Cigar History Archives - Page 3 of 7

How Cheap Cigars Helped Paul Volcker Beat Inflation

Posted on April 23, 2022 by Staff

With a swirl of smoke floating around him, Paul Volcker was no stranger to the cigar lifestyle. Although he limited his smoking in public, he didn’t shy away from lighting up during congressional meetings. He tucked his long brown stick into his pocket, between his fingers, or in the corner of his mouth. You’d be hard-pressed to separate Volcker from his cheap cigars. Why cheap cigars? Volcker was as economical with his sticks as he was with the country’s finances.

Paul Volcker and Money

Paul Volcker Jr. was born in Cape May, New Jersey in 1927. He was an American economist who served as chairperson of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System during the Carter and Reagan administrations. The Obama Administration later consulted with him as well when it sought to overhaul the nation’s financial regulatory system.

Volcker was the guy who received credit for wrangling inflation back under control. Inflation was at 14% in 1980 and fell to 3% by 1983, thanks to Volcker’s tactics.

Politics aside, though, there’s one thing that always stood out about Volcker and that was his love of cheap cigars and cigar lifestyle. Volcker was a man of six-foot-seven-inch stature and while he limited smoking in public, he often smoked his sticks in Congress during committee meetings, and no one stopped him. This was significant considering congress held several smoking bans since 1871, yet Volcker could continue enjoying his stick despite this.

Paul Volcker’s Love for Cheap Cigars

Unlike many cigar aficionados who love a good premium stick, Volcker preferred more affordable cigars. In fact, his personal favorites were AC Grenadiers, known today as Antonio y Cleopatra Grenadiers. During Volcker’s time, these sticks cost him a mere 25 cents per cigar. Volcker liked them because they were economical. They also helped him through a time of inflation, and he trained himself to smoke only what he could afford.

That might sound odd, considering the guy spent many years in prominent financial roles and on Wall Street. The discipline of smoking cheap cigars continued throughout Volcker’s life well after he was earning $1 million a year on Wall Street. Yet, he was a firm believer and practitioner in frugality and discipline, even with his choice of cigars.

Inflation’s Impact on the Cigar Industry

Volcker was as passionate about smoking affordable cigars as he was about fighting inflation. In fact, he once was quoted in a book written about the Insider Trading Sanctions Act of 1983 hearing as saying, “I am going to stop smoking cigars when the deficit goes away.” Volcker opted for more economical cigars to maintain his cigar lifestyle while fighting his battle against inflationary prices and sticking to a budget. That’s besides his staunch discipline for frugality.

Considering Volcker’s rule on smoking affordable cigars remains relevant even today considering the rising cost of cigars and other markets we’re facing.

Inflation is here once again, but that doesn’t mean you must go searching for something comparable today to Volcker’s 25-cent cigar of yesteryear. A better idea is to focus on finding good sticks you can afford and savoring them.

Should You Choose Cheap Cigars?

Like Paul Volcker, you can stick to your budget and beat inflation with more affordable cigar choices. That doesn’t mean you need to, or should, buy cheap cigars, though. Rather, focus on getting the best quality cigar that fits your budget. Reserve your premium sticks for those special occasions.

What’s the point of cigar lifestyle if you can’t enjoy the flavor and experience of your cigar? Familiarize yourself with how your cigars brand reputation, quality and the flavor profile.

If you’re new to cigar lifestyle or looking for a way to enjoy an affordable cigar without spending a small fortune, the prices on some of the premium cigars might seem daunting. Remember, there are ways to enjoy a good stick without kicking in $20 or more for each premium cigar.

The Final Word on Volcker and Cheap Cigars

Although Volcker often chose cheap cigars as his go-to, they weren’t the only cigars he smoked. He knew when to reach for a premium Havana as well. The key lies in knowing when to choose an affordable cigar and when the moment calls for something special.

When selecting affordable cigars, be selective, but also don’t be afraid to try new cigars. There are plenty of affordable sticks to choose from that won’t break your budget.

As with any cigar, to maximize flavor and your overall cigar experience, cleanse your palate before you smoke. Finally, a big part of cigar lifestyle is also about the fellowship afforded by a community of cigar aficionados. So, kick back, light up and enjoy the experience.

Photo credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/cigar-tobacco-havana-to-smoke-case-1293684/

Smoke Odor Eliminators: 4 Ways to Fight the Smell

Posted on April 19, 2022 by Staff

A cigar aficionado loves the aroma of a fine cigar, but the smell clings to clothes and furniture. The good news is there are easy ways to fight the effects of a fine cigar with smoke odor eliminators.

Whether you’re celebrating a wedding, graduation, retirement party, or simply sitting down to relieve stress, a good cigar is all about ritual. It’s no wonder relaxing amidst the aroma of a premium cigar is often a transcendent experience. But the 21st century hasn’t been kind to cigar smokers. One person’s ritual is another person’s “smoke smell,” and the smoke odor has staying power. Cigar ash creates noncombustible minerals like potassium and magnesium, and like cooking odors, it clings to clothing, car upholstery, and furniture fabrics.

Household Cleaners as Smoke Odor Eliminators

If you live in colder climates, there’s no avoiding having to smoke inside. Cigar lounges are equipped with ventilation systems, and building a smoking room is an option, but if you’re looking to enjoy a cigar at home and are worried about lingering odors, you won’t need to get too creative. Household cleaners are all you’ll need.

Setting out bowls of vinegar for a few hours will absorb odors rather than merely mask them. Baking soda also absorbs smells. Sprinkle baking soda on furniture fabrics and carpets and let it stand for a few hours or overnight. Vacuum the excess with a hose attachment, and the room will have no trace of a cigar.

