The Vina Carmen Cigar Smoker of the Year 2022
Company CEOs and celebrities descend on Canary Wharf for the greatest cigar event outside of Havana, supported by Viña Carmen.
Last night, Boisdale of Canary Wharf hosted their annual celebration of the cigar, bringing cigar aficionados and celebrity cigar smokers from around the world to share in their passion for the exquisite tobacco product. Hosted by Tom Parker Bowles and Ranald Macdonald, the banquet and vintage cigar auction culminated with Oris Erhuero winning the award for Viña Carmen Cigar Smoker Of The Year 2022.
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. Boisdale welcomed the evening’s guests of honour Her Excellency Guisell Morales-Echaverry, the Nicaraguan Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Her Excellency Bárbara Montalvo Álvarez the Cuban Ambassador to the United Kingdom.
Also in attendance were the great and the good from the world of film, music, business and politics. Guests included Nancy Dell’Ollio, musician Hamish Stuart from The Average White Band, athletes Mike Edwards and Perri Shakes-Drayton, actors Oris Erhuero, Tom Canton, chef Claude Bosi, Head of the British Army General Sir Patrick Sanders and host of the evening Tom Parker-Bowles.
On receiving the award Oris Erhuero graciously accepted his win and spoke of the togetherness and friendships that cigar smoking had brought to his life. It was a sentiment echoed by Lifetime Achievement Award winner, General Sir Patrick Sanders who stressed the importance for troops serving overseas of sharing cigar moments together. Oris received a bottle of Hine Rare Cognac, a S.T.Dupont Diamond Head Yellow Gold Ligne Lighter and a Fine Lames custom gold cutter.
Throughout the evening, Boisdale played host to a charity auction, raising £84,400 for good causes including incredible lots of fine and rare cigars and humidors, with the top lot – a Cohiba Serie A Humidor going for £54,500.
Guests enjoyed a sumptuous dinner of marinated Orkney Salmon and Aberdeenshire Beef which Boisdale is famed for, served with fantastic Viña Carmern wines. The dinner was finished with a tasting of Hine Rare Cognac and all guests received four luxurious cigars to enjoy throughout the evening as well.
THE WINNERS
Cigar Smoker of the Year, presented by Viña Carmern
Oris Erhuero
Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Viña Carmern
General Sir Patrick Sanders KCB, CBE, DSO, ADC
Cigar Accessory of the Year, presented by The Nicaraguan Ambassador Her Excellency Guisell Morales-Echaverry
Les Fines Lames
Cigar Communicator of the Year, presented by The Cuban Ambassador Her Excellency Barbara Montalvo Alvarez
Ricardo Carioni
Cigar Spirit of the Year, presented by Hunters & Frankau
Facundo Eximo 10 Year Old Rum
Cigar Sommelier of the Year, presented by Hine Cognac
Vanessa Vieria at The Sahakian Lounge, The Bulgari Hotel
Cigar Producer of the Year, presented by C.Gars
AJ Fernandez
Cigar Newcomer of the Year, presented by Tor Imports
Zino Nicaragua
Churchill Cigar of the Year, presented by Innis & Gunn
Romeo y Julieta Churchill
Cigar of the Year, presented by Holland & Holland
Aladino Corojo Robusto
Davidoff Cigar Chef of the Year, presented by Davidoff
Claude Bosi
Cigar Sportsperson of the Year, presented by Jade Vault
Mike Edwards
Cigar Musician of the Year, presented by The Wren Press
Hamish Stuart
THE CIGARS
All guests received the following cigars:
Aladino Robusto 5 x 5 Ring Guage, Honduras
AJ Fernandez New World Dorado Robusto
Romeo Y Julieta Petit Royales 3 5/8 x 47 Ring Gauge
Zino Nicaragua Robusto 5 x 50 Ring Gauge, Ecuador/Nicaragua/Honduras
