Vina Carmen Cigar Smoker of the Year Awards 2021

Cigar Smoker of the Year 2021

December 6 2021

On the evening of Mon­day 6th Decem­ber 2021 Bois­dale of Canary Wharf host­ed the great­est cig­ar event out­side of Havana.

This glit­ter­ing evening has been host­ed by Bois­dale since 2013 and cel­e­brates the won­der­ful world of hand-made cig­ars. Gath­ered for the inti­mate cel­e­bra­tion in Canary Wharf, the cap­i­tal of the East End, were a glo­ri­ous host of cig­ar afi­ciona­dos, cig­ar pro­duc­ers and friends of the cigar.

Tom Park­er Bowles returned as the host of the award cer­e­mo­ny along­side Bois­dale founder Ranald Mac­don­ald, the two shared quick-wit­ted exchanges between invit­ing the 2021 win­ners to the stage. This par­tic­u­lar year cel­e­brat­ed the 200th anniver­sary of the inde­pen­dence of two great cig­ar pro­duc­ing nations, Hon­duras and Nicaragua. Bois­dale wel­comed the evenings guests of hon­our Her Excel­len­cy Guisell Morales-Echaver­ry, the Nicaraguan Ambas­sador to the Unit­ed King­dom and Her Excel­len­cy Ivan Romero-Mar­tinez, the Hon­duran Ambas­sador of the Unit­ed King­dom. Also in atten­dance were the Ambas­sadors of the oth­er two great tobac­co pro­duc­ing nations of the world, Her Excel­len­cy Bár­bara Mon­tal­vo Álvarez the Cuban Ambas­sador to the Unit­ed King­dom and His Excel­len­cy Elnio Manuel Duran, the Domini­can Ambas­sador to Unit­ed Kingdom.

An eclec­tic col­lec­tion of cig­ar lovers joined in the cel­e­bra­tions, includ­ing Eng­lish actor Rafe Spall, vet­er­an film star James Cos­mo MBE, Ella Vaday of the BBC Ru Paul’s Drag Race, film pro­duc­ers Stephen Evans and Jonathan Soth­cott, singing sen­sa­tion Rebec­ca Fer­gus­son, it-girl Geor­gia Tof­fo­lo and Czecho­slo­va­kian super mod­el Hana Jir­ick­o­va. As well as, musi­cians, politi­cians and busi­ness lead­ers, all of whom share a com­mon inter­est in their fond­ness for cigars.

The lav­ish and lux­u­ry cel­e­bra­tion at Bois­dale of Canary Wharf began with a cock­tail recep­tion on the Cig­ar Ter­race, guests were served three deli­cious cock­tails using Old Pilot’s Gin, includ­ing the The Bay of Figs Negroni, which paired beau­ti­ful­ly with the apéri­tif cig­ar, Rafael Gon­za­les Per­la from Cuba.

Cigar Smoker of the Year 2021

All guests received the fol­low­ing cig­ars on arrival:

Cama­cho Nicaragua Toro

Plasen­cia Reserve Orig­i­nal Robusto

Mitchellero Robus­to, Nicaragua

Oli­va Serie V Melanio Figurado

Rafael Gon­za­les Per­la, Cuba

Menu and wines:

Isla of Gigha Smoked Hal­ibut & Atlantic King Prawns

Shaved fen­nel, orange & dill salad

Car­men D.O Qui­ja­da Semi­l­lon 2019, Colch­agua Val­ley, Chile (Robert Park­er 91 Points)

Braised Short Rib of Scot­tish Beef with Wild Mush­room Chas­seur Sauce

Ital­ian black truf­fles, pota­to purée, spinach

Car­men Delanz Alto Jahuel Estate Bor­deaux Blend 2019, Maipo Val­ley, Chile (Robert Park­er 91 Points)

Selec­tion of Arti­san British Cheeses

Chut­ney, Comice pears and oatcakes

San­ta Rita Casa Real Caber­net Sauvi­gnon 2012, Maipo Val­ley, Chile (James Suck­ling 94 Points)

After the main course, the orig­i­nal cast mem­bers of the West Ends best ever sell­ing show, The Defin­i­tive Rat Pack took to the Yama­ha Music Lon­don Stage to por­tray the great­est croon­ers of all time. Ella Vaday joined Frank Sina­tra for a hilar­i­ous duet on the clas­sic song My Way. See film clip

Fol­lowed short­ly by the much-antic­i­pat­ed awards cer­e­mo­ny in which Rafe Spall was award­ed The Viña Car­men Cig­ar Smok­er of the Year 2021. It is safe to stay spir­its were high and the par­ty con­tin­ued with a final night cap of stun­ning Flor de Cana 130th Anniver­sary Dark Rum, enjoyed on the ter­race with the evening’s stun­ning cigars.

Awards as follows:

The Cig­ar Com­mu­ni­ca­tor of the Year

Sean Cro­ley of Hunters and Frankau

The Cig­ar Som­me­li­er of the Year

Sla­womir Bielic­ki of Annabels

The Cig­ar Spir­it of the Year

Flor de Cana 130th Anniver­sary Rum

The Robus­to of the Year 2021

Hoyo de Mon­ter­rey Epi­cure No2, Cuba

The Cig­ar of the Year 2021

Oli­va Serie V Melanio Fig­u­ra­do, Nicaragua

The Cig­ar Pro­duc­er of the Year 2021

David­off

The Life­time Achieve­ment Award 2021

Scott Vines of Tor Imports

The Viña Car­men Cig­ar Smok­er of the Year 2021

Rafe Spall