Hello and welcome to the new JJ Fox website!

 

With the acquisition of the Robert Lewis brand in the last century my family is able to lay claim to retail cigar experience dating back to 1787. However those of you with good memories, who know us well, will recall that the Fox name only dates back to a mere century before the acquisition when, in 1881, James John Fox, my great, great grandfather, opened our first shop. His philosophy was simple – to build and pass a viable business onto the next generation of Foxes. Four generations later, mine is to ensure it reaches the next generation in even better shape than it was when it arrived to me. Success in achieving this will ultimately be determined by you, our customers. I like to think that much in the same way as each of our customers has their own story; there is a story behind every cigar and brand. Many of these stories began well before I was born with each generation of customers adding to them in some way or other over time.

 

 We as retailers are the custodians of these stories. I believe the industry has to some extent started to rely on the cigar brands to sell themselves. It cannot any more. Nor must we rely on reputation alone to sell our wares. It is my view that not nearly enough effort is made to articulate the “nature” of our product to aficionados – I am very keen that we develop our knowledge and experience and work on novel ways to impart this knowledge to you, the customer. For years we have been accumulating a vintage cigar inventory which is the envy of any competitor, and are continuing to build these stocks with a view to releasing them in time, for sale to discerning connoisseurs.

 

We will only stock and sell cigars with an unquestioned provenance and which meet our quality standards. We do not have a monopoly on cigar knowledge, if you have sampled a cigar you can add to that cigars story and we want to hear it. Where better than in our blog? Our online store is going to be a very valuable tool in leveraging these strengths as we develop them further. We value your feedback and we will listen. The pride we have in our heritage in this industry is difficult to articulate through the internet; to sample it most effectively I would encourage you to visit our flagship store on 19 St James Street in London where I trust you will receive a warm welcome and a memorable insight into our proud past.

 

Stuart Fox

Chairman

 

 

J.J.Fox is please to introduce Tatuaje Cigars at our event on Wednesday 7th of December 2011 between 18:30 and 21:00.

Hand Made in Nicaragua

 Included in the price of your ticket are drinks supplied by Berry Bros & Rudd a selection of canapes and of course two Tatuaje Cigars.

1st - Tatuaje No.7   5 5/8  x  46

2nd - Tatuaje Noellas    5 1/8  x  42

 The ticket price for this event is £15

 

 

The man behind the brand, Pete Johnson will be present for the Event, a real cigar celebrity in the States.

 

 

 

 

Here is a little back ground history behind his brand Tatuaje Cigars.

 

Tatuaje is Spanish for Tattoo – This reflects the tattoos of brand creator – the charismatic

 

         ·       The brand was launched in 2003.

·       First 90+ rating (Cigar Aficionado) 2004.

·       Placed in Top 25 Cigars of the Year 2004.

·       No 4. Rated cigar in the world 2005.

·       2010 voted by US retail as No.2. selling brand (Cigar Insider survey)

 

 

 

If you would like to be the first to sample these cigars at our event, here is how you can book your place.

You simply need to email, freddie@jjfox.co.uk with your contact number, expressing your interest in attending. We while email you right back with your ticket number. Then nearer to the time of the event, we will call you to answer any questions about the event and to take payment over the phone.

PICTURES OF THE EVENT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are pleased to announce our next and most important event of the year.

On November 30th 2011 we will be holding an event in store to celebrate the book launch by Cita Stelzer titled Dinner With Churchill. On the same night we will also be celebrating Sir Winston Churchills birthday.

 

 

 

 

 

If you wish to attend our event on November 30th 2011, here is the information about the event so far. Further information about how to purchase your ticket/s will be made available soon. Included in the ticket price is a premium aged 1997 Hoyo Churchill Cigar, drinks from Berry Bros & Rudd house wines and glass of Pol Roger champagne, table snacks and a signed copy of the book (RRP £20). Cita Stelzer will be present on the night to give a speech on the book she has written.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Short Books for making the book signing by the author Cita Stelzer possible.

We also know that Sir Winston Churchill really enjoyed Pol Roger Champagne. J.J.Fox would like to thank Pol Roger UK for donating a bottle of the finest Sir Winston Churchill Pol Roger Champagne to our event.

 

 

 

Event: - Dinner With Churchill

Time:- 18:30 to 20:30

Ticket Price:- £50 (Non Refundable)

Where:- J.J.Fox (St James’s ) Ltd, 19 St James’s Street, London, SW1A 1ES 

Interest? - Buy your ticket here.

