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Writer's pictureChristophe Gargiulo

Interview & Initiative: Successful opening of ‘Bertie’ Cigar Bar by Eric Piras

There was a big turnout on Saturday evening for the inauguration of the Cigar Lounge located opposite the Phnom Penh Post Office, an initiative that will add even more excitement to the area, which the capital's municipal authorities hope to transform into a pedestrian zone over the coming months.

Successful opening of ‘Bertie’ Cigar Bar by Eric Piras
Successful opening of ‘Bertie’ Cigar Bar by Eric Piras

Ideally located in this gastronomic leisure area with several restaurants nearby, the Bertie offers a bar, a main lounge and a mezzanine, all dressed in British green and Caribbean yellow, in spacious armchairs inspired by the best English clubs of the genre. The Bertie is also equipped with a 24-hour temperature and humidity controlled humidor where cigars are kept in the best possible conditions.

The Bertie mezzanine
The Bertie mezzanine

A specially adapted wine and spirits list is also available to match the cigars. There's also a terrace and a shop offering a wide range of cigars from all over the world, as well as beautiful accessories dedicated to the art of cigar making.

Stylish accessories
Stylish accessories

Behind this initiative are Eric Piras and his team, who founded the Hong Kong-based cigar distribution and market development company Cigraal. Regarding his desire to invest in the Kingdom by bringing his brand there, Eric Piras explains:

‘I think Cambodia is favourable for foreign investors in their system. You can have a 100% own-name company, and there are no compulsory local partners like in other Asian countries’.

"I like Cambodia, the pace of life and the climate. Also, the people are friendly and smiling, the food is pleasant, it's quite international with lots of French, Italian and Indian restaurants, you can even find kebabs there. And of course, there's very good Cambodian cuisine.''
Eric Piras and his wife
Eric Piras and his wife

Commenting on the success of the inauguration, Mr Piras said:

‘It was a pleasant surprise. I admit that I was a little nervous at the start. When we cut the ribbon with the government officials, I noticed that there were quite a few French speakers. That really interested me. We had a chat with a governor who spoke very good French and I think that's great, especially as Cambodia will be hosting the Francophonie Summit in 2026.

‘I was very flattered by the comments of this official who thought the decor was great, the concept extremely nice with our cigars, our selection of drinks, a VIP area that can be privatised, so he thought it was great and I'm very happy with his comments.’
Guests will include the young actress Khemma, who is also in charge of promoting Bertie in Phnom Penh
Guests will include the young actress Khemma, who is also in charge of promoting Bertie in Phnom Penh

‘I learnt a lot from talking to him. I didn't know that here was the former French residence in Phnom Penh. We're opening on 9 November, the anniversary of the Kingdom's independence, and we'll be opening to the public on Monday 11 November, Armistice Day, but Monday is also a symbol of treasure in the country, ideal for starting up a business’, adds Mr Piras.

The main lounge
The main lounge

As for the type of clientele he is targeting, Eric Piras explains:

‘Cambodia is a country with a relatively recent cigar culture. It's a country that's developing and there's a very young generation coming back to the country, who have studied in the United States, Europe, just about everywhere in the world and who know cigars or want to discover them’, he says, adding:

‘There is also another generation that has loved cigars for a long time and is very happy to have them available now at affordable prices. And that's my aim: to democratise the image of the cigar, because it's important to enjoy it at a reasonable price.’
Great turnout for the inauguration
Great turnout for the inauguration

In conclusion, Ms Piras was quick to add that although cigars may have a rather masculine image in people's minds, they are not the exclusive preserve of men. ‘Women also have the right to enjoy a good cigar, and that's also one of our ambitions: to get more women to appreciate a good cigar without prejudice, in complete peace and pleasure, and in an ideal place like Bertie’, she said.

Belle affluence pour cette inauguration

Commenting on the name ‘Bertie’, Mr Piras explains: ‘The name Bertie pays homage to two British characters, one historical, the other fictional. Bertie was the nickname of King Edward VII (1841-1910), a pun on his first name Albert, because he was known as the Playboy King and, although his reign was brief, he earned a reputation as a bon vivant, renowned for his immoderate appetite for food and drink, his sexual voracity and his smoking... it is said that he smoked twelve cigars a day! The other inspiration is Bertram ‘Bertie’ Wooster, a fictional character - a wealthy, idle English gentleman who gets into tricky situations while trying to help his friends, only to be saved by his wise valet Jeeves - created by the famous British author P.G. Wodehouse.

A wide variety of cigars available
A wide variety of cigars available

About Bertie

The first Bertie opened in Hong Kong in 2019. Bertie Hong Kong was awarded the ‘Best Cigar Lounge in Asia’ trophy by Cigar Journal. Through the Cigraal Academy, Bertie regularly organises educational courses, to cover various topics related to cigar consumption, such as etiquette, cigar terroirs, how a cigar is made and much more.

Bertie also organises tastings of cigars and various drinks such as whisky and rum, but also tea or sake, to open minds and palates to different ways of enjoying the lifestyle that surrounds cigars.

Bertie Phnom Penh and Hong Kong are managed by Eric Piras and his team - Cigraal Ltd.

 

N16, rue 13, Village 9, Sangkat Wat Phnom, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh (opposite the post office)

 

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التعليم الروحي تحت إشراف شيخ روحاني

تحت إشراف شيخ روحاني، يمكن للأفراد الاستفادة من دروس ودورات تعليمية تهدف إلى تعزيز الفهم الروحي والديني. تشمل هذه الدروس مواضيع متنوعة مثل تفسير القرآن، الحديث الشريف، الفقه، والعقيدة. من خلال هذه الدروس، يمكن للأفراد بناء قاعدة معرفية قوية تساعدهم في تحقيق النمو الروحي.

إن التعليم الروحي تحت إشراف شيخ روحاني لا يقتصر على المعرفة النظرية فقط، بل يشمل أيضًا التطبيق العملي للقيم والمبادئ الدينية في الحياة اليومية. هذا يساعد الأفراد على تحقيق توازن بين الحياة الروحية والمادية، مما يساهم في تحقيق السعادة والرضا الداخلي.

دور شيخ روحاني في حل المشكلات الروحية والنفسية

يواجه العديد من الأفراد مشكلات روحية ونفسية تؤثر على حياتهم اليومية. يقوم شيخ روحاني بدور المستشار والمرشد في مثل هذه الحالات، حيث يقدم النصائح…

いいね!
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