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The history of Cigar Life

The love of cigars has a long history, and no one is certain of when it began or with whom. What we do know is that the tradition of cigar life and smoking is extensive. Cigar’s history dates back at least a thousand years. Although, it may have been even longer. The earliest cigars differed from what brothers and sisters of leaf smoke today. Cigars were little more than tightly rolled tobacco leaves bundled together. They were thought to have originated with the Mayans back in the tenth century. That’s because a clay jar depicting a man smoking a cigar was found dating to the period. Yet, no one knows for certain who conceptualized rolling up some tobacco leaves and smoking them. But, we’re glad they did.

Fast-forward to today. Cigar smoking is common, available, and enjoyed by all members of modern society. In fact, cigar smoking has grown so popular that cigar life has developed across the globe and online. So, we’ve put together a list of seven awesome ways that prove cigar smoking is for you to enjoy whenever you want. We’ll begin with the wild, wild world of social media.

1. From Social Smoker to Social Media

Cigars and social media are not exactly what comes to mind while puffing on a stick and letting that rich, thick smoke tickle your tongue before you release it. Yet, cigar aficionados have stormed social media. On Facebook alone, there are over 100 different cigar groups. That means there’s a group out there for everyone … and if you can’t find a good fit, it’s easy enough to create your own. Yet, social media isn’t the only way to enjoy cigar life. There are gobs of cigar events nationwide and worldwide.

2. National Cigar Events

National cigar events across the U.S. never stop to amaze us. Every year, you can count your sticks and head over to the nearest event. Or, plan a stop during your vacation and check out cigar events in your area. If you’ve never been to a cigar event, you should try one. Live music, smokes, and excellent camaraderie? You bet! Large events often include premium cigar samples among other things for participants to enjoy. You don’t need to stay local or national to find some great events, though. If you’re thinking of traveling abroad, be sure to check out cigar events in the area you’re traveling to as well. You’ll never know what gems you’ll find until you look.

3. Cigar Events Across the Globe

Finding international cigar events that appeal to you is easier than you think with a good internet connection. Cigar Journal has a list of international cigar events posted on their website. Yet, if you know where your traveling and are looking for something in the area, a simple web search may produce some good results. So, maximize your vacation or travel plans to take one down to the nub.

4. Smoking’ in the Cigar lounge

If you haven’t had a chance to check out a local or not-so-local cigar lounge yet. We encourage you to try them. They are a fantastic way to socialize with good smoke. As a bonus, you’ll find cigar lounges dotted across the U.S. as well as the globe. The trend of cigar lounges is likely to continue to rise if the industry has anything to reflect on it. According to Statista, a market research company, the cigar industry is speaking loud and clear. Cigar consumption is rising across the globe, and the U.S. is at the top of the list with over $9 billion in revenue generated in the U.S. alone for 2019.

5. Cigar History Museums

Cigar lounges are a great place to kick back, relax, nub a stick and enjoy the camaraderie that follows. Yet, cigars have a rich history that spans the globe. Cigar history in the U.S. involves when Cuban cigar makers planted themselves in Florida to see their cigar-making dreams come to fruition. Today, cigar aficionados, or any history buff, can stroll down to Key West, Tampa, or Ybor City to appreciate the Cuban cigar heritage. Ybor City offers cigar enthusiasts a permanent exhibit in the city’s cigar history museum – Ybor City Museum.

Of course, not everyone has time to travel these days. Life is busy. With that in mind, the online Cigar History Museum was founded by central California cigar aficionado, Tony Hyman. Hyman displays images and grand, historical detail on the museum’s website for public viewing. No cost. No travel – just sheer, rich cigar history.

6. Women and Cigars

There is a long history of women smoking cigars. Tobacco smoking was first used for rituals and spiritual purposes. Today, cigar smoking has made its way into leisure life and enjoyed by all – men and women. In fact, there are even several social networking groups designed with women and cigars in mind. Women’s International Cigar Club is one of them. It is a Facebook group with a following of 765 people. Another networking group is Stixx and Stilettos, which aims to connect professional women with cigars. Stixx and Stilettos host networking events for ladies of the leaf and for those with an interest in cigars. That’s one more reason that cigar smoking offers something for everyone.

We’ve covered six great reasons to smoke cigars and enjoy the camaraderie and culture that follows. Now, what about age? Cigar smokers were first associated with older, affluent men. So, is there an average age for people to enjoy a stick in a lounge, at an event, or pretty much anywhere? The answer, of course, is “No” and this brings us to our final reason why cigar smoking is for you.

