Who Smoked 40 Cigars a Day? The Wild Habit of Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Among all the legendary cigar smokers in history, few stories are as jaw-dropping as that of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the Victorian engineer who reportedly powered through 30–40 cigars a day – and towards the end of his life, possibly even more.
Brunel designed railways, tunnels, bridges and steamships that reshaped Britain. He also seemed to live on adrenaline, four hours’ sleep, and an astonishing quantity of cigars. For modern cigar lovers, his story is a fascinating (and slightly terrifying) example of 19th-century excess.
In this article we’ll look at:
- Who Brunel was – and why he smoked so much
- What kinds of cigars he’s likely to have enjoyed
- How you can channel his taste (without copying his 40-a-day habit)
- Where to find similarly characterful smokes in UK cigar shops listed on
Cigars Near Me
Meet the Man Behind the Smoke: Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806–1859) is routinely ranked among the
greatest Britons of all time. He built the Great Western Railway, the famous Clifton Suspension Bridge (Bristol), and groundbreaking ships like the SS Great Britain and SS Great Eastern. His projects pushed the limits of engineering – and apparently, of his own health.
According to contemporary accounts and modern museum research, Brunel was known to smoke 30–40 cigars a day, sometimes more. His cigar case reportedly held 48 cigars, and there are stories suggesting he aimed to empty it daily. Whether every day really hit 40 or not, the image stuck: a driven genius, running on steam, stress, and perpetual Havana smoke.
One writer described him as working 20 hours a day, regularly falling asleep at his desk with a Cuban cigar still in his mouth. It’s the sort of detail cigar lovers remember: the man who built railways and ships, with a half-finished cigar as his ever-present companion.
Important note: from a modern health perspective, 40 cigars a day is a serious
level of tobacco use that no doctor would recommend. This article celebrates the history, character and lore – not the health implications. For us, the lesson is about
ritual and appreciation, not raw quantity.
What Did Brunel Actually Smoke?
We don’t have a precise inventory of Brunel’s favourite brands (no “Brunel’s Top 10” written in his notebook, sadly), but we can make some informed guesses.
In mid-19th-century Britain, a man of his status would almost certainly have been smoking Havana cigars – imported Cuban leaf was the gold standard. Think:
- Medium to full-bodied Cuban cigars with rich, earthy profiles
- Stout, robust formats to withstand a busy day – not delicate little cigarillos
- Possibly shorter sizes he could smoke between meetings and site visits
If Brunel were alive today, you can easily imagine him with a robust Cuban from a specialist shop like those listed on C.Gars Leeds – walking in, grabbing a handful of sturdy coronas or robustos, and heading back out to the drawing office.
The sort of cigars that fit the Brunel mythos today might include:
- Earthy, woody Cubans – Punch, Partagás, or similar houses known for robust flavour
- Medium-full robustos or coronas – cigars with enough body to satisfy a seasoned smoker
- Unfussy, workhorse sticks – cigars you reach for repeatedly, not just for special occasions
You’ll find that kind of classic Cuban character in many of the shops listed on
Cigars Near Me’s UK cigar shops directory, whether you’re browsing a seaside terrace venue or a serious London humidor.
From Brunel’s Day to Yours: Modern Equivalents
While we might not know the exact marcas he favoured, it’s fun to imagine what Brunel might choose today – and where he’d buy them. Here are a few “Brunel-style” cigar ideas, with internal links to real-world UK venues and stockists listed on Cigars Near Me.
1. Stout Cuban Robusto – The “End-of-Project” Smoke
Picture Brunel finally finishing a bridge or ship launch. That deserves a serious cigar:
something Cuban, medium-full, robust and satisfying. In modern terms, you’d be hunting for a punchy robusto from a specialist shop.
If you’re in Hampshire, you might track down a bold Havana at Fareham Wine Cellar (Havana Cigar Point), where the team can guide you through a selection of cigars alongside their wines and spirits.
2. Reliable Everyday Havana – The “Drawing Office” Cigar
For a man working 20-hour days, not every cigar was a grand occasion. He’d need a “daily driver” – a dependable Havana he could smoke while sketching plans or pacing the shipyard.
For that sort of role, you might choose a value-friendly Cuban or Cuban-style stick from a destination like The House of Cigars Showroom in Kensington, where the humidor is designed for relaxed browsing and talking cigars with knowledgeable staff.
3. Terrace-Friendly Havana – The “Ship Launch” Cigar
Brunel spent much of his career outdoors on sites, docks and shipyards. Today, the equivalent might be a cigar enjoyed on a rooftop or waterfront terrace with a view.
