Prelude to Amsterdam (Day 0 – April 11th 2011)

I am off the to the land of Orange and smoking later. As before i will keep a smoking diary, hopfully while im there. A few days in Amsterdam and one in Kampan, to visit the De Olifant factory.

De Olifant

For those of you who dont know De Olifant, there a cigar you have to try. When most cigar smokers think of Dutch cigars, Henri Wintermans, La Paz, Hofnar and Agio come to mind. There is nothing wrong with these smokes, if you like the dry cigars or ones that have spent months sealed up in cellophane. There is of course the other way to keep cigars, regulated humidity/temperature and of course Cedar.  I personally have only seen/had 2 brands of Dutch “Humidor Fresh” (I like that one) cigars; De Heeren van Ruysdael & De Olifant. The Ruysdael was a slender panatella, the 3 i have had smoked beautifully. I suspect there was a lot of age, the price tag was faded and the box was too. De Olifant on the other hand are still avaliable and produce some outstanding cigars.

The De Olifant range is diverse and each smoke, wrapped in the renowned Sumatran Sand Wrapper is a different experience. The larger Ds Valentyn, Corona and Corona Panatella offer a smother more sweet cedar falvours. While the smaller Cigarillos and half coronas, offer a richer, more peppery smoke. My personal favourite is the Matelif with either the Sumatran or Brazilian wrapper. As many of you know, Maduro and Dark leaf gets me a little excited. I have started buying 2 boxes of the Brazilian Matelief, every year.  One to smoke and one to save, such a good little cigar.

I find it hard to get people to try these cigars. The price is the biggest stumbling block, while still being machine made. The De Olifant cigars, cost the same as some Dominican & Nicaraguan cigars. But once people have got past the shock of Dutch cigars at Dominican prices, they fall in love with them. So i you ever want something different, for those warm days with a beer. Give the Elephant a try.

Available at or through your (UK) specialist tobacconist.

Buying Tobacco/Cigars

The other main reason for my visit is to get my hands on many tobaccos i cant at home. I have a few i want, some Old Holborn Yellow, Dum light blue, Amsterdamer, Pueblo Cigarettes, 2 Pipe Tobaccos for pipe club (Plain & Aromatic), some more premium Dutch, Sumatran wrapped cigars and maybe a new pipe.

On the whole im after what the Dutch are renowned for, GOOD TOBACCO!