In search of the perfect smoke

At The Special’s head office an occasional foray into arduous work is rewarded by a decent cigar. But finding a decent cigar isn’t an easy task, so the patron drops into London’s stockists. And London is a long way from The Special.

However, a chance read of a non-car monthly offered the solution – a cigar shop in Aberystwyth which, it turns out, has been going since 1890. That trading longevity shouldn’t be passed over, so the Cuore made the 60 miles or so trip through Lampeter and over the hills, enjoying wonderful late November views of Cardigan Bay before dropping down to the town.

AE Lloyd didn’t disappoint: it’s a proper, proper shop in the way a few bookshops still are, with cigars and pipe tobacco on display and, as is surely right, some decent wood panelling too.

Our cigars decided on (the advice is first-class, we might add) the trip home back over the hills was a delight, passing what must be one of Wales’ most isolated bus stops.

We should also note that hot on the heels of our X-type crossing 200,000 miles the mighty Cuore romped over the 100,000-miles mark the day before this Aberystwyth trip. With that landmark passed it’s on to 150,000 miles – a feat that, considering how well it’s running now, shouldn’t be too hard.