Old Pilots Gin takes off and sponsors Cigar Smoker of the Year 2021
Boisdale Cigar Awards 7 December 2021
The Viña Carmen Cigar Smoker of the Year 2021 Monday 6th December at Boisdale of Canary Wharf.
Old Pilots London Dry Gin, produced by Croatian craft-distillery, The Spirit in The Bottle (Duh u boci), has taken off into the UK domestic market, by sponsoring the world’s most prestigious Cigar Awards Dinner, the Boisdale Cigar Awards in Canary Wharf London. The lavish and luxury celebration at Boisdale of Canary Wharf began with a cocktail reception on the Cigar Terrace, guests were served three delicious cocktails using Old Pilot’s Gin, including The Bay of Figs Negroni, which paired beautifully with the aperitif cigar, Rafael Gonzales Perla from Cuba – all created and served by Croatian Mixologist and MasterChef star, Filip Pleteš.
Old Pilot’s Founders CEO, Tomislav Anadolac and Master Distiller, Hrvoje Bušić sponsored and presented the award to The Cigar Communicator of the Year to the winner, Sean Croley of Hunters and Franka. Sean was also presented with a bottle of Old Pilots Barrell Aged Gin – the perfect accompaniment to cigars. Founded by Boisdale in 2013 The Viña Carmen Cigar Smoker of the Year Dinner has become the world’s most prestigious Cigar Awards Dinner outside of Havana, celebrating iconic cigars, cigar producers, cigar communicators, and cigar sommeliers in the company of cigar connoisseurs from the world over. Tom Parker Bowles returned as host for this year’s awards.
This glittering evening celebrates the wonderful world of hand-made cigars. Gathered for the intimate celebration in Canary Wharf, the capital of the East End, were a glorious host of cigar aficionados, cigar producers and friends of the cigar. Tom Parker Bowles returned as the host of the award ceremony alongside Boisdale founder Ranald Macdonald, the two shared quick-witted exchanges between inviting the 2021 winners to the stage. This particular year celebrated the 200th anniversary of the independence of two great cigar producing nations, Honduras and Nicaragua. Boisdale welcomed the evenings guests of honour Her Excellency Guisell Morales-Echaverry, the Nicaraguan Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Her Excellency Ivan Romero-Martinez, the Honduran Ambassador of the United Kingdom. Also in attendance were the Ambassadors of the other two great tobacco producing nations of the world, Her Excellency Bárbara Montalvo Álvarez the Cuban Ambassador to the United Kingdom and His Excellency Elnio Manuel Duran, the Dominican Ambassador to United Kingdom.
An eclectic collection of cigar lovers joined in the celebrations, including English actor Rafe Spall, veteran film star James Cosmo MBE, Ella Vaday of the BBC Ru Paul’s Drag Race, film producers Stephen Evans and Jonathan Sothcott, singing sensation Rebecca Fergusson, it-girl Georgia Toffolo and Czechoslovakian super model Hana Jirickova. As well as, musicians, politicians, and business leaders, all of whom share a common interest in their fondness for cigars.
All guests received the following cigars on arrival:
Camacho Nicaragua Toro
Plasencia Reserve Original Robusto
Mitchellero Robusto, Nicaragua
Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado
Rafael Gonzales Perla, Cuba
After the main course, the original cast members of the West Ends bestselling show, The Definitive Rat Pack took to the Yamaha Music London Stage to portray the greatest crooners of all time. Ella Vaday joined Frank Sinatra for a hilarious duet on the classic song My Way.
Followed shortly by the much-anticipated awards ceremony in which Rafe Spall was awarded The Viña Carmen Cigar Smoker of the Year 2021. It is safe to stay spirits were high and the party continued with a final night cap of stunning Flor de Caña 130th Anniversary Dark Rum, enjoyed on the terrace with the evening’s stunning cigars.
Awards as follows:
The Cigar Communicator of the Year
Sean Croley of Hunters and Frankau
The Cigar Sommelier of the Year
Slawomir Bielicki of Annabels
The Cigar Spirit of the Year
Flor de Caña 130th Anniversary Rum
The Robusto of the Year 2021
Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No2, Cuba
The Cigar of the Year 2021
Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado, Nicaragua
The Cigar Producer of the Year 2021
Davidoff
The Lifetime Achievement Award 2021
Scott Vines of Tor Imports
The Viña Carmen Cigar Smoker of the Year 2021
Rafe Spall
Old Pilots Croatian craft-distillery “The Spirit in the Bottle” (Duh u boci) which is based in the Zagreb suburb of Rudeš, Croatia. The name Old Pilot’s alludes to the owners who met while
in the Croatian Air Force Academy, became friends and later developed a shared passion for distilling. A passion for flying combined with passion for the finest spirits inspired two pilots to establish the Croatian craft-distillery and create something truly unique.
Old Pilot’s Gin, an exquisite London Dry Gin, is distilled with hand-picked, all-natural Croatian botanicals such as juniper, orange, lavender, sage, Angelica and olive Leaves ensuring high quality spirits. It is not high-volume distillery but a small batch distillery and everything from distillation to bottling is done by hand at the distillery. The distillery also produces a 45.4% ABV premium Barrel Aged Gin, which is rested in first fill Croatian and American bourbon oak barrels with special barrel toasting. Each bottle is hand crafted, filled, and stamped with aluminium labels, closed with premium bottle sealing wax and satin tear strip. Old Pilots Gin is 100% natural, gluten free and made in Croatia with handpicked selected botanicals.
The distillery also produces a vodka. Old Pilot’s vodka is created exclusively from premium gluten free wheat distillate and purified four times through different specialised filters. To obtain its rich texture, the 40% ABV vodka is paired with separately filtered water. The bottle is hand crafted and sports a pilot’s map stamped on the back.
The company plans to become a full portfolio company and will introduce many other products in 2022, including whisky (single malt, triple malt and four grain) introduced in 2023.
Old Pilot’s Vodka RRP £34.99
Old Pilot’s London Dry Style Gin RRP£49.99
Old Pilot’s Barrel Aged Gin £68.99
No Comments