In Southampton, the Southampton Harbour Hotel (HarBAR – Cigar Terrace) offers exactly that vibe – panoramic marina views and a cigar-friendly terrace. A medium-bodied Cuban corona or petit robusto here would be a fitting nod to Brunel’s maritime projects.
4. Country-House Cigars – The “Brunel at Rest” Fantasy
It’s hard to imagine Brunel truly resting, but suppose he did escape the noise of London for a country estate. Today, a cigar lover might do the same by heading to one of the countryside wedding and event venues listed on Cigars Near Me.
For example, Froyle Park Country Estate on the Surrey–Hampshire border offers an exclusive-use venue where cigars can be purchased on site and enjoyed outdoors. A refined Cuban or New World cigar on the terrace there feels very “Victorian magnate with a view.”
Alternatively, you could settle in with a cigar at The Jack Russell in Faccombe, a beautiful country inn with gardens and a warm welcome – the sort of place where a modern Brunel might spread his plans out on a table and talk engineering over smoke and whisky.
5. “Engineering the Perfect Pairing” – Cigars and Food
We know Brunel was intense, but he wasn’t all work and no play. Many cigar lovers today look for places where a good meal and a good smoke go hand in hand.
Venues like The Hawk Inn in Amport combine quality dining with outdoor spaces where you can enjoy a cigar afterwards. Think hearty food, a dram of whisky, and a well-chosen Havana or New World cigar under the night sky.
Across Hampshire more broadly, the Hampshire cigar shops and venues directory on Cigars Near Me showcases hotels, terraces and merchants where you can build your own Brunel-inspired evening.
How on Earth Do You Smoke 40 Cigars a Day?
Short answer: with difficulty, and not without consequences.
Modern cigar smokers typically enjoy a handful of cigars a week – maybe one in the evening, or a couple on special occasions. Brunel, by contrast, seemed to live with a cigar permanently between his fingers. The stories of him smoking 40 cigars a day highlight:
- Incredible stress – his projects were huge, risky and tightly scheduled
- Victorian norms – heavy smoking was common, and health risks were poorly understood
- Habit and identity – the cigar was part of his persona as much as his top hat
From a modern point of view, there’s no need (and no good reason) to emulate those numbers.
Instead, the Brunel story can remind us to:
- Choose cigars that mean something – to celebrate a big project, a promotion, a wedding
- Slow down and enjoy them properly, rather than chain-smoking mindlessly
- Make the ritual part of the experience: the cut, the toast, the first draw, the setting
A single well-chosen cigar at a great venue – say, on the terrace at Southampton Harbour Hotel’s cigar terrace or outside a specialist shop you’ve discovered via Cigars Near Me’s city listings – will give you more pleasure than racing through a dozen in a day.
Building Your Own “Brunel Box”: A Modern Cigar Selection
Brunel’s famous cigar case reportedly held 48 cigars. If you wanted to assemble a modern version – minus the 40-a-day consumption – you might:
- Choose a few full-bodied Cubans for big personal milestones: promotions, finished projects,
big anniversaries. - Add some medium-bodied Havanas for relaxed weekend smokes with friends.
- Include high-quality New World cigars (Nicaraguan, Honduran, Dominican) for variety and value.
- Keep a couple of shorter formats (petit robustos, coronas) for winter evenings or quick terrace
breaks. - Buy from real-world merchants who understand storage, provenance and advice – exactly the kind
of places listed on Cigars Near Me’s shop finder.
You might visit C.Gars Leeds for a box of Cubans, pick up some New World sticks from The House of Cigars Showroom, and then keep a few “occasion cigars” ready for trips to venues like Froyle Park or The Jack Russell.
Final Thoughts: Learn from Brunel’s Fire, Not His 40-a-Day Habit
Isambard Kingdom Brunel is remembered not just for his astonishing engineering achievements, but also for the almost mythic intensity of his lifestyle. The story that he smoked 40 cigars a day has become part of cigar folklore – a symbol of relentless drive, creativity and, perhaps,
self-destructive obsession.
As modern cigar enthusiasts, we can enjoy the romance of that image without copying the excess.
Choose cigars that reflect your taste, your projects and your milestones. Buy them from proper specialists – the kind of lounges, hotels and retailers you can discover on Cigars Near Me – and savour them in good company.
Brunel built bridges, tunnels and ships that outlived him. Your own cigar moments – whether on a rooftop in the city, a country-house terrace, or your favourite local cigar lounge – can be smaller but just as memorable. Light up with purpose, toast the greats, and enjoy each cigar as if it were a carefully engineered work of art.