The Big Smoke The Netherlands 2022
More than 250 Dutch cigar aficionados gathered at the beautiful terrace of restaurant Le Barrage in Alblasserdam, The Netherlands for the 2022 edition of The Big Smoke The Netherlands. This event is one of the largest consumer cigar events in Europe and an event many cigar smokers look forward to every year.
Each attendant gets a bag with a few drink tokens and 10 cigars from participating brands and the organizer makes sure that each edition has a few cigar manufacturers present. This year Arturo Fuente’s Northern Hemisphere representative, the legendary Jose Blanco, was one of the stars together with Rocky Patel and Kolja Kukuk from Rocky Patel Premium Cigars. Quesada Cigars was present with Raquel Quesada, Cristal Lastra and Aldo Pucioni from J.C. Newman Cigars, Agustin Mission from Condega and last but not least Juan Martinez, the president of Joya de Nicaragua. The event is a great opportunity for the cigar aficionados to talk to the people behind the brands, and for the manufacturers to connect with the Dutch cigar community.
The weather was perfect, like each year at The Big Smoke. This was the third of fourth Big Smoke at the beautiful Le Barrage restaurant, and the venue is the perfect backdrop with the canal, the terrace and the high-quality finger food. If you are a cigar smoker and you are looking for a restaurant where you can enjoy a good cigar after a great meal, bookmark this place in your GPS. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed. Previously the Big Smoke The Netherlands took place in Rotterdam but it was shut down by the Dutch government. Thankfully Sasja van Horssen, the man behind Cigaragua and the Van Dalen Cigar Boutique stores, found a way to continue this great event.
Cigar Inspector wishes that events like this were possible in more countries as its good for the cigar community to have big yet cosy and relaxed events like this where cigar smokers get to meet the people behind the brands. IT was a great day, and Cigar Inspector is already counting down the days for the Big Smoke The Netherlands 2023.