Air cleanses remain one of the most effective ways to rid a room of odors. When all else fails, open a window and let Mother Nature do her work.

Commercial Smoke Odor Eliminators

Commercial air purifiers from companies like Dyson work well but can be expensive. An economical and more compact solution is Lampe Berger™ (pronounced: Bershay). These oil lamps were originally used to disinfect morgues and hospitals, so eliminating odors from a Robusto or Toro won’t be a problem. Using state-of-the-art catalytic combustion technology, they became a staple in smoking clubs in the early 1900s.

Some designs have become collectibles, but there is no need to get fancy. Basic models are inexpensive and can purify a 400-square-foot room in about an hour and remove 68% of the bacteria.

Protecting Clothes with a Smoking Jacket

Cigar life is all about special occasions, and sometimes that means being dressed in your best. Dry cleaning will remove smells from formal wear, but everyday clothes are a different story.

Smoking jackets, long associated with Hugh Hefner and the Playboy mansion, were not just novelties. They protected clothes from smoke and ash. Because most are made from silk, they don’t absorb smoke odors like porous materials. It wasn’t just “Hef” who wore one. In the 1950s, Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, and Cary Grant all wore smoking jackets as part of their formal attire. Smoking jackets are still around, but there are other options if you simply want to freshen your clothes after a smoking event with friends.

Removing Smoke Smells from Clothing and Fabrics

Eliminating odors from clothing doesn’t have to be a chore. Over-the-counter products, like Febreze™, are effective, but all-natural cleansers and household products are all you need.

Washing clothes with a half cup of white vinegar removes stubborn odors. Sprinkling baking soda and letting it stand for a few hours before running clothes through the wash also works wonders. Hanging your clothes outside may sound old-fashioned, but fresh air with the added benefit of a sun cleanse (not for too long — UV rays can fade colors) will have clothes smelling like new.

Photo credit: Unsplash

Culebra Cigars: A Unique, Twisted Smoke You Can Share

Posted on April 9, 2022 by Staff

Culebra cigars are the most curious-looking cigars in the industry. The uninitiated may not even know that they’re looking at a cigar let alone how to go about smoking one. Appearance aside, it’s a pretty straightforward process even if the history is ambiguous.

Cigar or Tree Branch?

Enjoying a good premium smoke is fairly simple. Choose a ring gauge, a length, and then an exterior wrapper. Sure, you’ll find ornately designed boxes and some beautiful-looking bands, but other than some of the more delicately constructed sticks like perfectos, torpedos, and figurados, cigar smoking is a no-frills lifestyle. You should smoke a fine cigar, not admire it on the shelf. Still, even the least discerning eye can’t help but notice and admire a Culebra sitting in a cigar shop.

Culebras are known for their distinct appearance- a contorted braid that resembles a tree limb more than a traditional cigar. At first glance, a novice cigar smoker may not even know what they’re looking at. But aficionados and experienced smokers are familiar with the Culebra and its surprising contortions. Culebra means “snake” in Spanish. The Culebra cigar is actually three panatellas twisted together, and it’s about as novelty as it gets in the cigar world.

How to Smoke Culebra Cigars

The Culebra can be smoked all at once, but no cigar pro would recommend it. The proper way is to remove the ribbon or band that holds the cigars together and carefully separate them. Cut the cap as you would a standard cigar and enjoy. And don’t worry, most guys who have smoked them attest to getting a pretty good draw despite their exotic shape.

Twisted Origins of Culebra Cigars

No one knows exactly how the Culebra came about, but most cite its origins to the Philippines in the 1880s. The most popular origin story is that factory owners gave these curious-looking smokes to their rollers to prevent theft. According to tradition, manufacturers allotted cigar rollers three smokes a day. A Culebra was the perfect ration- 3 cigars wrapped in one. These cigars might look like a single smoke, but you smoke individually. Once separated, their easily recognizable contorted appearance would be a telltale that employees weren’t pilfering from the regular stock.

No one has ever confirmed this bit of cigar lore, and if it ever was actually practiced, no factory does so anymore. But if it ever was the case, factory owners probably saved a buck or two because in order to attain their unique proportions and that signature twist, Culebras are purposely rolled with less tobacco.

More Oddity than Icon

When you think of iconic cigar smokers-Winston Churchill, Michael Jordan, Arnold Schwarzenegger – you picture them with a traditional stick. Toros. Robustos. Coronas. And of course the eponymous Churchill. You don’t picture them smoking something that resembles Harry Potter’s wand. Not that cigars haven’t made their way into film and television. Clint Eastwood in Spaghetti Westerns. Al Pacino in Scarface. Tony Soprano. You simply can’t separate the man from the cigar. And not a Culebra in sight.

But the Culebra has made at least one appearance on television. You’d just have to catch it as a late night rerun of Rod Serling’s Twilight Episode. Burgess Meredith, perhaps best known for his role as Mickey Goldman in Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky, champs on one of these twisted rarities throughout the episode, “Printer’s Devil”. Since Meredith played the devil who bargains with a failing newspaper reporter, the snake-like cigar and its allusions to the first temptation in Eden was more than a suitable prop.

No, you won’t need to make a deal with the devil to give a Culebra a try. Although they are rare, plenty of companies, like Partagas, Davidoff, and Tatuaje, still make them. You can smoke all three of them at once, but remember it’s best to unbraid them and share with a couple of friends.

Photo credit: J.C. Newman Co.

