Around The World In 80 Cigars - The Podcast

The ramblings of a mad man? In this bonus 'podette', if you will, author Nick Hammond asks if he’s mad to stick his neck out with his latest Crowdfunding campaign instead of just playing it safe and doing the same old things everyone else has done for donkeys years. In explaining his reasoning for zigging when the rest of the world is zagging, Nick also tells us why a tiny fenced off plot in a slum village outside León, Nicaragua, shines like a beacon for a handful of impoverished schoolchildren there - and why he is determined to put some of them through school using this latest campaign . Happy Friday, folks.   Nick’s Crowdfunding Campaign can be found HERE.

Some exciting news for lovers of Around The World in 80 Cigars brings Nick back in this special, one-off sneak preview episode. As well as giving us news of a fantastic project about to launch, Nick also lets us eavesdrop on a smoky conversation with Ed Hough of The Safari Series, which took place in the middle of the Kenyan bush, by the campfire on a starry, starry night. On an incredible safari expedition, Nick and Ed wandered, Maasai style, wherever the wind blew them. During their fascinating conversation, Nick and Ed discuss Cuban and New World cigars; how smoke, fire and spirituality are intrinsically linked; the ethos behind The Safari Series; local land for local people; and Nick's burgeoning elephant dung fetish. What other pod offers you all that, plus live elephant dung burning on the campfire?! Safe travels, folks.

This week’s guest on the Around The World in 80 Cigars podcast is a young man in an old business; one who is taking on the pressure of continuing, and innovating within, a tobacco dynasty. In 2016, the world of the handrolled cigar was open-mouthed to learn that Oliva – one of the oldest and most respected tobacco growing and cigarmaking companies in Nicaragua - had been bought by J Cortés – a European firm best known for its longstanding production of quality machine-made cigars. Since then, Cortés – and the Vandermarliere Cigar Family, of which it is part – has become a pioneering force in the industry. Latest incumbent is Fred Vandermarliere – the latest in a line of Vandermarlieres charged with taken this prestigious old form in a new direction. Fred joins Nick from Estelí in Nicaragua in a wide-ranging discussion which forms the last episode of Season Two. Happy Friday, folks.

In this week's episode of Around The World in 80 Cigars - The podcast, the dynamic duo behind Davidoff of London make a return visit for a chat with the epicurious Nick Hammond. All three taste test the Davidoff Year of The Ox blend while discussing all sorts of shenanigans; walnuts in Tehran; cooking Persian rice; the advent of online events; buying weird confectionery in Japan and more chat around the wonder of the shop that is Davidoff on the corner of St James's and Jermyn Streets in Mayfair, London. As we near the conclusion of Season 2, the pod is also nearing it's 20,000th listener in more than 80 countries around the world - thank you all for your support. Happy Friday, folks...

You may not have heard from him yet – but you'll hear of him again. Matt Chatfield is convinced there’s another way to ‘do’ farming. He isn’t convinced by the increasing clamour to stop raising livestock and for humanity to become vegans in order to prevent the destruction of the planet. Matt joins Nick on this week’s show to discuss how he intends to make his small family farm famous the world over. He tells how his flock of sheep – many of whom have names, by the way – have been given a new lease of life and in turn have shown what nature can do with the right environment. Soil has improved. Water retention and drainage has improved. New plants, birds and animals are being spotted. And the meat from the sheep themselves is being clamoured over by London’s top chefs. All in all, Matt is a remarkable man who, until a couple of years back, was running pubs and living on a barge on the Thames. Now he's found his calling. And this week’s show is a wonderful, enlightening, emotional listen. Happy Friday, folks.

Not your usual fella, is Matt Booth. Nick Hammond's guest this week has forged an utterly unique path in both the jewellery and cigar businesses. He's not one for the limelight - preferring to skirt around the outside of the spotlight, content to be getting on with things in his own, very personal, way. A former US Marine and someone who deep dives into the cultures and traditions of different nations, Matt turned a love for unusual design and creation into a subversive, dynamic, cool and aspirational cigar range over the past couple of decades. This is one for the cognoscenti. Happy Friday, folks. 

