The Journal

Illustration of an open round tobacco tin packed with flake, its lid propped behind it, a few loose flakes and strands, and a briar pipe with a vulcanite stem and brass band.
Pipe tobacco styles explained
A clear guide to the main pipe tobacco styles and cuts, how to prepare flake, and how to keep tobacco fresh in tins, pouches and jars. Read more...
Two crossed cigars, one with a burgundy band and one with a black band, over an engraved compass rose and a faint chart of the Caribbean.
Cuban vs New World cigars
What ‘Habano’ really means, how Cuban cigars reach Britain, where New World cigars come from, the makers behind them and how to choose. Read more...
Illustration of an open wooden humidor filled with banded cigars, with a brass-rimmed hygrometer set into the cedar-lined lid.
How to store cigars
A practical guide to keeping cigars in perfect condition, covering humidity, temperature, humidors, travel, cellophane, ageing and the mistakes to avoid. Read more...
Engraved-style illustration of a banded cigar resting across a tobacco leaf, with a double-blade guillotine cutter beside it, in gold linework on a dark background.
Cigars for beginners: how to choose your first cigar
Everything a newcomer needs to choose a first cigar with confidence, from ring gauge and strength to cutting, lighting and a few starter suggestions. Read more...