 

 

 

 

French 75 is a cocktail made from Gin, Champagne, lemon juice, and sugar.

The drink was created in 1915 at the Paris landmark, Harry’s New York Bar by barman Harry MacElhone. The combination was said to have such a kick that it felt like being shelled with the powerful French 75mm field gun, also called a “75 Cocktail”, or “Soixante Quinze” in French. The French 75 was popularized in America at the Stork Club. The drink’s recipe was first recorded in The Savoy Cocktail Book in 1930. A later cocktail book, The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks by David Embury, claims that the French 75 is a Cognac-based drink.

If you would like to learn more about how you can make this cocktail from home, please click here.

If you are in the St James’s street area and would like to try this incredible cocktail, please visit The Stafford Hotel. Our friend in the American Bar, Mr Benoit Provost, will be more than happy to be of service.    

It’s pretty clear that the Che Festival in Kilkee, Co Clare is going to be an annual event, and for as long as it runs the James Fox Store in Dublin will be there to support it with a Cigar and Rum tasting.

 50 years ago this year, Che walked into the Marine Hotel and was met by Jim Fitzpatrick – who went onto popularize what some now say is the most famous photograph ever taken. What better reason do you need to host a festival, and what better event to include than a Cigar and Rum tasting.  

 

Andy and I arrived into Kilkee mid-afternoon having made a detour to see a man about some turf. I didn’t have a lot of time before making my way to the Greyhound Bar to set up for the Cigar and Rum tasting, just enough to adorn the fatigues, the wig and lace up my boots. To say that I got a couple of funny looks on the way through town was an understatement; I thought everyone was going to be in fancy dress.

 

I quickly caught up with my esteemed comrade and chief David McGrane, who had arrived before me with tasting sets all prepared.  We set up our stall out front of the Greyhound Bar. Keith the manager had made everything extremely easy, and it didn’t take long for people to call over to see what was happening. A Che impersonator smoking a Cuban Cigar pouring Havana Club Rum will always attract a crowd.  As the rain started again, the 60 tasting participants moved out to the covered smoking area at the back of the bar. We tasted a Romeo No 3, with Romeo Churchills available behind the bar for anyone looking for a little more oomph. The rum we tasted Havana Club Anejos Especial, which was very good, although there were large scale arguments about the correct amount of ice that should accompany a neat sipping rum, it was great to see such strong opinions.

 

It was also great to see her Excellency, the Cuban Ambassador to Ireland Teresita Trujillo Hernandez in attendance supporting the event and enjoying the festival atmosphere. After the tasting, there was time to share tasting notes, or in most cases to meet new friends and get to know old ones better. Later a local band set up, and we all danced and smoked the night away to the sounds of Cuba “Irish style”.

 

I was up bright and early the next morning, and it was back over to the Greyhound to watch Ireland beat Italy in the Rugby World Cup – what a great weekend. Keep an eye out for details on the next Che Festival.  

 

 

On Friday the 30th of September 2011 three staff members took up the challenge of reviewing the newest cigar to our Cigar Room, The Partagas Serie E 2. It was a really tough job to do but we figured someone had to do it.

Here is our review of the Partagas Serie E 2 and the scores we gave this cigar from our four categories by each member of staff.

We then put some tasting notes and our top 5 similar cigar recommendations together.

APPEARANCE

13/15 ; 14/15 and 14/15

DRAW

20/25 ; 22/25 and 23/25

BURN

13/25 ; 16/25 and 21/25 

FLAVOUR

30/35 ; 29/35 and 31/35

” A big smoke. Enrobed in a great-looking oily mid brown wrapper leaf. This cigars profile epitomised the toasted tobacco earthly spicey flavours synonymous with a good Partagas. Althought one of three cigars canooed a little, we put this down to ‘Standing near a fan’ than anything else. The Partagas Serie E 2 is a tasty full bodied smoke which will only get better with time as this cuban cigar has heaps of potential.

Top 5 Similar Recommendations

1 - Juan Lopez Selecion Supreme

2- Ramon Allones Specially Selected

3 - Bolivar Corona Gigantes

4 - Hoyo Epicure Especiales

5 - Trinidad Robusto Extra

 

Following a very interesting conversation about this subject with a customer, it turns out many people have a certain ritual when it comes to smoking their cigar. This ritual starts from selecting a cigar right the way through to lighting of the cigar.

Here is a ritual we thought you might find interesting which starts once you have decided on the cigar brand and size.

 

1 – From a selection of cigars, how does the visual appearance of the cigar look to you? How are its colour, its veins, its sheen and its overall quality?