Smoking and Reading: Two Long-Time Companions

Posted on April 1, 2022 by Staff

Blending smoking and reading began in Cuba during the early days before iPhones and the internet. Hell, it was even before the radio, but entertainment still had to come in some form. In the 1840s, your average cigar roller couldn’t pop in earbuds and listen to a podcast or their favorite playlist. To combat the monotony of long hours of repetitive work, cigar rollers often employed a reader (El Lector) to stimulate their minds while their hands toiled away, making premium cigars. Lectors, perched on platforms so the entire factory could hear, read aloud from novels and newspapers and are as much a part of cigar history as expert craftsmanship, ornate box designs, and distinctive bands.

Perhaps smoking and reading date back to the tradition of El Lector reading aloud from Les Miserables and The Count of Montecristo. Or perhaps it is the cerebral nature of sitting down with a good stick, but some of the most iconic cigar lines owe their name to some of literature’s best.

What’s in a Cigar Name?

Everybody knows Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers, but legend has it, when Jose ‘Pepin’ Rodriguez Fernandez acquired the Romeo y Julieta line in the 1870s, he was more than a little obsessed with Shakespeare’s tragedy. On one of his many visits to Europe, Rodriguez attempted to purchase the Palazzo Capuleti in Verona. However, Italian authorities unceremoniously refused his idea of turning Juliet’s famed palazzo into a cigar lounge. Yet, the name and line have long endured.

Shakespeare’s lovers are perhaps the best known literary cigar pairing, but sharing a premium cigar is more often about friendship and enjoying cigar lifestyle than romance. And it was probably the social nature of smoking and the loyalty of Don Quixote’s squire that inspired Don Emilio Ohmsted when he established the Sancho Panza line in 1848. Cervantes Don Quixote is not only the greatest Spanish language novel of all time, it is a testament to friendship. Honest and true.

The Tradition of Smoking and Reading

Montecristo, established in the 1930s, owes its name to Alexander Dumas’ classic novel and famous count. This distinguished Cuban line dates to the days when rollers held boredom at bay by listening to Dumas’ powerful story of revenge.

Hoya de Monterrey established its Honduran classic, Excalibur, during the 1970s. The Excalibur honors the Arthurian legends and the famed sword in the stone.

Of course, we can’t mention smoking and reading in the same breath without mentioning Ernest “Papa” Hemingway. Since the 1980s, Arturo Fuente has been producing the Hemingway line in honor of the Nobel Prize-winning novelist. His reputation has seen its ups and downs in the hundred years since he began writing. Yet, he remains one of the most influential and mythic figures of the 20th century.

Ken Burns’ recent PBS documentary paints a more nuanced portrait of Hemingway. It shows that like the Cameroon-wrapped line that bears his name, Hemingway; the man was more complex than the myth. His mornings may have been spent writing, but his afternoons and evenings were for living. Whether aboard his beloved fishing boat “Pilar” or sidled up on a stool at Sloppy Joe’s in Key West, Hemingway embodied what it once meant to be a man and the meditative pace of cigar life. It’s no wonder his image is inseparable from cigars. Additionally, the 22 years Hemingway lived in Cuba were the longest he ever lived anywhere.

Fuente’s early 2000s limited edition cigar, The God of Fire, is an ode to boldness. It honored the Greek Titan, Prometheus. Had Prometheus not stolen fire from the gods and gifted it, we mortals and cigar lovers would be in trouble.

The Final Word on Smoking and Reading

Don’t think too hard about the name of your next premium cigar. Taste around and find what you like, but a good name goes a long way. A good cigar brand’s age-old connection with smoking and reading. Remember, the next best thing to a great scotch is pairing a premium cigar with a good friend and a story.

Photo credit: Arturo Fuente Cigar Co.

The Dominican Republic Cigars

Posted on March 3, 2022 by Staff

The Dominican Republic is one of the largest producers of high-quality cigars in the world, and has been for a while. Through time and a tremendous effort, the growers and blenders created some of the best products in the industry. According to industry experts, the Dominican Republic produces around 44% of the world’s cigars.

The core to cigar culture in the Dominican Republic is quality. In fact, it takes a mind-bending level of effort, attention and quality control when creating each cigar. This same attention to quality also is sewn into the wider Dominican Republic lifestyle and perspective. It represents their award-winning and world-renown tobacco.

Dominican Republic Cigars and Tobacco

Growing conditions vary from one part of the Dominican Republic to another. Thus, a variety of tobacco grows here. Perfect conditions and generational expertise enable the Dominican Republic to cultivate many of today’s top cigar companies and brands.

Piloto Cubano, Olor and San Vicente are the main tobacco types grown. Some Dominican Republic cigars also use other types of tobacco from other regions throughout the world. Yet, some brands are only rolled in the Dominican Republic and still considered Dominican Republic cigars.

Piloto Cubano is bold and rich in flavor and aroma. It contains hints of cinnamon. Olor can be dry and salty with a neutral flavor. Finally, San Vicente grows widely, and it’s used for binder and filler. It’s lighter than Piloto Cubano and slightly more acidic.

Quality control and effort don’t vary depending on which tobacco forms the filler. Company owners, tobacco blenders, cigar rollers, farmers and processors all place excruciating emphasis on quality daily. It’s part of what makes Dominican Republic cigars so special.

The Dominican Republic Makes a Name for Itself

The roots to Dominican Republic tobacco growing and cigar culture trace back to the early 1900s. Several generations of farms and brands existed throughout that era. Exporting the country’s cigars to the rest of the world came later.

