As long as your purchasing from a Habanos direct retailer..........you can smoke it out of the tube. Though if you have the time and patience, let the cigar sit.
Its a great cigar...... your going to love it!
As for the British government? They are getting alot of money. The retail on that cigar is about $17-19 US. So your local and tobacco taxes are about $12-14 US on that stick.