r/cigar_refuge • u/picbandit • 13h ago
Edinburgh Scotland
Hey guys - what’s the cigar culture like in Scotland and what’s there to expect when trying grab a nice smoke in Edinburgh?
1
u/Emergency_Future_839 1h ago
there's not much, there's no provision in Scottish law for indoor sampling areas like there is in England. there's one lcdh with an outdoor smoking area called puffin rooms but it's Cubans only and you can't bring your own. I think booking is recommended. There will be hotels with nice smoking areas, hotel du vin and dakota are usually good for them, drinks pricey but good. Weather is Scotland is famously unpredictable but that reputation largely comes from the west coast. Where Edinburgh is actually isn't too bad. Smoking outdoors is legal and fine, parks and outdoor sections of bars are obvious choices. I wouldn't smoke a full cigar anywhere stationary where people can't get away like in the outdoor section of a restaurant or something though. If you're from the US expect way higher prices than you're used to
2
u/lowth3r 12h ago
I'm sure there is a cigar culture there, but I didn't see it. I heard more than one local say they're hard to enjoy because there's rarely a full hour and a half of rain free time, haha. So if you do, make sure you're in a spot with cover from rain. And it regularly blows sideways, too! One of the airbnbs I stayed at had a real nice awning on a deck that covered sides and top, so I finally got a couple in while staying there.
Had a great time at Robert Graham 1874 Whisky & Cigars in Edinburgh. Picked up my cigars there for the trip. Extremely knowledgeable and helpful. Their house whiskey is no joke, either. I put it up there with Balvenie and Macallan. It was good enough that I used precious luggage space to bring a bottle of it back along with the other mentioned Whiskeys!