Fuente Fuente Opus X was the first fully Dominican ultra-premium cigar. Before the Fuente release in ’95, the cigar’s ability to produce quality mainly went unnoticed. Since the Opus X breakthrough, it’s been an upward trajectory for cigar making in the country.

The Dominican Republic also is home to Arturo Fuente, Cohiba, Macanudo, Partagas, and Montecristo — all high-quality cigar brands known for their excellence. The high scrutiny and quality control embedded in the industry never fails to astound.

Quality of Dominican Republic tobacco easily matches and exceeds its Cuban rival. It’s hard to ignore that nearly half of the world’s cigars are from the Dominican Republic, but it’s easy to understand why.

A large part of the country’s cigar history is linked to the Cuban situation with the US and the ensuing embargo. Tobacconists and farmers migrated to the supple regions of the Dominican Republic that were comparable to those in Cuba. Santiago is one of the largest tobacco growing regions in the world.

The magnitude of the tobacco farming and processing efforts in the country supplies a percentage of its economy. It’s easy to understand why cigars became part of the overall lifestyle and culture of the country. The extreme detail in every facet of cigar making is magical and inspiring.

Cigar Culture and Commitment to Quality

One Dominican Republic cigar goes through about 170 individual steps in its creation. This takes place over a five-year period. Meticulous and painstaking attention to detail exists at every step and turn of the process.

Within this world of incredible passion and quality, there’s also the connection between an aficionado and their cigar. Dominican Republic cigar makers successfully capture the quality of relaxation and gratitude in each premium smoke they create. It might be the rich history or maybe it’s part of ancient tobacco history that expert tobacconists tap into. Either way, it makes for one of the best cigars any cigar enthusiast can appreciate.

Modern farming and production techniques have changed little over the last hundred years. Cigar rollers sometimes favor traditional cutters and equipment even if it slows production. Many consider the rollers, like the blenders as the best, so no one argues with them.

It takes about ten years to become a cigar roller for premium quality cigars in the Dominican Republic. This dedication and loyalty to the craft is present across the country’s entire cigar industry. In fact, loyalty plays a large role in the mentality of the larger cigar industry and community here.

There’s No Secret to Dominican Republic Cigars

Enthusiasts and experts already know about the rich flavor profile and depth that comes with a fine Dominican Republic cigar. Many claim that the tobacco is smooth and mild compared to that of other global tobacco producers. Yet, some Dominican Republican cigar companies compete with their own Cuban brands.

Davidoff has cigar farms and other facilities in the Dominican Republic and offers tours of them. There is a really great YouTube video that shows the cigar production process. Check it out.

If you take a tour, you’ll notice that most of the employees are women. This is because of the extreme attention to detail and gentle pressure and touch required for processing the leaves. Cigar factories employ thousands of women to handle multiple stages of the cigar creation process.

The shade-grown, hand-wrapped 100% Dominican Republic stick released by the A. Fuente Company in the ’90s grew in popularity. In fact, it helped spread commitment and loyalty to quality that’s core to the country’s way of life today.

A Final Word

The Dominican Republic tobacco rose from its humble beginnings as filler tobacco. From there, it has taken the entire world and cigar industry by storm. It’s takes the perfect combination of heritage, climate, experience, passion, dedication, loyalty and knowledge to produce some of the finest cigars in the world.

Tobacconists have perfected their farming and processing techniques over the past 100 years. In fact, entire generations of families have engaged in perfecting the cigar making process. Dedication to the process has paved a path to one of the best smokes available today.

The city of Santiago is the second largest city in the Dominican Republic and the cigar capital of the world. Subsidiary businesses flourish in Santiago to support the tobacco industry. Here, cigars are bigger than the moments taken to share and enjoy. They carry cultural significance and they represent pride.

Here are a few brands to look for:

Avo and La Gloria Cubana
Partagas
Romeo y Julieta
Montecristo

You may have already had a Dominican Republican cigar, but if not, they’re easy to come by. Next time you’re at the cigar shop talk to the owner. Ask them to recommend some Dominican Republican cigars to try. When you sit down to light up and enjoy, remember all the time, work and effort that went into creating such magical quality.

If we’ve learned anything, it’s that taking a minute to enjoy life is part of the cigar experience. The Dominican Republic cigars reflect this within the lifecycle of their creation. Don’t rush the slow, pleasant ride of enjoying a premium cigar. It’s also stopping to enjoy moments as they pass.

Photo credit: Cigar Life Guy

Nicaraguan Cigars Pack a Punch

Posted on December 7, 2021 by Staff

Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America and has the most cigars imported into the United States, beating out the Dominican Republic and Honduras. According to Cigar Aficionado, during the first two months of 2021, Nicaragua shipped 16.4 million cigars, compared to 7.3 million from Honduras and 10.9 million from the Dominican Republic. Most cigar makers offer some blends of Nicaraguan cigars in their portfolio, and for a good reason. Nicaragua has some of the most fertile soil and ideal climate conditions for growing tobacco that produce smooth, full-bodied tobacco for premium cigars. Initially, Nicaragua grew tobacco primarily for cigarettes. The great exodus of tobacco farmers from Cuba then prompted the development of tobacco leaves for cigars.

History of Nicaraguan Cigars

Cuba lost many of its tobacco growers after the Cuban Revolution. During the late ‘60s, Simon Camacho (who started Camacho Cigars) and Juan Francisco Bermejo fled Cuba and sought other countries to grow tobacco. In Nicaragua, they discovered that the dark volcanic soil was rich in nutrients and yielded tobacco leaves that were sweet and earthy. They were the first to establish the first Nicaraguan cigar manufacturer in 1968, The Nicaragua Cigar Company. They planted Cuban-seed tobacco in the regions of Esteli, Condega, and Jalapa and built cigar factories in central Esteli.

