The Official Launch of CONNOISSEUR

CONNOISSEUR grew from the wish of FUMELIER Cigar School graduates and partners to continue their conversations beyond the classroom — regularly, deeply and from many perspectives.

The club’s name translates as ‘connoisseur’ and expresses its philosophy. The idea had developed over a year in response to graduates and partners of the FUMELIER school who wanted their conversations after the course to become regular and wide-ranging.

The guest of honour at the first open evening was Andrey Adonyev — an expert who represented Russia at the international Habanosommelier competition during the XVII Festival del Habano.

His presentation, The Alchemy of Tobacco: Flavour, Aroma and the Organoleptics of Cigar Tasting, quickly moved beyond a conventional lecture. Behind-the-scenes stories from the world championship turned it into an extended intellectual conversation.

The atmosphere was relaxed and informal, immediately establishing the new club’s friendly character and its balance of serious expertise with free exchange of ideas.

At the end of the evening, Andrey outlined future approaches to studying cigar aromas and announced The Nose of the Cigar — a perfumery tool designed to train tasting through the classic aroma wheel.

The first evening demonstrated CONNOISSEUR’s potential as a space for deep discoveries, exceptional encounters, shared journeys and the practical development of tasting skills.