In the marvellous movie based on the life of Sir Richard Burton (the 19th century explorer, not the 20th century actor) called Mountains on the Moon, there is one scene early on when Patrick Bergan, in one of his best roles, as Burton, is sitting with a friend by the fire. In one hand a cigar, in the other a glass of cognac.

Then, oh joyous wonders of wonders that reveals hidden secrets to the unwashed at unsuspecting times, he takes a drag off the cigar and blows it gently into the glass of cognac. The shape of the glass holds the smoke while he leans over and gently inhales it.

I was transfixed. If only my bride would let me smoke cigars at home! I have shared this bit of perfect pretentiousness with many a friend at bars, and the look on their face is always the same. Even non-smokers start calling out for a cigar - any cigar.

Purists may ask, and rightly so, if either the smoke or the cognac interferes with the pure taste of both? My response: I don't know and I don't care. The marriage is all that matters.

I am a cognac snob (thankfully not a cigar snob) and probably wouldn't do this with Pierre Richard cognac, but if it were important, well, sometimes we have to do what we have to and damn the consequences.

Try this with your friends. They will look at you with new respect and admiration - if you don't cough.

In Jamesons Veritas