After the Embargo

After the Cuban embargo by the United States, President Richard Nixon needed a new official cigar for the White House (is that still a thing?). When he invited Nicaraguan president Anastasio Somoza to the White House, Nixon offered a box of cigars from the Nicaraguan Cigar Company, his pick for the official White House cigar. Somoza would later take control of the Nicaraguan Cigar Company from Camacho and Bermejo.

Nicaraguan Cigars During the ’70s and ’80s

During the ‘70s and ‘80s, Nicaragua had its own revolution, and the cigar industry suffered because of the fighting. In 1978, unrest came to a head, and the Sandinista National Liberation Front fought for control of Nicaragua. During riots, protestors torched Somoza-owned businesses, including the Nicaraguan Cigar Company facilities. When the Sandinistas gained control of Esteli, Somoza feared losing control and bombed the city, resulting in more damage. Somoza fled Nicaragua and was assassinated in Paraguay. The Sandinistas formed their own government, nationalized the Nicaraguan Cigar Company, and rebuilt its factories. However, in 1985, the US imposed another embargo, this time banning all Nicaraguan imports, including cigars. During this time, the Dominican Republic and Honduras became the predominant shippers of premium cigars to America.

Nicaraguan Cigars During the ’90s Elections

In 1990, Nicaragua held elections, and Violetta Barrios de Chamorro won and formed a non-Sandinista government. Later that year, President George H. W. Bush lifted the embargo, allowing Nicaragua to sell their cigars in America, and kicked off the cigar boom of the ‘90s. Unfortunately, as business was picking up, Hurricane Mitch devastated many tobacco farms in Nicaragua. The country rebuilt and recovered. Now, decades later, Nicaragua has some of the best cigars on the market.

Tobacco Growing Regions for Nicaraguan Cigars

There are four primary regions in Nicaragua where tobacco is cultivated: Esteli, Jalapa, Condega, and Ometepe. Each area has its own soil and climate, giving tobacco distinctive flavors and aromas.

Esteli Region

Near the Honduran border, Esteli is the second-largest city in Nicaragua but is the heart of the country’s cigar industry. Esteli is to Nicaragua like Havana is to Cuba, or Danli is to Honduras. Most of the factories are located here, and it is the business hub of many cigar makers, including Joya de Nicaragua, Padron, Perdomo, and many more. Farmers grow tobacco in the hard, black soil that produces rich, dark tobaccos. Combining this with plenty of sunlight during the growing season results in tobacco that is rich in flavor, full-bodied, and strong.

Jalapa Valley

To the northeast of Esteli lies the Jalapa Valley. It is a remote area that also borders Honduras. Farmers grow smooth, sweet, and creamy leaves in the region’s red clay soil. The tobacco is more mellow than the darker leaves grown in Esteli. Jalapa Valley also produces beautifully elegant and highly prized cigar wrappers.

Condega Valley

Also north of Esteli is another valley. The Condega valley’s soil is rocky and most of the tobacco cultivated there is sun-grown. The thinner tobacco leaves grown here are mainly used for filler and binder tobacco that is earthy, sweet, and spicy.

Ometepe Region

The final region where tobacco grows in Nicaragua is a volcanic island in Lake Nicaragua, called Ometepe, near the city of Granada. Twin volcanoes form it with a thin isthmus connecting them. The volcanic soil is rich and highly fertile. The tobacco grown here is like Jalapa, but more earthy with hints of sweetness and spice.

The Wrap-up

As a whole, Nicaraguan cigars range anywhere from medium to full-bodied. The flavors are bold but smooth with little to no bite. Some tasting notes include earthy notes that are salty or metallic. Tasting notes also include baking spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon, strong espresso notes with dark cocoa, or spicy white and red peppers; and sweet cream and toasted nuts.

Nicaraguan cigars have become very popular over the recent decade. The United States imports many Nicaraguan cigars thanks to the full-bodied flavor the cigars offer. The country’s tumultuous history has resulted in some of the best cigars today.

Photo credit: Cigar Life Guy

Honduran Cigars: 5 Reasons Why You Should Try Them

Posted on November 23, 2021 by Staff

Honduras is one of the leading tobacco-growing countries globally. Cigar enthusiasts often claim Honduran cigars rival Cuban cigars in taste and strength. Since they’ve been cultivating and growing tobacco for centuries, it’s no wonder. It’s also known for its coffee and beef exports. There are a lot of well-known cigar brands that have been around since tobacco growers fled to Honduras during the Cuban Revolution. Honduras is the home of many of the busiest cigar factories in the industry today. If you have smoked none yet, here are five reasons to try Honduran cigars.

Honduran Cigars Rich Tobacco History

A wild tobacco variety called copaneco grows in Honduras. Rumor holds that the native Mayan people once smoked the copaneco. When the Spanish conquistadors colonized Honduras, they established the Royal Tobacco Factory and a tobacco trading post near Santa Rosa de Copán in 1765 to promote more colonization in the region. Since then, tobacco farmers in Honduras have switched to primarily Cuban seed tobacco strains.

After the American trade embargo began with Cuba in the ’60s, many smokers looking for a strong cigar turned towards Honduras for full-body smokes. The Honduran tobacco industry benefited from another revolution in Nicaragua, where many tobacco farmers and cigar rollers fled to Honduras and other neighboring countries after the Sandinistas took over in 1979. In the ‘90s, Honduran tobacco thrived. Yet, when Hurricane Mitch hit the country, it devastated tobacco farms and the country’s infrastructure. Honduras has recovered, however, and is now one of the most prominent cigar manufacturing regions in the world.

