Passion for cigars

Committed to pleasure - Publireportage by Cigar.ch

The La Couronne cigar store in Nyon is an institution. Connoisseurs will find a veritable treasure trove of top-of-the-range cigars - and much more besides.

The La Couronne tobacconist's shop is ideally located, close to the lake promenade in Nyon. The slogan "Cigar passion from generation to generation" printed on the sun blinds should be taken literally. For 45 years, the family of patron Alexis Aazam Zanganeh has run the business, which is known throughout French-speaking Switzerland.

Olivier Le Boudec, a qualified Maître d'Hôtel, welcomes and advises customers. The selection of premium cigars is breathtaking. 400 lines of cigars from all the major countries of origin are stored at La Couronne in optimal conditions. In addition to the most renowned brands from Nicaragua, Honduras or the Dominican Republic, small production companies such as Tres Hermanos or The Legend of Eight are also waiting to be discovered in the full range.

Cigars from the cult Dominican brand Arturo Fuente deserve a special mention. From 2000 to 2010, it was imported exclusively to Switzerland by Alexis Aazam Zanganeh. Three years ago, Le Boudec dedicated its own humidor to the brand. Aficionados will find between 80 and 100 lines of the brand. This is by far the largest range in the country. "Since the humidor opened, sales of ArturoFuente cigars have more than doubled," explains the 53-year-old.

Le Boudec only sells single cigars from the Cuban range. And for good reason. Almost two years ago, Alexis Aazam Zanganeh opened the first La Casa del Habano in French-speaking Switzerland, just outside La Couronne. Here, connoisseurs will find a wide selection of Havanas. In addition to the almost complete standard range, there are also numerous specialties ranging from limited editions to special humidors and extremely rare vintage cigars.

La Couronne is also known for its fine spirits. "Many customers come to us for this reason, and not primarily because of the cigars," explains Le Boudec. In addition to very limited editions, such as a Vieux Armagnac from 1932, there are many exceptionally good yet affordable distillates to discover, from rum and single malt to gin and cognac.

Nyon, just 15 minutes by train from Geneva, is an interesting excursion destination for cigar aficionados and collectors, thanks to Alexis Aazam Zanganeh's two cigar boutiques. If you don't have time to travel, you can order the entire range - over 4,000 items - online and have the goods delivered. A three-stage quality control process ensures that the cigars arrive at their destination in perfect condition.

Photos : Njazi Nivokazi

La Couronne SA
Rue de Rive 34
1260 Nyon
079 808 58 88
cigarpassion.ch