The inspiration was another passion – food – and a desire to model a specific cigar to go with a specific style of cuisine. The Decimo was developed in concert with Parisian chef Jean Christiansen, the author of a noted book in France on tobacco-based cuisine.

The Decimo has been an immediate hit with critics (see below), but Selva is only starting. “I can see pairing up with a Cognac producer, a top vintner or even a master chocolatier,” she says.

Selva is, of course, livid about the new anti-smoking regulations in France that ban smoking in restaurants. “I think this decree is an attack on our country’s traditional culture of pleasure,” she told reporter Gabriela Greess. “We French who like to smoke and enjoy our meals can hardly believe it. It’s a violation of our basic right to free of assembly.”

Despite the ban, cigar culture runs deep in France. Selva said that there are, at present, more than 400 clubs for cigar lovers, many of which are in and around the capital city of Paris. “We French are very creative; if the current [anti-smoking] solution isn’t acceptable, alternatives will certainly be found.” Already some of the top spots for cigar lovers are seeing special accommodations such as outdoor smoking areas and even a room in a major hotel in which no employees are allowed . . . only smokers!

The new, Winter issue of the ECCJ also includes multiple tasting panels who tried some of the most interesting cigars on the market today:

• The first tasting was focused around one of the most celebrated of all tobaccos: Cameroon wrapper. A total of 17 cigars from three countries – the Dominican Republic, Honduras and Nicaragua – were tried and one stood above the rest.

The Nicaraguan-made Oliva Serie G Double Robusto (five inches by 54 ring) graded out at 4 1/2 stars out of five, the only cigar to be scored that high. It was also identified as a “Best Buy” for its moderate pricing.

Four other cigars rated four stars:

>> Dom. Rep.: Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Robusto (5 1/4 x 50) ;

>> Dom. Rep.: God of Fire by Carlito 2005 Double Robusto (5 3/4 x 52);

>> Dom. Rep.: La Aurora Preferidos Cameroon Robusto (5 x 50);

>> Honduras: La Hoja Tribal Robusto (5 x 50), not sold in the U.S.