A humidor is an airtight room where cigars are locked up. I thought this was just a fictional place seen in movies, where club proprietors have to be called from their homes to show up and go walk their VIP guests through the humidor where cigars are kept.

Little did I know that this has become part and parcel of Nairobi culture. And not just in the virtual world where people take a smoke from the same cigar for 20 shots that will be distributed through their grid to give the illusion of opulence, but as part of meeting culture.

The who’s who now frequent cigar bars, request their favourite fat smokes, sniff them, snip them, then puff away at leisure.

In high-ceilinged and large windowed cigar bars, a few elite enjoy a simple competition of whose rings swirl tighter than the other.

This is often influenced by the cigar type and price tag more than the skill of the smoker. But let’s delve into cigar culture first. 

Cuban cigar culture 

Cuba emerged as the global epicentre of cigar production during the 18th and 19th centuries, thanks to its ideal climate and fertile soil for growing tobacco.

Cuban cigars are today synonymous with quality and craftsmanship. Cuban cigar craftsmanship involves hand rolling, with the best rollers being celebrated worldwide.

Cuban cigar rollers, known as torcedores, undergo years of rigorous training to perfect their craft.

Each cigar is carefully assembled by hand, ensuring a level of precision and consistency that is difficult to achieve through machine production.

Cigars are associated with power, sophistication, and masculinity.

They are favoured by world leaders, celebrities, and tycoons, with figures like Winston Churchill, John F Kennedy, and Fidel Castro helping reinforce the image of the cigar as a status symbol. 

While the quality of Cuban cigars varies depending on production and ageing, certain brands have consistently maintained their reputation as the best Cuban cigars available.

They include; Cohiba Behike 52, one of the finest Cuban cigars ever made beloved for its rich and full-bodied flavour profile, Montecristo No. 2, a classic, well-balanced cigar known for its creamy, spicy undertones, Partagás Serie D No. 4, A robust and flavourful cigar loved for its earthy and peppery notes, Bolivar Royal Corona, a full-bodied smoke with rich chocolate and espresso flavours often favoured by experienced smokers, and Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 2, a mild-to-medium cigar offering a smooth, aromatic experience. 

Cigar Lounges in Kenya 

Cigar lounges, exclusive clubs, and luxury cigar events became popular, further embedding cigars into the fabric of elite social culture.

The culture extends beyond the product itself. It includes rituals of selection, cutting, lighting, and savouring, often accompanied by drinks like whiskey, rum, or espresso. 

In Kenya, Alloy Lounge is fast becoming a popular cigar bar where the elite gather for an evening of the best cigars and whiskeys.

The cigar prices range from Ksh1,500 to Ksh5,000 and come with a cutter and a cigar platter. One is free to pick the cigar they want, cut, light up and smoke.

The second cigar bar have come across is Humidor Lounge Kenya. Named after the cigar stores that keep moisture out and preserve the rich flavours cigars are known for, Humidorcode also stocks quite a wide range of cigars.

Try to learn your cigar flavours before pairing them with whisky or brandy. Do not start off strong.

Start with cigars that are not strong in flavour, then request a whiskey that matches the cigar’s flavour profile.

If it seems overwhelming, stick to either just enjoying the cigar alone or the whiskey alone.

You do not have to pair them and suffer in the process.

Cigar culture is supposed to be fun and enjoyable after all. Have an indulgent cigar and whiskey-filled weekend.