Cigars for keeps at Mark's Club

Tell me about the set-up in Mark's club and what it will offer cigar aficionados.

The launch of our Cigar Keeps will definitely offer our Members the chance to become cigar collectors rather than just smokers, as well as the chance to discover much more about cigars, the ageing process, storing conditions, etc. They will be offered exclusivity on new releases, as well as the opportunity to expand their private collection to some rare cigars. In addition to their Cigar Keeps, Mark’s Club has one of the most beautiful terraces in London - there is no other place like here to fully enjoy a Habano.

If one has just started smoking cigars, can you describe the journey one should take (ie what type to start with and what to graduate on to)?

I would recommend starting with a light blend and slowly experiment with different strengths and sizes to see how they influence the taste of the cigar. Most of the time, beginners would think the more slender the ring gauge is, the lighter the smoke will be - it is in fact quite the opposite, as a slender ring gauge will deliver a pretty harsh smoke due to the concentration of the point of combustion. Heavier ring gauge will deliver a much rounder and smoother smoke.

What are your personal preferences?

That is a very difficult question, given each cigar is very different depending on the occasion or memories attached to it. On special occasions, I find the Por Larrañaga ‘Sobresalientes’ absolutely perfect, from its size to its taste - that was a special release for the United Kingdom in 2014. For a daily smoke, a Ramon Allones ‘Specially Selected’ or a Hoyo de Monterrey ‘Epicure de Luxe’ are my two favourite cigars, they never disappoint.

Are there drinks you would recommend to complement the experience of smoking a fine cigar?

Everyone has their own taste, and there are so many pairings to be enjoyed… I generally like to smoke cigars drinking coffee, as I find they really complement each other, bringing out the sweetness of the cigar as well as its strength. On a post-dinner occasion, I definitely like to experiment with something on the sweeter side to clash with a stronger cigar, such as a Manhattan for example.

What about the actual process of smoking - from lighting, keeping it lit, docking the ash etc - are there guidelines to ensure a good clean smoke?

Before lighting a cigar, make sure you are cutting the head, just above the line where the cap meets the wrapper leaf. Creating a broad enough aperture will ensure an unobstructed draw, whilst keeping the wrapper from unravelling. The most popular cutting device is a guillotine, alternatively you can use a pair of cigar scissors. The first thing to know about lighting a cigar is that you should always use an odourless flame - a butane gas lighter or wooden matches. It is a slow and enjoyable process taking care not to burn the foot of the cigar; you should hold your cigar at 90 degrees to the flame and rotate it until the surface is evenly lit. It is fine to relight your cigar if it goes out, as long as any loose ash is cleaned off (it makes it much easier to light). Let the ash fall in its own time in the ashtray rather than tapping it like a cigarette, and when finishing your cigar lay it to rest in the ashtray and it will go out by itself.

Click here to shop The Rake's collection of smoking accessories.