There are evenings that leave a mark long after the smoke has cleared. The Blackened Cigar event hosted at the Valley Lounge in Kemptthal was one of those nights. An intimate gathering in one of the most beautifully situated venues in the region, brought to life by the tireless team at Royal Cigar Company.
the Valley Lounge in Kemptthal
Nestled in the valley with all the atmosphere a cigar evening deserves, the Valley Lounge proved the perfect location. The place, the hum of conversation, the steady rhythm of cigars being clipped and lit. Everything conspired to create something genuinely special.
At the helm of the evening were Jonathan Drew Sann, president of Drew Estate, and Rob Dietrich, master distiller of Blackened Whiskey. Joining them was Raymondo Bernasconi, founder of the Royal Cigar Company, a familiar face in Swiss cigar culture, whose warmth and passion set the tone for the entire night. Before the first course was served, Jonathan and Rob took to the floor to tell the story behind Blackened. How the brand came to life at the intersection of premium tobacco and heavy metal, the philosophy of blending cigars and whiskies, and what the collaboration with James Hetfield truly means.
f.l.t.r: Rob Diettrich (Blackened Whiskey), Raymondo Bernasconi (TRCC), and Jonathan Drew Sann (Drew Estate)
The Royal Cigar Company team, led by Dominik Mezzomo, pulled off the evening with the quiet professionalism that only looks effortless because so much work had gone into it beforehand. The food was outstanding. Thoughtfully prepared and generously served. Accompanied by Blackened cigars that flowed throughout the night. Guests moved from blend to blend, each one a new conversation starter.
Then came the moment nobody anticipated.
James Hetfield of Metallica walked through the door.
His presence transformed the evening from an exceptional cigar event into something altogether unforgettable. Cigar in hand, Hetfield moved through the room with the easy manner of someone who genuinely loves what he has helped create. His arrival sent a current of energy through the Valley Lounge that lingered well into the early hours.
For those who were there, the evening represented everything the premium cigar world does best: community, craft, and the unexpected. The Royal Cigar Company set the stage, the Valley Lounge provided the setting, and the Blackened cigars gave everyone a reason to slow down and savor the moment.
f.l.t.r: Jonathan Drew Sann, James Hetfield (Metallica), Michel Arlia (Dep. Ed. CigarsLover Magazine)
A night well spent, well smoked, and extraordinarily well remembered.
Photocredit: Christian Schmid – csf-321.ch