Fertile Tobacco Growing Regions

Honduras has three central tobacco growing regions: Copán, the Jamastrán Valley, and the Talanga Valley. Copán, one of the most productive tobacco-growing areas in the country because of its tropical climate, lies in western Honduras. It is also home to ancient Mayan ruins. The Jamastrán valley is in the south and holds the cigar-producing capital of Honduras, the town of Danli. This is where most tobacco is grown and rolled. It’s also where you’ll find most cigar factories located. It neighbors Nicaragua and has a similar soil that is fertile. Then, in the central region of Honduras lies the mountainous Talanga Valley. Here, the climate is very windy and tobacco growers use the encallado method, where they pitch large tents over the crops and grow wind-breaking king grass to protect the growing tobacco plants. Many high-quality shade-grown wrappers grow in this region.

Variety of Tobacco Types

There are three major tobacco wrappers grown in Honduras: Cuban-seed Criollo and Corojo, and the non-Cuban seed Connecticut-shade (AKA Honduran-shade). Honduran cigars are strong with medium to full-bodied smokes, with earthy, leathery notes and spicy pepper.

Top Honduran Cigars Brand Names

Honduras is the home of many famous classic cigar brands like Camacho, Hoyo de Monterey, and Punch. Many Cuban tobacco growers fled the political turmoil of the Cuban Revolution. Others exiled to surrounding countries.

You might know the Camacho Corojo by Camacho Cigars as the Original Bold Smoke. It is a Honduran Puro with a Honduran Cuban-seed Corojo wrapper and Corojo Ligero binder. It is a spicy blend with earthy cedar notes and black pepper. There is also a smooth and slightly sweeter Maduro version.

Punch, owned by General Cigar, has the Punch Gran Puro, the only Honduran Puro in the brand’s lineup. It features a sun-grown Honduran wrapper and binder from the highest primings of the tobacco plant. You’ll enjoy its hints of cream that blend well together with the earthy spiciness that’s characteristic of Honduran cigars.

Hoyo de Monterey has the Excalibur. It’s wrapped with a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper grown in Honduras. The Connecticut Broadleaf binds the filler to complete the cigars. The fillers are Dominican, Nicaraguan, and Honduran. It offers a mellower smoke than other Honduran cigars. It also has a creamy flavor that goes along with the cedar and spice.

Emerging Honduran Cigar Companies

Besides the old classics, some Honduran cigar manufacturers have established within the last two decades. You’ll find brands like Rocky Patel, Alec and Bradley, CLE, and Plasencia on the shelves of most cigar stores.

Rocky Patel has many Honduran offerings like The Decade, Twentieth Anniversary, and The Edge. Alec and Bradley have the recently released Kintsugi and Prensado. CLE Cigar Company, which features brands like Eirora and Asylum, features a Honduran box-pressed Puro with Corojo wrappers and binders. Plasencia released a Honduran Puro during the 2021 Premium Cigar Association Convention and Trade Show. They called it the Plasencia 1865, featuring tobaccos from the Talanga and Jamastrán valleys.

Photo credit: Cigar Life Guy

Candela: “Those Green Leaf Cigars!”

Posted on October 3, 2021 by Staff

Cigar wrappers come in many shades and colors. There are almost as many wrappers as there are shapes. The most we’re familiar with are the light tan of Connecticut shade wrappers, the medium browns of Habanos, and the oily dark Maduros. Walk into a cigar store’s humidor and you’ll most likely see hundreds of selections sporting one of these wrappers. Occasionally, especially around St Patrick’s Day, you’ll see green leaf cigars. You might even think that maybe they need more time in the tobacco barn. Or, you might wonder whether cigar makers dye the wrapper green like green beer or a Shamrock shake. You might find a stick wrapped like a barber pole with a Connecticut, Maduro, and a pale green leaf wrapper.

These rare verdant cigars go by a few different names: American Market Selection, Double Claro, and Candela. Spanish for “Candle”, Candela cigars offer a milder taste than Connecticut shade cigars. Yet, they are still full of flavor and can add something different to a humidor. They offer sweet vegetal notes like grass and fresh hay or dried herbs and green tea leaves.

The History of Candela Cigars

Legend has it that back in the ‘40s, Cuban tobacco farmers accidentally created Candela wrappers when there was excess humidity in the curing barns. To combat this, they used heat to help dry the tobacco leaves. Instead of coming back to brown Habanos, they opened the barn doors and discovered that some leaves stayed green. Thus, the Candela wrapper was born.

The green wrappers brought in a lot of green money for tobacco farmers in the late ’50s. For a while, Candela green leaf cigars were the most popular type of cigar to come out of Cuba for American cigar smokers. They were so popular that they became known as American Market Selection cigars outside of the US. Almost every red-blooded American had a green stick in their mouth. The milder taste and aroma of a Candela were preferred to the strong, full-bodied cigars from Havana. After President John F. Kennedy (who was a huge fan of Candelas) enacted the embargo on Cuban exports, Candela cigars were harder to come by. By the early ‘70s and ’80s, Candela wrappers fell out of favor and gave way to Connecticut shade wrappers as America’s choice for a mild tasting cigar.

