Insider information. When it comes to cigars, you both need it – and should be wary of it.

The cigar scene isn’t as sniffy as wine.

You will find it easier to circumnavigate, not as confusing and with a lot less bushy haired, red-trousered, braying public school devotees.

Most cigar people are willing to help a newbie and offer up suggestions of sticks to try. Find a good crowd and they’ll more than likely offer up a couple of cigars of their own for you to sample. They tend to be a generous bunch.

But, of course, there are those who seek more to add a disciple to their font of knowledge than help a freshman. Some speak louder than others, with more strident views. They tend to the same ones who’ll tell you what you should be tasting in a particular cigar instead of allowing you the pleasure of finding out for yourself. And, of course, your experience will be totally different to theirs, because your palate is different too. It’s just that some don’t stop to think about that. They’re more interested in the sound of their own voice.

What you want from Insider Information is genuine, hard-earned good advice. From people who’ve been there, done that, smoked the cigar and remembered its virtues. People like those at Sautter, for example.

Of course, we want to become your cigar merchant of choice. We’d like you to shop at Sautter and see it as your ‘club away from home,’ where you can relax and sample, shoot the breeze or just sit quietly with a coffee and contemplate your favourite handrolled.