My husband and brother-in-law own a cigar shop together. It adjoins with my spa in a lovely old (1923) three-storey home that we have lovingly renovated...! The shop is called Victory Cigars, it is named for the HMS Victory sailed by Admiral Nelson during the Battle of Trafalgar. A nod to our ancestries in England.
From time to time, the boys over at the cigar shop host events. This one, which included Arnaldo Alfonso from Havana, Cuba-was all about the cigars. Rolling them in an artfully exquisite way. Each precision rolled cigar was a work of art. It was a pleasure to watch him work, this man who has travelled the world rolling cigars in Spain, Russia and France. Now it was our turn to witness the art of hand rolling a cigar.
The glue holding the cigars together...vegetable based. Entirely edible and natural. The center leaf of the cigar by the way...is for combustion. Who knew?
The leaves to me looked like leather. Arnaldo's blade sliced through each leaf, shaping it accordingly and placing it just so. The cigars were rolled with such skill that I would have thought a machine produced them. Each one exact. Each one matching the next. Different ring gauges, different lengths. Each one uniform, precise, perfect.
You needn't smoke to appreciate this fine skill. Hand rolled cigars, rank right up there with fine Scotch. Which leads us to the boys next event, a "Scotch Nosing, Cigars & Tapas Evening". Seriously. (Oh those boys have all the fun!)
It's good to dream a little...methinks I'll dream of Havana....xo
That would be neat to watch, even though I don't smoke. I used to have a fine Cuban cigar somewhere - a coworker gave it to me - but I found someone who would appreciate it (in the way it was intended :) and passed it on.
Posted by: elizabeth | June 01, 2010 at 11:48 PM
Dear Gillian,
I never would have imagined that I would become so engaged in a post about cigar making, but engaged I was. I think the setting and family and extension to other pleasures all made this come together in a way that just screamed family, history, and LOVE.
(((Annie)))
Posted by: AnnieElf | June 02, 2010 at 01:29 AM
It is always a pleasure to watch a master, no matter the trade or skill. A lovely tribute! And those boys needn't have all the fun. My love to J.
Posted by: Donna | June 02, 2010 at 01:44 AM
I would have loved watching a master cigar maker. Mesmerized! I don't smoke, but it still would have been fun. The guys do have clever ideas. How great that your businesses are in the same beautiful house.
Posted by: Marilyn | June 02, 2010 at 07:19 PM
Elizabeth :)
I don't smoke either! In fact, I quit twelve years ago, I'm a former smoker.
(I can't believe I actually smoked either!)
This intrigues me since our trip to Holguin a few years ago. We visited a cigar factory to see how they are made, and it really is an art form.
I love to see anything handcrafted, I appreciate the effort that goes into it.
Like you, if I had a fine Cuban cigar I'd pass it on to someone else as well! ;)
Posted by: Gillian daSilva | June 02, 2010 at 07:44 PM
True about seeing a master at work, I fully agree. That was the point to my post. I hope people don't think I'm advocating we all start smoking cigars!
I'm glad you saw through the smoke :)
Working in the same building has it's ups and downs, as you can imagine. LOL
Posted by: Gillian daSilva | June 02, 2010 at 07:46 PM
Art and artists everywhere !
Posted by: Kim Mailhot | June 02, 2010 at 08:22 PM
My father is in Havana right now. I wonder if he'll bring me home the old cigar boxes I asked him for. I do long for them. This was an interesting, wonderful post.
Posted by: Relyn | June 03, 2010 at 11:01 PM