We are proud that every member of the Birley Cigars team holds the Hunters & Frankau Higher Certificate, the qualification that carries the title Master of Havana Cigars.

It is the most demanding qualification in the Havana cigar trade in UK. The written paper runs to nearly 200 questions across five sections: Agriculture, Production & Presentation, Brands & Specialities, Vitolas and General. Candidates are examined on how the tobacco is grown, on every Habanos brand and the long list of vitolas, on the history of the US trade embargo and on the UK legislation governing how cigars are sold here. We all had to show our know how to recommend and serve a cigar properly.

Passing the paper is only half of it. The final stage is an oral and practical examination in front of three members of the Hunters & Frankau Board, where the questions keep coming until the examiners are satisfied. A mark of 75% is needed to qualify.

What this means in practice is simple. If you want to know whether a box is ready to smoke or worth putting away, which size suits forty minutes after lunch, or how a Regional Edition differs from a Limited Edition, the person answering has been examined on exactly that.