How Cigar Makers Create Candela Cigars

Much like Maduro, Candela refers to the curing process rather than the type of wrapper leaf used. There’s a process to create these emerald wrappers. Tobacco leaves are picked before reaching full maturity. Then, they hang in sealed curing barns to dry. Vents on the floor and barn roof allowed for a full flow of air to breeze through. When the heat slowly rises in the barn from 90 to 175 degrees Fahrenheit, it locks in the Chlorophyll, which colors a leaf green. Essentially, the leaves bake until fully dried. At this stage, the leaves grow fragile to the touch and require rehydration for leaf pliability. After that, cigar makers store Candela leaves in a cool place instead of the usual pylons.

This is faster than curing regular cigar wrappers. Normally, green leaves from the tobacco plant are taken and hung in curing barns for 30 to 45 days. Slowly, the combination of heat, humidity, and time turns the tobacco leaves from a bright green to the rich brown shades that we see today. By quickly heating the leaf and controlling the humidity, you cut the time of making Candela wrappers to about 72 hours, instead of waiting a month.

Today’s Candela Green Leaf Cigars

Nowadays, Candelas only take up a small space on shelves of cigar store humidors. Names like Arturo Fuente, Camacho, and Macanudo offer green leaf cigars, but they can be hard to find at your local brick and mortar store. However, newer cigar makers, like Alec Bradley, Illusione, and Acid by Drew Estate, have a few Candela cigars in their lineup for smokers to puff on. These emerald beauties are worth having a stick or two in your humidor. The light, clean tasting notes of Candelas go well with good rye on a golf course or sitting on the deck after mowing your lawn.

Photo credit: Davidoff/Jeff Elkins

Eleven Political Heavyweights Who Love Good Cigars

Posted on March 13, 2021 by Staff

People from all walks of life enjoy the cigar lifestyle. So, it’s no surprise that you’ll also find many political heavyweights who have joined the ranks of brothers and sisters of the leaf. Over the years, many heads of state and other political figures have shown that they, too, live the cigar life. Some of them you’ve probably heard about. A few you may not know yet. So, we created a list of eleven major political players who enjoy good cigars.

Al Sharpton Loves Good Cigars

The Reverend Al Sharpton has been enjoying smoking for over 45 years. It’s a lifetime for many, but not nearly as long as he’s been preaching, battling for civil rights and other causes he believes in. He’s also a member of the Grand Havana Room in New York City. Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of former President Trump, owns the same place.

While never holding office, this cigar lover plays the political game. He also smokes with celebrities and politicos alike. Yet, he is often alone in the Grand Havana Room, simply enjoying a good stick.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Long before he became the Governator of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger hosted some of the best cigar parties in Hollywood. When he wasn’t building biceps as Mr. Universe or starring in the latest action film, Arnold enjoyed one to two cigars a day. He often convinced his fellow co-stars to smoke as well. Today, he still enjoys his favorite Cohiba Cigars whenever he’s not saving the world.

Bill Clinton

The forty-second president, William Jefferson Clinton, enjoys a good stick. He often chewed on one while on the golf course. However, his wife, Hillary, had a hard and fast rule of no smoking inside the White House. Outside though, he smoked them whenever he had leisure time. So you could often find him sporting a Gurkha His Majesty Reserve as often as he could.

In American history, some of the most famous “alleged” use of unlit cigars involves President Clinton and former White House Intern Monica Lewinski while they met in the Oval Office. Rumor holds that Miss Lewinski kept some sticks, among other items, as souvenirs from her private visits to the Oval Office.

Che Guevara Loved Good Cigars

Che Guevara was less known than the man he served during the Cuban Revolution, Cuban leader Fidel Castro. He was Castro’s, right-hand man. Good tobacco was rare during the time. Since Guevara loved nothing more than a good cigar, he went so far as to request cigars as payment for his service. He then handed them out to his men to help them relax. Talk about a man who shares his love of smoking.

Fidel Castro

Not only was he famous as a Cuban dictator, but he was also, by all rights, the only reason the famed Cohiba brand of cigars even exists today. The brand was created specifically for the revolutionary leader in 1966 and was only available to visiting dignitaries as gifts from Castro until 1982.

Fiorello Laguardia

The former New York mayor who battled organized crime in the 1930s and 1940s is iconic for smoking at his desk while handling city business. The notoriously tough-on-crime mayor smoked his sticks with the band still on them. We’re guessing it’s because it made him seem tougher.

General George S. Patton Loved Good Cigars

You can’t talk about powerful and influential men without mentioning the general himself. Patton was such a fan of smokes that he carried them wherever he went, including while leading allied forces to victory across Europe during World War II. There are many tales of Patton puffing away on good cigars while issuing orders to his troops. Rumors suggest that he had a specific troop to carry his humidor wherever he went.

John F. Kennedy Loved Good Cigars

The thirty-fifth President of the United States, JFK, holds fame for two main things regarding cigars. First, he was a big fan of smoking them. He also signed into law the Cuban trade embargo that has made authentic Cuban cigars some of the world’s most sought-after and prized possessions of cigar enthusiasts. They are still illegal to purchase or sell in the United States.

Rush Limbaugh

The outspoken radio show host was an avid cigar fan for much of his life. Although, he supposedly quit smoking altogether in the 1980s. Limbaugh would reportedly light up nicely into his later years. Even after his cancer diagnosis, he was an avid supporter of cigars. He even stated that they were one of the few things he enjoyed. Limbaugh was as outspoken about his happiness with smoking sticks as he was in his political beliefs.

