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A Great Collector
Posted: Wednesday, November 21, 2007
CA: What sizes would you buy if you were just starting out? Robustos, double coronas?
Wong: I think it is a personal preference. Sometimes I am not too keen about all these new
releases being 50, 52 ring gauge. Sometimes you do enjoy a corona or petit corona. Sometimes you
don't have the time to enjoy a big cigar.
CA: What time of day do you enjoy your favorite cigar?
Wong: In the afternoon. Unfortunately, I don't smoke too much at work now.
CA: And do you drink something with a cigar?
Wong: Coke always. Coca-Cola. It is the best cigar drink.
CA: Is it? You're joking, right?
Wong: Yes, it goes well.
CA: Because of the sweetness?
Wong: You know, that is all I drink now. Rum and whiskey are good, but Coke is my favorite.
CA: Well, you are a wine collector, so what do you think of wine and cigars?
Wong: Wine and cigars for me? Well, they don't go so well together. So you have to enjoy the
wine first and then just relax with the cigar. That is the best thing to do.
CA: Probably one of the best moments for you is just kicking back and hanging out with your dad
and smoking a cigar, right?
Wong: Yeah, all the time. We always have casual meetings in his office and we will be puffing
away.
CA: Do you smoke at home?
Wong: Well, right now no with the baby and stuff. But I don't need to smoke at home anyway. I
usually smoke after dinner [during] karaoke with some friends.
CA: Do you smoke in the morning with coffee or not?
Wong: Every once in a while I do. In the morning, maybe once a week. I like to smoke something
with a bit more kick to wake me up, like a Davidoff Haut Brion. It gets you going.
CA: Didn't you once tell me you smoked in bed when you were in university in London?
Wong: Yeah. Yeah, I used to smoke in bed.
CA: What did you do? Or maybe I shouldn't ask. Were you reading and smoking in bed?
Wong: When I was in London I smoked a lot. I smoked like six cigars a day.
CA: Really?
Wong: Yes, five or six cigars a day.
CA: And now?
Wong: Now? One or two a day. But I still enjoy it.
CA: Have you ever been to Cuba?
Wong: Once, in 2000. For the millennium gala dinner.
CA: I forgot.
Wong: You were there.
CA: I know.
Wong: Cuba is an amazing place. That is the first [place that] I have been where at 7:30 in the
morning, everyone is smoking a double corona. I thought it was great. And in the afternoon,
everyone is sitting on the terrace at the Nacional and smoking a cigar and drinking Mojitos.
CA: What do you think of non-Cuban cigars?
Wong: I like non-Cuban cigars too! Padróns are some of my favorites.
CA: Do you like the light wrapper or the dark wrapper?
Wong: I like the dark wrapper. And sometimes when you smoke these non-Cuban cigars, you realize
how well they are constructed, how well they are made. The ash always burns through well. And I
smoke Ashton VSGs as well.
CA: Where do you buy most of your cigars now? Here in Hong Kong?
Wong: Well, the new cigars, definitely Hong Kong.
CA: You can get everything and the prices are not too high anymore?
Wong: Yeah. Pretty much. We have never really had a problem with tobacco and duty before.
Prices are normal. And the quality is very good now. As far as young cigars, you don't really need
to buy them anywhere else but here.
CA: So when you see new releases, you like to try them and see what they are like?
Wong: I try them first.
CA: Is there anything that you have smoked recently and thought, "Wow!"?
Wong: You mean new cigars? I was saying before that Montecristo Edmundos are great. Montecisto
C's are smoking very well now. And recently I have been smoking a lot of Hoyo Petit Robustos. I
like the size. I also like the new Montecristo Petit Edmundo. It's strong. I just remembered what
one of my favorite cigars was. I have been smoking the Cohiba Lanceros from 1991. They are
amazing. I have them in cabinets of 50 with the old label.
CA: In the past, you had problems with the draw with Lanceros.
Wong: With our old ones you never had a problem.
CA: So do you think Cohiba is worth the extra money?
Wong: Some of them I do. I'm not too sure about Siglo I or II or something like that, but the
VI, IV, Lanceros, Robustos, Espléndidos and Corona Especials are very good.
CA: Any other smokes you are impressed with at the moment?
Wong: Recently, I found that cigars from 1998 are smoking fabulous now. Really good. I didn't
buy anything after that until recently. There were too many problems with construction. They
didn't draw.
CA: Do you buy cigars on the Internet or from merchants you know?
Wong: I only buy from merchants I know. It just so happens that some of the merchants sell on
the Internet. But I don't buy on the Internet. You have to buy from somebody you definitely trust.
There are so many fake cigars around.
CA: Have you had any problems with fakes?
Wong: Well, I have had a couple of boxes. Cohiba Espléndidos mainly. Ah, but you know, actually
they are not hard to spot. As soon as you smoke one, you know.
CA: Do you keep all your cigars in your walk-in humidor or do you also use small humidors that
hold a few hundred cigars?
Wong: I keep most of the cigars, almost 95 percent of the cigars, in [the walk-in]. I keep some
at home. Some in the office for everyday smoking. I like the condition to be constant so I can see
how they are developing. I think you can get a lot of fulfillment aging your own cigars, if you
age them properly.
CA: What do you think of pre-revolution cigars? Is the hype over cigars from the 1950s and
older true?
Wong: I think in general you can find some good pre-revolution cigars. Sometimes it is about
picking the right box. I mean, it is hard because the cigar has been around for so long. For me,
pre-revolution cigars are more of a collector's item. Sometimes you do get a lot of enjoyment
smoking them. But it is just something to have.
CA: Why are the Chinese some of the biggest cigar collectors today? Is it something unique to
the Chinese mentality for finer things in life?
Wong: I wouldn't say it is the Chinese mentality. In Hong Kong, we enjoy the finer things in
life. Cigars are one of them. Cigars, wine, watches…they are all part of the lifestyle. I don't
think necessarily it is the Chinese, but I guess in a way the Chinese people are more thorough.
They are very keen to learn and enjoy.
CA: Do you think there is anything else you need to learn about cigars?
Wong: Of course! [He laughs.] I am learning. I am learning all the time!
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