Santa Rita Boisdale Cigar Awards

What a fast and fabulous year it has been—I can hardly believe we’ve just wrapped up the twelfth Santa Rita Boisdale Cigar Smoker of the Year Awards at the iconic Boisdale of Canary Wharf.

The much-awaited event took place last night, commemorating the 150th anniversary of Sir Winston Churchill’s birth—a fitting tribute to a legendary cigar aficionado. The atmosphere was electric, filled with sophistication and camaraderie as cigar enthusiasts from around the world gathered to celebrate the most prestigious cigar awards event outside of Havana.

The evening’s highlight was the presentation of the Cigar Smoker of the Year 2024 award to the one and only Piers Morgan. Known for his bold opinions and sharp interviewing style. Hosted by the ever-charming Tom Parker Bowles and Ranald Macdonald, the black-tie gala was nothing short of spectacular.

We were graced by the presence of notable figures such as Jack Churchill, Kelsey Grammer, Ray Winstone, Paul Oakenfold, Niall Keating, Viscount Hereford, Omar Lye-Fook, the Cuban Ambassador Her Excellency Bárbara

Montalvo Álvarez, James Cosmo, and Lord Carnarvon. The atmosphere was buzzing with enthusiasts and industry leaders mingling and sharing their passion for fine cigars.

One of the night’s significant achievements was the charity auction, presided over by Jack Churchill, great-grandson of Sir Winston Churchill. The auction raised an impressive £55,000, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting The International Churchill Society, Sovereign Art Foundation, and the Lord of The Isles Galley Charitable Trust. A standout moment was the Ramon Allones Hunters & Frankau Aniversario 225 Humidor fetching £11,000—some lucky bidders certainly went home very happy indeed.

Congratulations are in order for all the winners:

Santa Rita Boisdale Cigar Communicator of the Year: Ana Lopez, Head of Marketing at Hunters & Frankau
Santa Rita Boisdale Cigar Sommelier of the Year: Blue Curran of The Emory
Santa Rita Boisdale Cigar Producer of the Year: Plasencia Cigars, Nicaragua
Santa Rita Boisdale Cigar Newcomer of the Year: Casa 1910 Revolutionary Edition Cuchillo Parado Robusto, Mexico
Santa Rita Boisdale Robusto of the Year: Davidoff Grand Cru Robusto, Dominican Republic
Santa Rita Boisdale Churchill Cigar of the Year: Romeo y Julieta Wide Churchill, Cuba
Santa Rita Boisdale Cigar of the Year 2024: EP Carrillo Encore Majestic, Nicaragua
Santa Rita Boisdale Cigar Spirit of the Year: Tomintoul Cigar Malt
Santa Rita Boisdale Cigar Chef of the Year: Niall Keating
Santa Rita Boisdale Cigar Sportsperson of the Year: David Haye
Santa Rita Boisdale Cigar Musician of the Year: Paul Oakenfold
Santa Rita Boisdale Cigar Smoker of the Year 2024: Piers Morgan
Santa Rita Cigar Lifetime Achievement Award: Yours truly, Mitchell Orchant

A personal note of gratitude for the Lifetime Achievement Award—it’s an absolute honour to be recognised among such esteemed company.

The evening also featured some exceptional cigars for guests to enjoy:

Aladino Cameroon Robusto
Casa 1910 Revolutionary Edition Cuchillo Parado Robusto
E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic
Plasencia Cosecha 151
Davidoff Grand Cru Robusto (for VIP & Premium ticket holders)
Romeo y Julieta Wide Churchill (for VIP & Premium ticket holders)

A world first was unveiled during the event: Tom Davies of Tom Davies Bespoke Eyewear presented a unique pair of sunglasses made from Romeo y Julieta Short Churchill cigars to Piers Morgan. This masterpiece of craftsmanship truly embodied the spirit of innovation and luxury that defines our cigar community.

As the year draws to a close, I extend my deepest thanks to our amazing teams at C.Gars and Turmeaus for their relentless hard work and to our wonderful customers for their unwavering support.

For those who couldn’t join us, fear not! Tickets for the Cigar Smoker of the Year 2025 dinner and awards are expected to go on sale soon. Keep an eye on the Boisdale website if you’d like to be part of this unforgettable celebration next year.

Smokey wishes for a merry Christmas and a very happy New Year!

Mitchell