2 – Very gently squeeze up and down the length of the cigar for spring/bounce. This will help tell you how the cigar will draw, whether it is suitably humidified and, with older cigars, might uncover a hidden knot or plug. Be very careful if you prefer your cigars dry, as this step can lead to wrapper damage.  Choose the cigar with the right amount of spring for you.

3 – Press the top (cap) to detect signs of a pigtail. Many old cigars where made with a pigtail during the rolling process, then covered with the cap. Knowing if there is a pigtail under the cap could determine if you cut the cigar with a guillotine or bullet cutter.

4 – After cutting draw on the cigar before lighting. This is known as the pre burn puff. You are really just preparing your month with the flavours of un-burnt tobacco.

5 – Toast the foot of the cigar NOT actually lighting the cigar just yet. This helps to remove excess moisture which facilitates an even burn.

6 – Fully light the cigar while its in your mouth and gently rotate the cigar anti clockwise, then clockwise. Be patient and careful, a comprehensive and even light at this stage will save on frustrating touch ups latter on.  

 

What are your cigar rituals?

On the 5th of October 2011 between 18:30 to 21:30 we are having a cigar event in our store at 19 St James’s Street,SW1A 1ES.

The theme is past and present.

PRESENT - A new Macanudo Robusto cigar freshly made by a cigar roller on the night. 

PAST - Macanudo 1968 Robusto

The price of a ticket is £30 which includes two Macanudo Cigars, drinks supplied to us by Berry Bros and Rudd and a selection of canapes.

If you are interested in attending our event, please email us at freddie@jjfox.co.uk. We will then email you back with your ticket number. Payment for the event is taken over the phone nearer the time.

Please note this event has places for 50 guests only.

We hope to see you on the 5th of October 2011.

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  • Partagás Serie E No. 2, the 2011 new product launched by Habanos S.A. will be available in the world´s market at the end of August.
  • Serie E No. 2 is distinguished with the incorporation of 54 ring gauge in the brand and for the new design in their presentations.

 Partagás, the famous brand of the Habanos, had its origins in the year 1845. Its characteristics formats, very well appreciated historically by the smokers who enjoy intense flavors. The Series will complement the range that the brand already has with the much appreciated Serie D No 4 and considered by experts as the most representative vitola.

 A Partagás Habano is immediately recognized by its rich and intense flavor. The nature of its blend, made up by tobacco leaves selected  from the Vuelta Abajo Region, is of an inimitable richness and aroma.  All the Habanos are manufactured ¨Totalmente a Mano¨ con tripa larga (Long Filler Totally by Hand).

The new Partagás Serie E No.2 (54 ring gauge x140mm length) inaugurates a  new Partagas Serie,  exclusively created with a ring gauge of 54, greatest ring gauge up to now presented in parejos for this brand: as an innovation to its image, a flap to separate the cigars in the box and an exterior lithographed piece of paper has been added to make the wooden boxes of the brand more easily identifiable in the outlets.

Marca: Partagás
Vitola de Salida: Serie E No 2  �
Vitola de Galera: Duke
Medidas: 54 ring gauge (21,43mm)  x largo 140 mm in length
Presentaciones: Semi boite nature (SBN) - 25 units and Semi boite nature (SBN)-   5 units

For this months quick tip we want to share something useful around the holiday month of August. We needed to eliminate a few great ideas to finally settle on the most economical.

This quick tip involves two things. A humidor and a match stick?!

Many of you that own a cigar humidor tend to make sure the humidification system is filled up to max before your holiday. Why wouldn’t you? You need your precious cigars to be in top condition for your arrival after  two weeks holiday.  

Here comes our quick tip.

Gently place a single match stick in such a way that it stops the humidor from shutting completely. Why you ask? Well without proper ventilation, circulation and OVER humidifying your cigars, there is a far greater chance they will develop cigar bloom. Also over humidified cigars tend to burst or split when you try to return them back to their orginal condition.

Here is an image of what we mean about using a match to keep the lid slightly a jar. Hope this tip serves you well before your next long holiday.

In our July Newsletter we shared our first top quick tip with you. If you missed it the first time round, here it is again.

Many of you torpedo or belicosos size cigar lovers tend to use cigar scissors or the traditional guillotine to cut your cigars. Well this is all very well, but who would have thought about using a “V” cutter? It absolutely works extremely well on these types of cigar shapes.  

So for the month of July 2011, our quick tip to you is, try using a “V” cutter on your pyramide shape cigars. I`m pretty sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised.