An Ambassador Answers: Mikael

What kickstarted your passion for cigars?

For some unknown reason i've always been fascinated by cigars. Back in the early 2000s a famous Swedish magician, Joe Labero, showed me how to light a cigar with a piece of cedar wood. I like the rituals and the calmness that surround the art of smoking a cigar. There is no one who enjoys sitting round a camp fire, smoking cigars quite as much as I do! Once you start smoking cigars, connecting with other like minded individuals, who also share your love for them, you quickly realise smoking is very much a lifestyle!

What is your favourite cigar?

It really depends on the occasion, but one that stands out is Romeo y Julieta Churchill, just the thought of Sir Winston Churchill smoking up to twenty of these a day brings a smile to my face! In my opinion, they have the perfect vitola and from what I gather, there seems to be a trend towards smoking bigger vitolas, which does not take to my likening at all.

It is difficult to only mention one cigar, there are several others which I will forever adore and smoke. These include, the Hoya de Monterrey Epicure No. 2, H. Upmann Magnum 46 and last but not least, the Montecristo No. 2!

Do you have a favourite lounge or terrace to smoke in?

I haven't been to that many lounges to be honest, but I do love the warm atmosphere you walk into at Casapelletier in Paris, the same goes for Gentlemen 1919. There are a few private clubs which I have been fortunate enough to frequent on the odd occasion. However, I find that most random piazza's in Italy and bistros in France do the trick!

What is your most memorable cigar moment?

Earlier this year I was kindly invited to an event with Bell & Ross and Les Fines Lames. The event was amazing and extremely well put together. It gave me the opportunity to finally meet several new friends of mine which i had met through social media.

Another memorable moment was when I completed my military service in Sweden. It was towards the end of my service, I had begun feeling pretty fed up by the whole thing. We had set up a camp out in the woods and had been training for several days and were exhausted! Laying down on the grass while on a break, suddenly out of nowhere we were attacked by some of the new recruits. They began shooting at us from their vehicles, remarking that we were all dead; at which point I grabbed two cigars, one for myself and one for a friend and shouted back stating that we were on a break. At which point I begun to light my cigar in protest!

What cigar do you think is underrated?

In my opinion, there are several cigars that I believe go under the radar, however, one which instantly comes to mind is the Poe Larranaga Montecarlos. Many people reading might not have come across it before, nevertheless, it is a wonderful little cigar, and certainly one I believe that should be in everyone's humidor! It is a fantastic summer cigar and goes especially well with a large glass of Cava or Champagne!

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