The Delhi Cigar Company was born out of a need for a structured platform for social interaction among cigar smokers in the Capital. And unlike many such clubs, this group isn’t affiliated to any brand or company. The club donates the cigars though members frequently bring their own. Members have individual tastes and levels of passio—-some prefer the milder Davidoff while others swear by the robust Cohiba and yet others settle down for nothing but the Castro.

The club is now gearing up to open a Dubai chapter this summer. “Members of the cigar club are highly successful individuals who travel widely. One of their popular destinations for work and holiday is Dubai. Also, Dubai has a growing number of cigar buffs of its own,” says Sharik Currimbhoy, president of the club, who is vice-president, Shahnaz Husain group of companies. He adds that despite being less than a year old, the club has already held one international meeting in London last year.

In between puffs, the men share their interests and sort out their business problems. The conversation flows about the latest news in international art to business strategies at large. “The idea is deeper than the cigar and the need to try out new flavours or brands. It comes down to a desire to meet intelligent and driven people in the city and share ideas and thoughts,” says Currimbhoy. This is the reason, he adds, that the club has strict membership criteria and its roster comprises mostly the rich and beautiful names of the country—doctors, actors, lawyers and industrialists.

One interesting facet is that more than 25% of the members are women. “Why should men have all the fun? ,” says Pallavi Paul, one of the earliest members of the club. “I am happy that many women have joined the club.”

The club expands with each meeting. There were 10 members during the first meeting at the Delhi Golf Club and 80 the last time the club got together, at Tabula Rasa, a popular resto-bar in south Delhi. This time, the number is set to cross 100. “We’re now trying to focus on smaller dinners and not just big parties to keep the interaction intimate,” says Currimbhoy. Viraj Mohan, a member, brings his event management experience to the table while organizing the meets. Other members of the board are in charge of finances and cigar selection for the evening. “We tie-up with a new location every month and work out a fixed price for the evening,” adds Currimbhoy.