When it comes to cigar smoking, there are a few basic rules: Avoid talking about politics. Mind your ash. Don’t stub a cigar out like a cigarette. However, most experienced cigar smokers will tell you there aren’t many rules when it comes to choosing a premium cigar. With a few hundred brands to choose from, it’s not always easy, but the joy is in the tasting. Here is a breakdown of some traditional lines as well as the boutique lines that have shaped the cigar industry in recent decades.
A Brief History of Cigars
The cigar industry is technically over 500 years old. The cigar life began with the indigenous people of the Caribbean and MesoAmerica. According to a variety of sources, ancient cultures, such as the Mayans, smoked rolled tobacco and utilized it in rituals and for medicinal purposes. The custom spread when explorers began bringing tobacco back to Europe. Most people, however, associate the modern cigar industry with Cuba, where the art of cigarmaking was refined in the 19th and 20th centuries.
The Cuban Trade Embargo and Choosing Traditional Cigar Brands
After nearly seventy years, America’s trade embargo with Cuba is old news, but the story doesn’t end there. When Fidel Castro seized control of cigar factories, cigar makers took their seed and their skills to the Dominican Republic. In many cases, they took their name as well. Montecristo, Paratagas, and Cohiba all began and remain in Cuba, but there have been Dominican versions in the decades since the embargo. These lines, along with Romeo & Julieta, Punch, and H. Upmann, became the base of the American cigar market during the second half of the 20th Century. These reliable and recognizable brands can be found pretty much anywhere. Liquor stores, drug stores, and a typical cigar shop will carry these lines.
With a variety of blends and sizes, these are excellent cigars for both the novice and the aficionado. Most provide a variety of blends, sizes, and a wide range of price points.
The embargo also opened the door for several brands that are now considered benchmarks in the cigar industry. The Swiss premium Davidoff had ties to Cuba but is sourced in the Dominican Republic. Arturo Fuente, founded in Tampa, Florida, dates back over a hundred years, but moved to the Dominican Republic after the embargo. Padrón’s founders also had ties to Cuba but moved operations to Nicaragua. All made their name in the 1960s, and they continue to sell top-shelf cigars along with affordable blends for everyday smokes. Brands like Ashton and Avo were founded in the 80s and have become mainstays. All of these companies have been making cigars for years. You simply can’t go wrong with a classic.
The 1990s Cigar Boom and the Rise of the Boutique Cigar
Next to the embargo, the 90s boom is the most well-known event in cigar history. During the 1980s, the industry was lagging, but saw a spike in imports in the early 90s. The new magazine Cigar Aficionado brought attention to the cigar world, and smoking became chic. Celebrities, like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Michael Jordan, were featured, cigar life garnered even more attention and, with it, a higher demand for cigars.
Like many economic booms, there was bound to be a bust. The misperception was that anyone could get in on the action. Making cigars fast and furious -everything antithetical to cigar tradition- led to a variety of lower-quality products. Eventually, the market leveled out.
Boutique Cigars Today
As the dust settled on the boom, the glut of low-quality boutique cigars began to dissolve. By the early aughts, cigar makers who didn’t enter the industry to make a quick buck returned to tradition and the standards that make the industry one of a kind. With a focus on quality and craft, the boutique movement quietly grew. Now names like Oliva, Pete Johnson’s Tatuaje, and Drew Estate are as respected and well-known as some of the traditional brands.
Not all boutique lines last, but one thing is certain: these brands focus on upholding the tradition of cigar-making while producing unique blends. The cigar industry is one of the most welcoming, even when that means competition. New lines are introduced every year, but unlike the 90s, the latest independent lines are doing things the right way. Many boutique lines start with one or two blends and gradually try to build a reputation and a following. These artisanal blends may not be available in every cigar shop, but your local store is bound to carry a few. Ask the owner or an experienced friend for a recommendation. You’re bound to find a winner.
Checking out yearly rankings in cigar publications and websites, you’ll find plenty of cigar labels you’ve never heard of. One of the best aspects of boutique lines is that they often come with a unique story. Over the past few years, The Cigar Life Guy site has profiled dozens of boutique owners and brands. Companies like Apostate and Stoic are bringing the cigar life to Utah, while Kevin Brown of Konscious Cigars and Aric Bey of Black Star Line have brought attention to Black-owned businesses in the cigar industry. Plenty of women, like Holly Primc and Desiree Sylver have brought excellent products to the cigar market in recent years.
Choosing a Cigar
Smokers are notoriously habitual and ritualistic. Some guys smoke the same brand, blend, and size for decades. There’s no harm in branching out now and then. Whether you’re new to cigars or an old pro, tasting a variety of blends -both traditional and smaller independent brands- helps determine what you like and what you don’t.
Tasting every cigar in the industry might not be possible, but there’s no harm in trying. Just save the bands or keep a log of your favorites. You don’t need to smoke a big-name cigar, the most expensive, or the most niche. The more time you spend living the cigar life, the more you’ll realize smokers are not a pretentious lot.
Our best advice? Smoke what you like and like what you smoke.
photo credit: Cigar Life Guy