On Monday, 4th December, cigar passionados from around the world gathered to celebrate the most prestigious Cigar Awards event outside of Havana. The event honored iconic cigars, producers, writers, cigar sommeliers, and legendary cigar enthusiasts. Guests witnessed the great and good of the cigar world eating the finest dry-aged Aberdeenshire beef together with Hollywood royalty, iconic musicians, writers, chefs, sportsmen, business leaders, broadcasters, politicians, and the London commentariat including Ray Winstone, Dougray Scott, David Haye, Derek Chisora, Lawrence Dallaglio, Pete Waterman, Omar, Ferne McCann, Aimie Atkinson, Andrew Turner, Nick Ferrari, Randolph Churchill, and Lord Carnarvon. The evening took place at Boisdale of Canary Wharf and was hosted by Tom Parker Bowles and Ranald Macdonald, founder of Boisdale.

Quotes of the evening:

• Tom Parker Bowles: “The eleventh cigar awards I have hosted and one of my favorite nights of the year.”
• Ranald Macdonald: “Boisdale founded this event in 2013 inspired by the Cigar Festival in Havana. The Cigar Smoker of The Year Dinner is the highlight of the Boisdale calendar.”
• Dougray Scott on receiving the award for Cigar Smoker of The Year: “Thank you so much Boisdale for this award. You can keep your Emmy’s and your Bafta’s… I love cigars. Me and cigars go back a long way. They’re synonymous with everything that’s wonderful in life, relaxing and contemplative. Quite often when I’m at home with my wife I’ll say sweetheart open up the humidor, I’ll spark up and think about all the wonderful things that have happened that day.”

The evening included a grand cigar reception at which Veuve Clicquot Champagne, and Whitley Neill Distillers Cut Gin, and Aber Falls Welsh Whisky cocktails were served. A delicious three-course dinner, including perfect beef Wellington for 250 guests with stunning wines was accompanied by entertainment from Sambrosa Cuban All Stars performing the very best of The Buena Vista Social Club.

Awards and winners for 2023:

• Cigar Accessory of The Year – Boveda
• Cigar Communicator of The Year – Colin Cameron
• Cigar Spirit of The Year – The Hine Cigar Reserve XO Cognac
• Cigar Sommelier of The Year – Adam Lajca of The Connaught
• Cigar Producer of The Year – Davidoff
• Cigar Newcomer of The Year – Regius Serie Limitada Wide Churchill, Peru
• Churchill Cigar of The Year – The Por Laranaga 47, Cuba
• Davidoff Cigar Chef of The Year – Andrew Turner
• Cigar of The Year – Charatan 160th Anniversary
• Cigar Sportsperson of The Year – Dereck Chisora
• Cigar Musician of The Year – Pete Waterman
• Cigar Lifetime Achievement Award – Ray Winstone
• Cigar Smoker of The Year – Dougray Scott

Winners received a beautiful bottle of Xerjoff Perfume, a personalized traveling humidor filled with the Charatan 160th Anniversary Cigars, S.T. Dupont lighter, and an award trophy.

The Cigars for guests on the evening:

• Drew Estate Liga Privada Seleccion De Mercardo Toro, Nicaragua
• Davidoff Signature No2, Dominican Republic
• Charatan 160th Anniversary Special Edition Churchill, Nicaragua
• Por Larranaga Petit Coronas, Cuba
• Regius Serie Limitada Wide Churchill, Peru

Boisdale Christmas Charity Online Auction: Boisdale concluded their Christmas online charity auction on the evening, raising a total of £67,949. 100% of proceeds will go to five registered charities: Parkinson’s UK, Lord Of The Isles Galley Charitable Trust, International Churchill Society, Art History Link Up, and The Siobhan Trust. The auction included 95 amazing lots from vintage cigars, rare whiskies, fine wine, to art and experiences.