In the face of Scotland’s hostile smoking climate, the country’s oldest cigar shop, Robert Graham, has had to move into larger premises in the heart of Glasgow, former home of the Tobacco Lords, 18th century tobacco merchants who became hugely wealthy plying their trade.
Robert Graham, which was established in 1874 and is one of Scotland’s oldest and most renowned whiskey suppliers, is an associate company of C.Gars, which was launched in 1997 and is now one of the world’s largest specialist cigar merchants.
“Our original shop was only 200 square feet and a well-known oasis for Glasgow’s smokers,” said Mitchell Orchant, managing director of C.Gars.
“Since Scotland’s smoking ban was introduced, our business has grown to such an extent we’ve had to move to brand new premises in West George Street.
“At just over 2,000 square feet, our new tobacco shop is now Scotland’s largest, and one of the largest in the U.K.
“One of the reasons for its continued success is that Scotland’s smokers and tobacco-tolerant visitors like to enjoy the finer things of life. This has long been the case in Glasgow, which owes part of its architectural heritage to the 18th century Tobacco Lords.
“Unlike the Tobacco Lords, Glasgow’s cigar smokers are now forced to light up in their own homes rather than in public. But it hasn’t stopped 21st century cigar smokers—rather, the reverse …”