Cuban Cigar Rolling Masterclasses

I'll be honest I booked this expecting a bit of fun and not much more. I came away having learned a proper craft, made a few new friends, and gained an entirely new appreciation for something I'd been enjoying for years without really understanding.

The welcome

Melody Whisky Bar turned out to be a lovely choice of venue. Warm, low-lit, a little bit tucked away, exactly the kind of room where an evening like this should happen. We had a drink in hand within minutes of arriving, which set the tone nicely.

Elena ran the evening and she is, quite simply, a brilliant host. She's warm, funny, and has a real knack for making a room of strangers feel like a group of friends within about ten minutes. She kept the whole thing moving, made sure nobody felt lost, and clearly loves what she does, that sort of enthusiasm is contagious.

Watching a master at work

Raiza is a Master Cuban Cigar Roller, and watching her work is the highlight of the night. She trained at the Corona factory in Havana, and it shows in every movement she bunches, binds and wraps a cigar in the time it takes most of us to read the instructions, and makes it look like nothing at all. She's also a lovely teacher. Endlessly patient, quick to laugh, and generous with her time, she came round to each of us individually, fixed our grip, rescued the odd torn wrapper, and never once made anyone feel silly for getting it wrong.

What you actually learn

Before you touch a leaf, Elena and Raiza walk you through the story: how tobacco is grown and harvested in Cuba, how the leaves are cured and aged, and how the different leaves each play their part in the finished cigar. The bit about how the filler blend, ligero, seco and volado, determines strength and burn genuinely changed how I think about every cigar I've smoked since. It's the kind of detail that could easily be dry, but between Raiza's hands and Elena's storytelling it never is. Questions were welcomed all night, and no question was too basic.

Then you roll your own, step by step, bunching, binding, pressing, wrapping and finally that fiddly little cap. I aimed for a Gordo size cigar but had to settle for a Robusto. Everything is provided, so you turn up with nothing and leave with something you made yourself.

Who I'd recommend it to

• Complete beginners: no experience needed at all, and you'll never feel out of your depth

• Seasoned aficionados: the technical detail goes deeper than you'd expect

• Groups, teams and celebrations: with up to 25 people it stays relaxed and sociable, and everyone being equally hopeless at the start is a great leveller

• Anyone after an evening that isn't just another dinner

Worth knowing

Dates aren't fixed, the masterclass runs on request, so you message Elena directly through the Cigars Amigos app or enquire via their website to arrange a session. It's a friendly, easy process, and it means the timing can work around your group.

The verdict

The cost for a few hours with two people this good at what they do, all materials included, plus the cigars you've rolled yourself that's excellent value by London standards.

I left with a new skill, a much better understanding of what goes into a proper Cuban cigar. Thank you Elena and Raiza for a genuinely memorable night.

Wholeheartedly recommended.

Smoke well Amigos!