Today’s guest spent much of his working lifetime as curator of a national treasure. The former Producer of the much-loved BBC Test Match Special travelled the world with the likes of Aggers, Blowers, John Arlott, CMJ, Johnners et al, without the modern luxuries of high-tech audio innovation, sensible travel arrangements, a working phoneline or even a hotel room worthy of the name. Many of the cricket lover’s favourite radio moments came under Peter Baxter’s watch; World Cups, Ashes series, historic innings, the game’s greatest practitioners – and even the legendary Legover commentary. In a lovely interview with Nick, Peter talks about those early years, some of the memorable characters, tales on the road from far-flung places, technical bodge jobs, changing access to players and cricket during Covid. Happy Friday, folks.

This one is a monster pod. A guest I’ve been working to ‘get in front of’ since we launched the podcast, and a much-requested interview, this week’s guest is the biggest mover and shaker in the handmade cigar industry in generations. He’s a New Yorker who’s brought graffiti to a traditional industry and a man who has an unerring eye for raw talent plus a relentless work ethic. The business he created now makes more than a third of the world’s entire stock of handmade, premium cigars every year. Hard to pin down, a whirlwind of motion, this trailblazer continues to plot, plan and put into practice projects which continue to shape the luxury product market, particularly in America. In a fascinating deep dive, he talks to host Nick Hammond about the Life of a Factory; the cigar boom and being among it; Nicaragua immediately after civil war; challenging the established culture; the creation of cigar tourism; hip hop; street art, daily regimes and bringing himself to breaking point on the road. It’s the one and only Jonathan Drew, co-founder of the might Drew Estate. Happy Friday, Folks.

This week’s pod guest is the lovely Jules Perowne of Perowne International. Whip smart, great fun, an inspirational forger of relationships and a kind and thoughtful friend, Jules speaks to Nick about how she launched her eponymously-named and incredibly successful high-end travel PR portfolio, which now stretches across the pond to offices in New York, and whose tentacles reach across the globe.   Promoting exquisite lodges, astounding boltholes and incredible experiences is all in a day’s work for the lady who travels more than anyone you know – at least she did until Covid threatened to snuff out her business in an instant. Maybe a weaker soul would have buckled – not Jules. She has adapted and moved forward despite an agenda that changes almost daily. Plus, Nick and Jules fondly reminisce about yet another Nick Hammond white shark related escapade…   Sit back and enjoy the story of a remarkable woman – appropriately enough in this week of all weeks, where we celebrate the amazing ladies in our lives. Happy Friday, folks.

This is a powerful pod. Nick’s guest this week is the mighty Charlie Hodson; lover of all things Norfolk; huge supporter of the hospitality sector; Chef; former publican and sailor among his many hats. During lockdown, he has opened a fantastic new cheese shop and deli in Aylsham, Norfolk, but just as he was about to open the doors on his dream, he was diagnosed with cancer. Should he abandon his dreams? Not Charlie. He just got cracking. He tells us hs remarkable tale, as well as how he dragged himself back from the lowest possible point in his life. There is also talk of a chilly seaside dunking off Wells-Next-The Sea, chatting to Pierre Koffmann, sausage rolls – and plenty more besides. Happy Friday, Folks!

Today's episode reveals the story of a remarkably resilient English lady who packed her bags, took her kids out of school and headed for rural France many moons ago. It's an dream many of us have had; but not many of us have had the bottle to make a reality. Living in splendid isolation in the shadow of the Pyrenees, Amanda Garnham has carved out a life as a trusted and respected expert on the wonderful world of beautiful French brandy, Armagnac, and she chats to Nick about those early years; about learning France's idiosyncratic way of doing things; of discovering the ancient lore of this evocative spirit that so embodies the lives of those who live and work in Gascony; and about how, in the end, a love of craftsmanship, tradition, wisdom, a thorough understanding and appreciation of the land they live on and a tangible link to the work of their ancestors is what gives residents of miraculous little corner of the world such fulfilled lives. Happy Friday, folks.

Pep Williams is a lovely bloke. And a rather cool dude, too. In this week’s episode, the world-famous professional skateboarder, now a world-famous fine art photographer, talks Nick Hammond through his life and experiences. The pair first met in Havana for a fun-filled week of great cigars and late-night stories and this intimate chat is a must-listen; Pep tells of the crazy life of a teenage skateboarder who hails from the city of Angels; about how he managed to avoid some of the many pitfalls his contemporaries stumbled into; and how he blagged his way into photography and directing music videos. He’s not blagging now – Pep’s latest artwork is for sale for a cool $1.4 million. In a fascinating chat, Pep also reveals how he smashed his own glass ceiling – and took himself into those stratospheric commercial levels. Happy Friday, folks.  

