Dale Raven North visits Tomtom Cigars & Coffee in Belgravia, London, a small 1997 shop with a hidden basement sampling lounge.
Author Archives: Dale Raven North
Posted inCigar Travel
Visiting Plasencia Cigars in Estelí, Nicaragua
Dale Raven North visits the Plasencia cigar factory in Estelí — five generations of tobacco, organic farming, and a company with heart. Part 3 of a three-part series.
Posted inCigar Travel
A Visit to Rocky Patel in Estelí, Nicaragua
Dale Raven North tours Rocky Patel’s tobacco farm and cigar factory in Estelí, Nicaragua, from seedling greenhouses to aging rooms. Part 2 of a three-part series.
Posted inCigar Travel
Nicaragua’s Cigar Capital: Estelí & Las Villas Cigars
Dale Raven North visits Estelí, Nicaragua — the world’s premium cigar capital — and tours the boutique Las Villas factory. Part 1 of a three-part series.
Posted inPlaces
Where to Smoke Cigars: San Pedro, Belize
Smoking cigars in the Caribbean is a given. White sands, turquoise waters, fruity drinks, and hammocks. I don’t know why someone would go to a Caribbean island and not smoke a cigar. Belize is no exception. Belize may not come to mind when thinking of Caribbean destinations, but venture offshore to one of its tiny […]
Posted inPlaces
Where to Smoke Cigars: Detroit, USA
Detroit may not be on your radar as a cigar town. You may associate it with the bleak opening credits of ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ or the crime ridden dystopia in Robocop, but I am here to tell you that Detroit is a good cigar town. You can’t smoke everywhere, but patios seem to be fine […]
Posted inOpinion
Fonseca Du Nord Review: Canada’s New Regional Edition Cuban Cigar
Extra! Extra! Robusto Extra! Fonseca Du Nord Arrives in Canada For nearly eight years, Canadian Habanos lovers have watched with envy as other regions, from the Benelux to Brazil, received their own special regional edition cigars. The wait officially ended on 20 January 2026 when the Fonseca Du Nord (Edición Regional Canada) was launched in […]
Posted inHot Spots
San Pedro, Belize
Smoking cigars in the Caribbean is a given. White sands, turquoise waters, fruity drinks, and hammocks. I don’t know why someone would go to a Caribbean island and not smoke a cigar. Belize is no exception. Belize may not come to mind when thinking of Caribbean destinations, but venture offshore to one of its tiny […]
Posted inPlaces to Smoke Internationally
Detroit, USA
Detroit may not be on your radar as a cigar town. You may associate it with the bleak opening credits of ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ or the crime ridden dystopia in Robocop, but I am here to tell you that Detroit is a good cigar town. You can’t smoke everywhere, but patios seem to be fine […]
Posted inOpinion
Looming Cuban Cigar Crisis in Canada: Why the Cuban Cigar Supply Could Dry Up in 2026
Since the early 1960s, Canadian cigar smokers have enjoyed a privilege their American neighbours couldn’t: easy access to a steady supply of authentic Cuban Habanos. Recently, however, that abundance is drying up like a neglected humidor. A compounding series of internal collapses and external geopolitical pressures risks turning a Cuban cigar supply shortage from a […]