CIGAR EVENING, ASIAN AMBIENCE.

Mr. Gabriel of Cigars d’Elegancia hosted a lovely elegant evening, a private gathering for cigar aficionados at the contemporary Asian cuisine & bar, Taiko located in the luxurious Sofitel Obelisk, Dubai.

Cigars d’Elegancia is undoubtedly one of the most recognized for hosting private cigar sessions in hotels and for private clientele in the luxury of their villas.

It was the ideal setting for this exclusive private cigar event, as all the guests were guided by Gabriel, started with the Don KiKi® Gold Label blended by the late Kiki Berger, with a 91 rating, super. This is a full bodied dark in color cigar, due to its maduro wrapper, blend of all Nicaraguan filler. It was a good smooth cigar, aged to perfection, with hInt of dark chocolate, cedar and leather too, and spices tingling the palette, very nicely flavoured cigar. I did pair it with an Espresso Martini, which just was perfect and complimented each other.

Gabriel makes the guests feel very special and important, as you were seated at the table, your name and initials were embroidered on the napkin, pocket square and the cigar cover, a very royal feel.

As the delicious and sensational hors d’oeuvres were being served, the exotic Pekin Duck Gyoza, Mushroom Gyoza, with Truffle, Mushroom Dashi & Tofu, conversing with Mr. Fardan, as he informed me about the start of the Dubai transformation in the 1980’s and the next 50 years, truly amazing, as we moved to another cigar, the Don Kiki Platinum cigar, let me not forget the special chocolate mousse which was served towards the end.

The Don Kiki Platinum Label are special limited edition cigars, extensively aged, handmade in Esteli, Nicaragua by Master Cigar Maker Don Kiki Berger. The cigar with the maduro wrapper, filler is Puro Esteliano, with hints of cedar, cocoa, smooth, rich, well-rounded flavors and blended beautifully for a medium to full body cigar, with 6-year aged tobacco from late Harvest crops.

Taiko is a scintillating and magical place, the award-winning restaurant in Amsterdam, created by Executive Chef, Schilo van Coevorden, a contemporary Asian cuisine & bar, the first international outpost of Taiko.

The distinct design of Taiko Dubai is strongly inspired by traditional Asian materials, formalism and craftsmanship, blended in a contemporary context, with a dramatic ambience of magical mystery, provided by the dark reflective color scheme.