favourite cigar smoking experience to date?

2013, a hot summer’s evening in August on my birthday. A Cohiba Behike 52 that made me lose track of time. I was completely lost in the joy of that cigar. I really felt like I had been on a journey by the time it was all over. I was reluctant for it to end and held on to it for as long as humanly possible. Emotional and unforgettable.

What advice would you give to a first-time cigar smoker?

Have a look online and watch some videos on YouTube so you can see what smoking a cigar is all about. The most important thing is to go to a shop and let them guide you through the entire process. You will leave with a cigar perfect for you, and the rest is up to you. Don’t rush your smoke… relax and enjoy.

If you were stuck on an island and could take three cigars with you, what would they be?

I have been lucky and privileged to try some of the Millennium jar cigars for 1999 and some pre-embargo Partagas cigars. Cuban’s with age are the closest thing we can get to a working time machine. They have a complexity you can’t quantify and take you on a very special journey. I would also love a Montecristo A because I will have lots of time on my hands.

What drinks do you like to accompany your cigars?

Every cigar has its own personality and finding perfect pairings is always an enjoyable journey between yourself and the cigar. I find that the musical delights of Vivaldi and Johann Strauss work very well with theatre of a lit cigar.

The Blue Danube to me is a great embodiment of what the cigar smoking experience is. Both composers add to the enjoyment and amplify the occasion of smoking a cigar.

Drinks wise if the cigar is strong in character I will have sparkling mineral water or lemonade to cleanse my palate.

Medium bodied cigars open my options to aged whisky or rum. If it’s a hot day, I will pair my cigar with a rum-based cocktail or even a can of Coke.

Whatever you enjoy without a cigar you’ll find even more pleasurable with one!

When’s the best time to smoke a cigar?

Time is all you need. If you have the time to relax and enjoy a cigar, then everything is ok. If you have friends joining in with you, then it’s even better! Smoking a cigar with others opens a different type of friendship that no other activity can compete with.

You can smoke a cigar with a stranger, and you will be good friends by the time you have both finished.

What do you look for in a cigar?

Decent construction and a beautiful oily wrapper are always a sure sign that the cigar will be very good.

What shouldn’t a customer do when they are in a cigar merchants?

Walk into the humidor and grab every cigar, sticking them in your nose or mouth. Amazingly, this happens on a regular basis, and lots of cigars are damaged from this. We check all cigars to make sure they are perfect before they go out. Cigars should always be handled with care; we do the quality checks, so you don’t have to.

What’s your favourite cigar anecdote?

Salinger recalled Kennedy summoning him into his office to see if he could provide “some help” in securing “a lot of cigars” by the following morning. In hindsight, it is evident that Kennedy wanted to stockpile the Cuban products before he banned their import.

“The next morning, I walked into my White House office at about 8 am, and the direct line from the President’s office was already ringing. He asked me to come in immediately,” said Salinger. Kennedy was pleased to learn that Salinger was successful and had gotten him 1,200 Cuban cigars. Salinger remembers, “He took out a long paper which he immediately signed. It was the decree banning all Cuban products from the United States. Cuban cigars were now illegal in our country”.

Any last comments?

Perfection is unobtainable, but you can get very close. If a cigar is like a great novel and has a beginning, middle and end, you will get closer to perfection than you thought possible.

Other articles you may also want to read:

Remember these 6 essentials when smoking fine cigars

Top 10 best-selling cigars at Havana House