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Well on Saturday just passed some of us met up for a smoke using my recent birthday as an excuse to do so. I/we had planned to meet up at Dunhill in London between 10.30 and 11. Now I am late for most everything but by some miracle I was on time on this day. I got there before any of the others and ordered breakfast, I thought about waiting but realised they would be arriving separately and may end up waiting forever.
At this point I have to admit that the day was so busy that I neglected to take many pictures at all and some of those that I did take turned out to be unusable.
The first to join me was Deano who also ordered the same breakfast and lit up the same cigar. Snooky was next to join us followed by MB55317 and Stephan who had his daughter with him following a ballet class. Snooky ordered the eggs Benedict as they had used all the salmon and MB55317 had a yummy looking salad of some description.
The weather was glorious and I felt blessed that I could share the best place to smoke in London when the sun is shinning with friends. We chatted and made plans about what to do next. We decided to make the very short walk to Sautters as the new guest Cuban roller was in residence. When we reached the shop (some of the small group never having been to it before or knew its location) Lascaux joined us. He made use of the roller and had a vitola of cigar made for him that has long since been out of production, a Franciscanos or Franciscos, I cannot remember which. Stephan had to make his excuses to leave and take his daughter home so we walked to JJ Fox for a smoke.
As we arrived at JJ Fox we found all the roads barricaded and it turned out that this was the day of the start of the Gumball Rally 2010, a rather nice surprise. Crowds started to gather quickly so we elected to smoke upstairs and watch from the large open gallery window. I won't post lots of poor quality pictuces, just one of a Bugatti Veyron, finally somebody is doing the Gumball in that insane car! I smoked a cabbed Bolivar from the late 90's at the suggestion of Lascaux but some obnoxious yahoos invaded the smoking lounge and did the young, loaded, cigar smoking routine. Apparently they had something to with the Gumball rally, I suspect they had to sweep the roads after the event but I guess I shall never know for certain.
After a good couple of hours we hopped on the tube and headed for the Boisdale in Belgravie only to find it was unusually closed until five, I was not impressed. Last time I had this happen to me that let myself and my guests in anyway as I am a member but no chance on this day. Out of frustration we hopped in a cab and took up residence in Ten Manchester street. I failed to take any pictures there but you have all seen pics of it before and many of you have been there in person.
We smoked away the afternoon and evening with a good number of drinks and random chatter. I enjoyed a Hoyo double corona but I have to conclude this is no longer my number one choice of cigar, my palette has clearly changed and I am now more a Partagas and Bolivar person. I also smoked my first Rocky Patel 1961 with is a well above average NC.
Near the end of the evening Lascaux, Snooky and I popped into Selfridges so I could get some of the lastest limited edition nespresso capsules but we also popped into see Magali in the humidor. She was her usual friendly self but we briefly talked about the Padron 45th Maduro cigar that CA magazine awarded as top cigar. She said she agreed that it was a 98 out of a 100 point cigar. I was amazed by this as I really respect Magali for cigar knowledge. Jimmeh and I have tried this cigar only to be bored by it, he liked his second one more but still nothing special. Leaving Selfridges brought the day to an end, earlier than some but it also started earlier than most, a good day.
I have not detailed everything I smoked and I honestly cannot remember it all in detail. The others will tell you what they smoked I hope.
I would like to that the others for making an effort to join me on Saturday and the cigars they kindly gifted on the day as I know that some of them had real transport issues due to train cancellations and tube closures.
T.
I ordered the eggs Arlington as I know they obtain the smoked salmon from the Dunhill members club and so you know it is the very best. While this was being cooked I enjoyed a double espresso and Hoyo petite robusto which is a tradition of mine and Jimmeh's.
At this point I have to admit that the day was so busy that I neglected to take many pictures at all and some of those that I did take turned out to be unusable.
The first to join me was Deano who also ordered the same breakfast and lit up the same cigar. Snooky was next to join us followed by MB55317 and Stephan who had his daughter with him following a ballet class. Snooky ordered the eggs Benedict as they had used all the salmon and MB55317 had a yummy looking salad of some description.
The weather was glorious and I felt blessed that I could share the best place to smoke in London when the sun is shinning with friends. We chatted and made plans about what to do next. We decided to make the very short walk to Sautters as the new guest Cuban roller was in residence. When we reached the shop (some of the small group never having been to it before or knew its location) Lascaux joined us. He made use of the roller and had a vitola of cigar made for him that has long since been out of production, a Franciscanos or Franciscos, I cannot remember which. Stephan had to make his excuses to leave and take his daughter home so we walked to JJ Fox for a smoke.
As we arrived at JJ Fox we found all the roads barricaded and it turned out that this was the day of the start of the Gumball Rally 2010, a rather nice surprise. Crowds started to gather quickly so we elected to smoke upstairs and watch from the large open gallery window. I won't post lots of poor quality pictuces, just one of a Bugatti Veyron, finally somebody is doing the Gumball in that insane car! I smoked a cabbed Bolivar from the late 90's at the suggestion of Lascaux but some obnoxious yahoos invaded the smoking lounge and did the young, loaded, cigar smoking routine. Apparently they had something to with the Gumball rally, I suspect they had to sweep the roads after the event but I guess I shall never know for certain.
After a good couple of hours we hopped on the tube and headed for the Boisdale in Belgravie only to find it was unusually closed until five, I was not impressed. Last time I had this happen to me that let myself and my guests in anyway as I am a member but no chance on this day. Out of frustration we hopped in a cab and took up residence in Ten Manchester street. I failed to take any pictures there but you have all seen pics of it before and many of you have been there in person.
We smoked away the afternoon and evening with a good number of drinks and random chatter. I enjoyed a Hoyo double corona but I have to conclude this is no longer my number one choice of cigar, my palette has clearly changed and I am now more a Partagas and Bolivar person. I also smoked my first Rocky Patel 1961 with is a well above average NC.
Near the end of the evening Lascaux, Snooky and I popped into Selfridges so I could get some of the lastest limited edition nespresso capsules but we also popped into see Magali in the humidor. She was her usual friendly self but we briefly talked about the Padron 45th Maduro cigar that CA magazine awarded as top cigar. She said she agreed that it was a 98 out of a 100 point cigar. I was amazed by this as I really respect Magali for cigar knowledge. Jimmeh and I have tried this cigar only to be bored by it, he liked his second one more but still nothing special. Leaving Selfridges brought the day to an end, earlier than some but it also started earlier than most, a good day.
I have not detailed everything I smoked and I honestly cannot remember it all in detail. The others will tell you what they smoked I hope.
I would like to that the others for making an effort to join me on Saturday and the cigars they kindly gifted on the day as I know that some of them had real transport issues due to train cancellations and tube closures.
T.
.
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