Dunhill, an emblematic cigar brand

Alfred Dunhill opened his first shop in a London district in 1907. The brand began by selling pipes bought from independent makers. Dissatisfied with the quality of those pipes and mindful of what he was offering his customers, he set up an in-house workshop near the shop in 1910.

In 1912, Dunhill introduced the White Spot Dot on its pipes, showing users the right way to fit the stem to the pipe. This discreet symbol became a recognition mark on many Dunhill products. An international registered trademark set the seal on the highest standard of quality and finish in its smoking articles.

The White Spot Logo was registered as a trademark in the early 1920s. Customers see a certain resemblance to the London Underground logo, but it remains the distinguishing mark of the Dunhill pipe.

Dunhill and its well-known smokers

Among the house of Dunhill’s well-known customers were the cigar smokers Winston Churchill and George VI.
The story goes that during the London Blitz, when its Duke Street shop was destroyed, the company’s staff called their customers, Churchill included, at four in the morning to arrange the collection of the private stocks of pipes and cigars kept in the back room.

From 1977, Dunhill and Cubatabaco began discussing the possibility of producing a cigar brand bearing the Dunhill name. An agreement was finally reached in 1982 and the brand went on sale in 1984. Around ten countries were involved at the start, and the aim was to extend cigar sales to more than thirty.

The difficulty lay in competing with the other high-end brands in the sector, such as Davidoff. Since both brands were produced by Cubatabaco, Dunhill decided not to renew its contract in 1991, judging the two too close for comfort.

Today, original Dunhill Cuban cigars have become sought-after items among connoisseurs and collectors. Their rarity means high prices, as auction results in particular have shown.

Our Smoking.fr shop also carries a selection of The White Spot pipes. Items that combine material quality with the restrained elegance associated with this long-established house.