Adrian Lesley keeps things cool as the temperature rises  With Europe anticipating another scorching summer – the UK has enjoyed its warmest April for 350 years – and barbecues, garden parties and sultry evenings to look forward to, we turn our attention to cigars that suit warmer climes. Milder, more fragrant smokes that are easy on the senses prove preferable to the richer, more complex cigars consumed indoors during winter.
Cigar smoke seems to linger in the air when the climate heats up. It becomes more pungent and noticeable. The aroma of sweet-smelling tobacco mingles easily with the scent of flora and fauna. This month we feature three cigars of similar size from Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua that would be most appropriate to smoke outdoors during the summer months. Adrian Lesley is proprietor of CigarsUnlimited, one of London’s leading cigar specialists and Habanos Gold Medal retailers. Tel. +44 (0)20 7386 9000, www.cigarsunlimited.co.uk Prices subject to local tax variation Humidor | | Davidoff Robusto 100 Aniversario
(129 mm x 50 ring gauge)
Price range: €15–€25 This Dominican cigar was created to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Zino Davidoff. Don’t be put off by the nondescript wrapper; behind this façade lies a classic robusto full of potential. Its subtlety is quite deceptive. The harmonious and well-balanced blend of tobaccos is exemplary in such a young cigar; this is a sublime smoke that can only get better with age. Highly recommended. | | | El Rey del Mundo Choix Supreme
(131 mm x 48 ring gauge)
Price range: €10–€20 When I first started smoking Havana cigars, I cut my teeth on the Choix Supreme by El Rey del Mundo (admittedly, it was the only robusto I could afford). It has a woody, slightly sweet aroma that’s easy on the senses and not demanding or overpowering. Some people feel that the blend has become stronger in recent years, but for me this cigar remains a classic. | | | CAO Cameroon L’Anniversaire Rothschild
(114 mm x 50 ring gauge)
Price range: €10–€20 The Cameroon L’Anniversaire Rothschild by CAO has remained one of the most consistently highly rated cigars from Nicaragua. Whereas most cigars use two or three filler leaves, L’Anniversaire utilises four in its blend; this results in an unmatched flavour consisting of sweet coffee and caramel, a combination of flavours to delight even the most discriminating of connoisseurs. | |