Cuban Cigar Sales on the Rise Again

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Production of Cuban cigars are once again on the rise after falling victim to smoking bans and the international financial crisis.

The dexterous fingers of Cuba's cigar makers rolled out 81.5 million of the much sought-after smokes last year, compared with 75.4 million in 2009, according to a report released by the National Statistics Office on its Web page.

Cuba's finest tobacco leaf is grown and cured in westernmost Pinar del Rio province where the just-concluded harvest produced 25.4 million leaves, according to local radio reports, compared with the previous year's 22.4 million leaves.

While the figures are up, they are still well below 2008 when Cuba produced more than 100 million cigars for export and Pinar del Rio's tobacco harvest totalled 26 million leaves.

The partial recovery is due largely to growing demand in Asia – particularly China – where the new rich are keen for the largest and most expensive cigars, said Gonzalo Fernandez, deputy director of marketing at Habanos S.A., the worldwide distributor of Cuban cigars.

China has climbed into third place, behind Spain and France, among the largest markets for Cuban cigars.

Cigars are one of Cuba's top exports. » | Tuesday, June 14, 2011

The Cuban Cigar Festival in Havana and Famous Cigar Smokers


THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Cuba has launched this year’s glitzy Havana Cigar Festival on a high note, amid news that international sales of the country's famous hand-rolled cigars are rising for the first time since the global recession hit. To the picture gallery >>> | Friday, February 25, 2011

Winston Churchill's Cigar Airbrushed from Picture
THE TELEGRAPH: A photograph of Winston Churchill giving his victory salute has been airbrushed to remove his signature cigar.

The original image (left) was taken in 1948 during the opening of a new military headquarters, and (right) the airbrushed image. Photographs: The Telegraph
In the well-known original image, Churchill makes a "V" shaped symbol with his fingers – while gripping a cigar in the corner of his mouth.

But in a reproduction of the picture, hanging over the main entrance to a London museum celebrating the wartime leader, he has been made into a non-smoker through the use of image-altering techniques.

It is unclear who is responsible for doctoring the photograph, with the museum – The Winston Churchill's Britain at War Experience – claiming not to have noticed the cigar was missing.

John Welsh, manager of the museum, admitted he was shocked to learn of the alteration, but declined to reveal who was responsible for the display and for enlarging the image. >>> Nick Collins | Tuesday, June 15, 2010

MAIL ONLINE: Spot the difference: How today’s airbrushing PC censors decided Churchill could do without his cigar >>> Beth Hale | Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Winston Churchill Had Whisky and a Cigar with Breakfast
THE TELEGRAPH: Winston Churchill wrote his own breakfast menu which included whisky and a cigar while on his last flight to the USA as Prime Minister.

Photo of Winston Churchill being Winston courtesy of The Telegraph
While on the BOAC flight in June 1954 the plane's menu was not good enough for the Prime Minister so he wrote one out himself.

He requested his meal be brought on two trays.

He lists in his own hand: "1st Tray. Poached egg, Toast, Jam, Butter, Coffee and milk, Jug of cold milk, Cold Chicken or Meat.

"2nd Tray. Grapefruit, Sugar Bowl, Glass orange squash (ice), Whisky soda." He then adds: "Wash hands, cigar."

At first he had tried to amend the printed menu, but in the end wrote out his own on the other side.

With his Foreign Secretary Sir Anthony Eden at his side, the visit to the US was made at the height of the Cold War and his last to the US as Prime Minister.

The menu was kept by the air steward and the item is being sold along with press cuttings from the trip.

Richard Westwood-Brookes, who is selling it, said: "This is one of the most remarkable pieces of Churchill memorabilia we have seen.

"It shows what a hearty breakfast he ate and it was all washed down with a whisky, after which he smoked a cigar. >>> | Monday, March 30, 2009