Current status of the UK cigar industry

[van Baars]

I would appreciate some information about the current British cigar industry. In my country we had a few years ago the Hamlet cigarillo, but otherwise it it Terra Incognita for me.

I know, or at least I think I have heard, that Hamlet has moved from the UK, but is still being made? Are they still available in six packs? I remember from the summer of 1984 TV commercials with Hamlet cigars; "The only cigar with six appeal"...

Is there any other British brands around? And what about the Manikin brand? Is that still alive?

What else can you tell me?

Thanks in advance!

[panda23]

I think they are sold packs of 5 or 10 now and still available.Not sure where they are made now but they used to make them in Cardiff before they shut the factory. The adverts were very popular at the time but the ban on advertising put paid to that.They were the first cigars i smoked but it was that long ago i cannot remember what they were like other than being a mild smoke

[snuffysmiff]

Until I recently retired, I worked in the retail tobacco industry. Hamlet were never packed in 6's- only 5's, 10's & tins of 50 for the pub trade. The brand with the slogan ".... six appeal" was Panama, which so far as I know is still available in the U.K. in 6's. Manikin disappeared, oh, maybe 20 years ago, following my old favourite- Grandee. There was another brand which had a plastic "holder" stuck on the end, can't remember the name but again long gone. Another current brand is Castella Classic distributed (along with Panama) by Imperial Tobacco. Hamlet is distributed by Gallaher's. I think they still also have King Six, but I believe their sales were falling away.
I should add that miniature cigars are probably as popular now, the best selling brands being Hamlet and Cafe Creme- the once popular Tom Thumb having been discontinued some time ago.
As an aside, Manikin cinema advertising "sheer enjoyment" featured the ultra lovely Bond girl, Caroline Munro, whipping off her top and diving into a river in a jungle! Man, those were the days!

[Simon Bolivar]

Thanks for the history lesson Snuffy', taking me back there...

[Stevieboy]

Thanks for that wander down memory lane Snuffy....I used to get my cigar smoking uncle most of those cigars you mentioned for his Xmas. I remember they often had little slipcases with xmas bells,holly and candles on them.

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[van Baars]

Truly interesting information, panda23 and snuffysmiff; thanks!

From my point of view UK & Ireland seems to be two countries where domestic cigars isn't so big, since you traditionally have had access to very good Havana cigars (thanks to Hunters & Frankau as far as I know). And Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland seems so enormous with their well-known brands: La Paz, Dannemann, Villiger etc.

So it wasn't Hamlet who had the six appeal ads... Can't remember Panama, but I sure remembered the slogan! Hamlet ads might be seen on YouTube, and I think they are still quite enjoyable!

I will try to compile an entry in my dictionary about British cigars; would it be fair to say that although still existing it is not as important as in Holland or Germany? Much due to the fact that Britain traditionally has had good relations with the Cuban cigar industry?

[monkey66]

Probably worth considering that between Fox's and Dunhill there used to be a huge number of 'British' cigars. Now considered some of the most desirable in the world.

[celsis]

Most of the "Brit" ciagrs were dry cigars. I've always thought that dry cigars nearly put me off for life!

[snuffysmiff]

Absolutely! I dislike these dry cigars, which is why I prefered Grandee- they seemed to have a bit more body to them. Ye cannae whack a Cuban!

[van Baars]

Most of the "Brit" ciagrs were dry cigars. I've always thought that dry cigars nearly put me off for life!

Absolutely! I dislike these dry cigars, which is why I prefered Grandee- they seemed to have a bit more body to them. Ye cannae whack a Cuban!

When you say (write) "dry cigar" - are you refering to Dutch style dry cigars or the old British "tradition" of dry havanas?

[celsis]

Dry cigars are the types of "cigars" you used to get in British pubs, like Hamlet, Castella etc. I don't think I've ever tried the Dutch style with the exception of Schimmelpenninck (sp?) and I thought they were throat rippers!

[snuffysmiff]

I'm refering to Dutch style- I think the British "optimum humidity" for Cubans would be 5 or 6 points less than the recommended 70%.

[nev coss]

Grandee cigars , you had to be careful asking for one in a pub as sometimes you would be handed a brandy

[van Baars]

I'm refering to Dutch style- I think the British "optimum humidity" for Cubans would be 5 or 6 points less than the recommended 70%.

Well, even lower I'd guess. At least after reading this (click "this"). (By the way, what happened to The UK-Cigars list /group?)

Grandee - I presume it is a British Cigar Brand?

[snuffysmiff]

"It is as true today as it was then that to gain the full benefit from ageing and maturing, Havanas must be kept at a significantly lower humidity, no higher than 50%, and be allowed gradually to lose some of the moisture content which they contain when they are first imported. "
Wow!
Grandee was available up until I think the mid 80's, and my memory is that they were manufactured in the U.K..