Whisky’s Companion
Between a growing industrial landscape and untamed scenery, Scotland creates a perfect harmony of contrasts. A journey through the luxurious cigar lounges and hidden courtyards of Edinburgh and Glasgow.
My long-standing love affair with Scotland rests on its perfect landscapes and welcoming people, who are equally happy to chat or leave you in peace. It is the perfect backdrop for whisky and a cigar. To me, Scotch whisky is the drink of angels and sailors alike; only Scotland accommodates such extremes in harmony.
As a cigar enthusiast, I must admit that the smoking laws there are strict: smoking is prohibited inside buildings and pubs, and is possible only in designated areas or on heated terraces. By way of example, here are two cigar lounges and a distinctive cigar shop where there is also an opportunity to sit and smoke. After all, the Scots are not the English, and when a law presents a problem, they will find a way around it.
Puffin’ Rooms, Edinburgh
For years, Edinburgh was my “city of refuge,” somewhere to escape when England became “too much England.” It ranks among my top five cities in the world.
In the heart of historic Lister Square stands Puffin’ Rooms, a cigar lounge housed in an old stone building, with an elegant style that does not try too hard: warm wooden floors, deep leather sofas, an impressive bar and subdued lighting that blends with the crackle of the fire and the background music. It offers refined, intimate and warm hospitality, including live jazz performances and Sunday blues.
As the country’s laws prohibit smoking indoors, the solution is a beautiful cigar terrace, equipped with comfortable armchairs and heated throughout the year, making it possible to enjoy a cigar even in Scottish weather.
The partnership with the prestigious Cuban brand La Casa del Habano is the highlight here. In the impressive humidor room, you will find Havana’s finest cigars, including special editions, in cabinets of 50, boxes of 25 and ten, alongside smaller packs and individual cigars. The knowledgeable team helps customers select cigars to suit their personal taste.
The bar offers a dazzling drinks list, with creative cocktails and more than 200 rare whiskies and fine malts. To complete the experience, the chef serves unusual gourmet small plates, such as seared tiger prawns, duck confit bonbons and Russian Oscietra caviar, alongside fine wines and Champagnes.
The lounge is a perfect retreat, combining understated luxury, nostalgia and an elegant experience for cigar enthusiasts, as well as guests simply seeking a relaxed atmosphere of the highest standard.
Puffin’ Rooms
11 Lister Square, Edinburgh
0131 285 8082
www.puffinrooms.co.uk/edinburgh
Robert Graham 1874, Edinburgh
My acquaintance with Robert Graham actually began with whisky, when I went looking for its flagship shop on Edinburgh’s picturesque Rose Street, offering a rare single malt of its own production. Founded in Glasgow in 1874 by Sir Robert Graham, this distinguished company celebrates more than 150 years of uncompromising expertise in cigars, tobacco and whisky.
The shop’s blue stone frontage, adorned with gold lettering and flanked by a statue of a Native American, a traditional symbol of old tobacco shops, invites you into an interior steeped in nostalgia. At the back lies the jewel in the crown: a large humidor room maintained in perfect conditions. The shop holds the prestigious “Official Havana Cigar Specialist” accreditation from Habanos S.A., providing exclusive access to limited editions. Alongside Cuban cigars, you will find the company’s premium private label, Lords of Tobacco: Nicaraguan cigars rolled especially for it.
The shop is also a magnet for whisky lovers, with independent bottlings and rare editions. Strict smoking laws mean that smoking is not permitted inside the shop. Here, the solution lies directly opposite, at the iconic Dirty Dicks pub, where an improvised lounge in the rear courtyard allows visitors to enjoy a smoke and a drink.
The clientele is varied, from seasoned collectors to younger enthusiasts just starting out, and everyone receives expert advice. The service combines classic tradition with a “spirit of rebellion,” ensuring an excellent premium experience. The company has additional shops in Glasgow and Cambridge, England.
Robert Graham 1874
194 Rose Street, Edinburgh
141 248 7283
robertgraham1874.com
No.39 Liquor & Cigar Room, Glasgow
Scotland’s largest and most densely populated city is a leading industrial and economic center for Britain as a whole. A cigar lounge is therefore a natural institution here: somewhere to close a deal or unwind after a busy business day.
No.39 is just such a place: a distinctive cocktail bar and cigar lounge that brings the nostalgic, sophisticated charm of classic American gentlemen’s clubs to the city. You can enter through the main entrance via the Diamond Dolls club, or through a discreet rear entrance through the smoking courtyard.
The indoor lounge, where smoking is not permitted, features a wooden floor, glass tables, luxurious leather furniture and glass cabinets filled with top-shelf spirits. Alongside these classic elements, however, there is a party atmosphere, with flickering lights and an array of mirrors.
For smokers, the venue offers a spectacular private courtyard, paved in stone and surrounded by pots and greenery cascading from above. Indulgent leather armchairs and deep fabric sofas, piled with cushions, create a feeling of richness and relaxation.
The most impressive feature is the city’s only official humidor room. The lounge offers a fine and varied cigar menu divided into two worlds: Havana, or Cuban, cigars, with leading names such as Cohiba and Montecristo; and “New World” cigars from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic, with a rich selection of brands including Joya de Nicaragua, La Flor Dominicana, Padrón, My Father and others.
The drinks selection is truly vast, and the team specializes in pairing drinks with cigars according to two philosophies: complementing flavors or creating contrasts. You will find a variety of whiskies, not only Scotch, as well as American bourbon, other spirits, wines, Champagne and a selection of cocktails.
No.39 is a luxurious, exclusive place for dedicated cigar enthusiasts and newcomers alike, as well as businesspeople and connoisseurs seeking a break from the city.
No.39 Liquor & Cigar Room
39 Mitchell Street, Glasgow
141 226 3490
39liquorcigar.com
