The Chambers at Taj Bengal, the exclusive business club of Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), has introduced a series called Rendezvous that will provide a platform for intimate and curated conversations, cocktails and more for the members and guests. The Rendezvous is designed to engage and entertain and focus on creating bespoke experiences that are unique and niche. One such experience took place on Friday, April 20, that saw Abhik Roy, founder of Andre Garcia, hosting a sublime evening showcasing his company’s new cigar collection and conversations with a few special guests followed by a curated dinner.Andre Garcia is a luxury product and cigar brand, born from the minds of brothers Abhik Roy and Anindya Roy from Calcutta in 2003. The Andre Garcia premium leather products portfolio includes hand-crafted cigar cases, sleek totes and attaches for cigar enthusiasts to carry cigars, along with luxury leather bags. From Arnold Schwarzenegger to Meg Ryan, this Calcutta brand has become a Hollywood favourite with its exquisite cigars and cigar cases. The cigars are available in a wide range of sizes and flavours, catering to varied customer choices and palates. The fillers are sourced from Nicaragua, Honduras and the Dominican Republic to create a mild but complex smoke with an easy draw. Contrary to other imported cigars that can burn a hole in regular pockets,Andre Garcia cigars represent affordable luxury.
Filmmaker Sandip Ray joined the conversation in Rendezvous at The Chambers. He made the atmosphere nostalgic as he shared happy memories of his father Satyajit Ray from behind the scenes of Nayak. He said, “I’m really enjoying the evening and the atmosphere is wonderful. I’m not a cigar man, but my father would have appreciated Andre Garcia’s cigars.”
“In today’s menu, we have incorporated flavours which go well with smoking cigars and single malts. The menu has strong and milder sauces, strong cheeses, New Zealand Lamb Loin, Chilean Sea Bass, everything which will accompany the smoking very well,” said Nitin Mathur, executive chef of Taj Benga
(L-R) Abhik Roy, Abhik’s wife Debarpita Roy, Sandip Ray with his wife Lalita Ray and Arnab Chatterjee posed in front of the Chamber’s Rendezvous board before they joined the dinner table
In 2007, Andre Garcia began importing cigars specifically for the Indian market and became the first company in the century to do so. Its range of cigars is quite extensive, starting from small cigarillos to Churchill size. It has more than 15 select blends and its bestselling ones are Pigtail, Torpedo, Shortie and Churchill. These now find a pride of place at cigar lounges of the Taj and Marriott Group of hotels.