Rudy Giuliani Loves Good Cigars

This former New York mayor, attorney, and outspoken politician is as wild about smokes as ever. He often endorses cigar brands and smokes one whenever he has free time. In addition, Rudy smokes cigars to relax and frequents many cigar bars. You could even spot smoking during his dealings with the forty-fifth president of the United States, Donald Trump.

Ulysses S. Grant

The Civil War general and eighteenth president of the United States is probably the most avid cigar smoker on our list. He reportedly smoked up to 20 sticks a day during the height of the Civil War. As a result of his penchant for fine smokes, he was given beloved brands of cigars as gifts from across the world. Despite his numerous daily smokes, Grant collected so many that he started to give them away as gifts to friends and visitors, according to rumors.

Smokers of the Highest Order

We could go on for days listing politicians and political figures who enjoy cigars. The ones listed above represent some of the most important, impactful, and outspoken cigar lovers the world has ever seen. Many helped shape the landscape of cigars in the United States and elsewhere.

Photo credit: “Al Gore and Newt Gingrich applaud to US President Clinton waves during the State of the Union address in 1997,” by White House Official Site, Uploaded by Kmccoy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

What’s Special About Premium Cigars?

Posted on March 13, 2021 by Staff

Ask the average person the difference between a machine-pressed cigar and a quality premium cigar. The only answer you’ll likely get is the price. Sure, the price does differ, but the cost is not the only thing that makes a cigar a premium cigar. A one-dollar stick has a different taste because everything about it is different. Those who live the cigar lifestyle know these differences. There are differences in the process, the materials, the packaging, and the flavor. However, you may not know why the top cigars are all premium cigars.

The Mechanics of It All

We all know that the process of hand-rolling premium cigars gives them their quality. The reason for this comes down to the process. Factory or machine-pressed cigars result in lower quality due to mass production. It’s impossible to ensure that every machine-made cigar in a batch of thousands will have the same consistent quality. Even if the materials are superb, large batches are prone to errors, and quality assurance is non-existent.

The very nature of a hand-rolled cigar makes it of higher quality. A human being rolls and wraps each cigar before finishing it. Hand-rolling adds a built-in method of quality assurance. Any roller worth their salt will ensure that each cigar is as good as it can be.

The Materials Make the Difference

Most cigar enthusiasts know that premium cigars also use better tobacco leaves. The truth is, everything about the tobacco in premium cigars is better. For one, the leaves run the entire length of the cigar, which distributes the flavor throughout the cigar from the first drag to the last. Beyond the size of the leaves, they are all harvested and sourced from the same relative place.

Cuban cigars are good international cigars because of the unique flavor of Cuban-grown tobacco. However, tobacco is a delicate plant that takes work to grow. Therefore, each region that produces quality cigars grows its own tobacco; This includes niche products such as limited-run artisanal cigars and miniatures like cigarillos and jr cigars.

Machine-pressed cigars often use mass-produced, low-quality filler tobacco. The tobacco gets chopped and made into the filler. Unfortunately, this also usually includes stalks and other scraps to fill the cigars. These parts of the tobacco plant can lead to a bitter, undesirable taste. Cutting, of course, saves money and keeps the cigars less expensive by volume.

You will not find a machine-pressed cigar created from higher-grade tobacco. The cost of raising the crop often presents a barrier to this. Certain varieties are challenging to tend to or are only grown in small batches by local farms. The cost and resources to mass-produce these would be astronomical and not worth the effort for a stick that only costs a buck or two.

The Wrappings of Premium Cigars

Part of the handmade process involves wrapping and oiling the cigar. Premium cigars that are hand wrapped are wrapped tight and even from end to end. The wrapping is usually oiled to keep it smooth and to give it a little gloss. The purposes of this process are twofold. One, it provides the cigar with a distinct look. You can always tell a hand-rolled premium cigar by the wrapping. A premium cigar will look glossier and professionally wrapped. The second purpose is for the cigar to burn even when smoked. Eliminating these plant materials ensures smooth and clean smoke all the way through. The wrapper is also all-natural in a premium cigar which is a benefit over machine-pressed cigars and cigarettes.

Machine-pressed cigars are not glossy. Therefore, their wrapping also needs to be tight and smooth. You can tell this immediately by the dull appearance of the cigar. In addition, the tobacco of a loosely wrapped cigar does not hold together well, which leads to a poorer smoke. Worse yet, the wrappers in many machine-pressed cigars are not all-natural due to the cost of materials. Sourcing filler tobacco is easy enough, but putting tobacco in the wrapping to mass-produce cigars is tricky and inefficient.

Let It Age a Bit

Much like a fine wine or a vintage car, age factors into the quality of a cigar. Many premium tobaccos age to achieve a particularly rich or full flavor. A good premium cigar will taste better over time, so long as you store it at the right temperature and humidity in a good humidor.

Unlike cigarette tobacco, which decays over time due to chemicals and other fillers, cigar tobacco can and does age well if stored correctly; This is different for mass-production cigars. Tobacco for these cigars doesn’t age. Instead, it is picked, bagged, and chopped. Then, it becomes the cigar filler. The flavor profile takes two things into account: tobacco variety and growing location. Yet, the other part of the profile is the aging process. Not allowing the tobacco to age in machine-pressed cigars leaves a mellower flavor.

Premium Cigars for a Reason

The difference between factory-made and authentic premium cigars may only sometimes be evident. Still, for cigar lovers, the difference is noticeable. From start to finish, premium cigars are simply the best cigars. Everything is superior in a premium cigar, whether it’s the production, materials, or wrapping.

Photo credit: “Owner of Gentlemen’s Breakfast, Van de la Plante,” by Tim Mossholder, Unsplash