This week's guest will need little introduction to millions of fans around the world. He burst onto the hugely popular snooker scene in the late 80's; a rail-thin, gawky Scottish kid who took on all comers and had no fear. Within a few short years, he stood above them all, a formidable opponent with an iron will. He went on to win no less than seven World Championship titles and held the world number one spot for a record nine years. He joins Nick inbetween commentary sessions on the latest lockdown tournament in Milton Keynes to describe this tumultuous early time in his life; how the red tops tried to trick him; how he was happy to shy away from being pally pally with other players; how he slipped seamlessly from renowned player to a pool ambassador, criss-crossing China; and of how he likes to relax with a good cigar at the end of the day. Happy Friday, folks.

In this episode, during a brief raid into London during the Summer, Nick talks to Matthew Rivett, Secretary of one of the world's most prestigious Private Members' Clubs, the Oriental. Matthew tells of the difficulties facing a Members' Club which can't open to its Members; the quick thinking which has resulted in the incredibly successful Oriental Club Curry Express, which is currently delivering hundreds of grade A curries around the United Kingdom, direct from the Club kitchens (now available to non-Members). There's a ghost story or two, tales of walking the eerily quiet corridors of Stratford House during lockdown, what makes a gloriously-traditioned yet pioneering Club and what it takes to become a Member of the Club first founded by the Duke of Wellington. Happy New Year, folks.

We’re back! Throw another mince pie on the fire, munch on a log and flick the v’s to 2020 – Around The World in 80 Cigars – The Podcast is back. We kicked off in Spring 2020 with Jimmy McGhee of Hunters & Frankau – and he’s back by popular demand for the first episode of Season 2. Over mystery background beeping, religious zealots knocking on his door, two tiny excited dogs, a Quai D’Orsay Senadores and a H Upmann Half Corona, Jimmy talks to Nick about going lockdown loco – and what the future holds. An off-the-cuff, cigar-laden chat ensues. Happy Christmas, folks.

We're back! Well, almost. Your emails have been flooding in to tell us how you've missed Nick's dulcet tones (or something like that) and so we're busy collecting, curating, recording, polishing, coveting and admiring a whole new Season of curiosities for the adventurous souls among you. In the meantime, here's a quick catch up with what Nick has been doing - and a reminder of what you're missing with a nostalgic look back at some of the wonders of Season 1...

It's the Season 1 grand finale! Mitchell Orchant runs the UK's biggest online retailer, as well as a string of fantastic cigar shops in London and the north of the UK and tells Nick of the business' embryonic days, of humble beginnings, of more than 100 visits to Havana, about building a brand, pushing boundaries, welcoming beginners, setting trends and beating the dreaded Corona. The episode brings to a close the opening season of the pod, as Nick retires to a darkened room and gibbers about bandwidth and sound proofing. Subscribe to keep abreast of the news and we'll see you on the others side with a brand new Season 2. Until then - Happy Friday! jnoW8GsewHtOsHY6pktA

One of the most requested interviews is finally here. In the first post-Covid 'Outside Broadcast,' Nick meets the legendary Sahakian father and son team in their delightful store on the corner of St James's Street and Jermyn Street. Here, before the shop opens for the day, and over the newly-released Limited Edition Ramon Allones Allones No.2, the trio hold a lovely, warm discussion on life, love, ethics and morals, fun, laughter, great cigars and familial loyalty among much, much more. Happy Friday, folks!

Fresh from his shop in Savile Row, master tailor Steven Hitchcock talks to Nick about learning how to make bespoke suits over the last 30 years; about rubbing shoulders with the great and the good; about his first suit; the multiple benefits of a bespoke garment; establishing a rapport with your cutter; trunk shows across America; about a pre-breakfast measure up of HRH The Prince of Wales; THAT Vicuña overcoat; the construction of a gentleman's wardrobe - and carp fishing. Happy Friday, folks!

Today's guest is a wonderfully wise and humble resident of Los Angeles County who joins us after breakfast as the temperature creeps upwards. Don Sutcliffe is the man behind The Exceptional Whisky, an outstanding series of Scotches personally blended to his taste. Don loves a smoke, a chat and a great meal, his wife Gayle has starred for years as a nurse in the long-running ER TV series – and he's wonderful company. He chats to Nick about Highland Dancing, far-flung places in Scotland, starting a new spirits business, choice of barrel-aging, corn whiskies, blends and single malts, favorite smokes and much, much more. Happy Friday, folks!