7. Millennial Cigar Smokers

Millennials are the up-and-coming cigar aficionados now and they are taking to cigar lifestyle by storm. According to a blog by Zach Riley on Stogie Press, millennials like himself enjoy a good stick for relaxation and socialization. They prefer social events to stogies at home. They also believe in documenting their lives, including cigar life, via social media – any social media.

So, there you have it, cigar life truly is for everyone. Cigar life has much to offer. There is so much more to cigars than nubbing a good stick. Of course, that’s always good too.

photo credit: Pixabay

Tendrils of cherry-scented smoke twist, curl and roll as they rise from the cigarillo held between the young woman’s fingers. A box of Swisher Sweets lies on the counter while the clerk counts the change. It’s the last box until the next shipment arrives on Thursday. Anyone else looking for their cherry cigarillo fix will have to wait or buy them elsewhere. It’s a common thread among tobacco retailers across the U.S. today as is the rising number of women and younger adults joining the ranks of cigar aficionados.

Cigar smokers have long enjoyed a status symbol among affluent society. The association usually envisions a cigar smoker with that of a middle-aged, white gentleman in a cozy, over-sized, leather office chair. Yet, this is one cliche that no longer rings true of all cigar aficionados today. Instead, cigars and cigarillos have adapted to a new group of smoking enthusiasts, including younger adults and women. What draws them in? The appeal begins with the slim, sweet-flavored cigarillos, but it doesn’t stop there.

Rich in History, New on Flavor

Who knows where the idea to roll a leaf and smoke it came from, but we’re glad someone thought to try it. While cigars have their historical beginnings in what may have begun as ceremonial purposes, they have risen over the centuries to include social status symbols, camaraderie, and public and private enjoyment. Even Christopher Columbus, the man credited with spreading stogies to Europe, couldn’t have known how far the cigar would travel over time and ultimately shape today’s smokes.

The cigar is no longer limited to the pleasures of affluent European men, despite its ongoing association as a status symbol. Now, cigars and cigarillos have adapted to modern culture and that includes an appeal to today’s young adults and women. Stogies are on the rise and there’s no telling how far they’ll grow, but it’s what’s contributing the rise in the cigar economy that’ll make you smile and puff some more. So, light ‘em up, kick back, relax, and read on.

Stogies on the Rise

The popularity of cigars and cigarillos is steadily rising. In fact, cigars are growing at about 2% per year with the U.S. being the largest global market, according to Statista. Younger adults and women are rushing in to try their first leaf. Lighting up is less about what’s trending and more about the counterculture with cigar clubs and herfs toking up virtually everywhere. So, what’s the deal?

For many, it’s a way to get social and connect with different minds and a common interest. It’s about relaxing after a long day or a hard exam. Or, chilling with your friends or simply kicking back and puffing on a long stick. It’s also about newer flavors that enthrall and entice. It’s about all this and more.

Forget the affluent smokers of old for a moment. No one ever said there was a societal restriction to smoking, and if they did, it’s old news, Baby. Grab your Gurkhas, your Rocky Patels, and anything else you can get your hands on and light ‘em up. Today, there’s a cigar or a cigarillo designed for nearly everyone, every age, and every gender. From Swisher Sweets to Macanudos to the Montecristo and beyond. It’s an affinity for the smoke, the culture, the camaraderie, the pleasure, and more. Stogies are on the rise and young adults and women are taking notice.

Why Today’s Women Love Cigars

For today’s women and young adults, cigars and cigarillos are all about the experience, the rich, unique flavors, and much more. They’re sexy. They’re fascinating, and they’re relaxing – all rolled up inside one stick. For those sampling the leaf, many of today’s cigarillos are available in fun, fruity flavor bombs that tantalize the taste buds at an affordable price while offering a unique tobacco experience.

Cigarillos might carry some resemblance to the modern cigarette in size or shape. But make no mistake, cigars and cigarillos are made differently than cigarettes. That gives them their unique, natural flavors and exceptional quality from the first puff to the very last. So, what do women really think about cigarillos and cigars? Let’s find out.

“They [the cigarillos] lasted longer than a cigarette. I never smoked a whole one at once – just half in one session and the other half a couple of hours later.” – Shaylee Morton, Andover, Maine

This is one opinion, sure, but it’s certainly not the only one. Cigarillos are popular for beginner cigar smokers and women, often due to their slender size, shape, and the new flavor bomb infusions. So, how do they compare to the common cigarette?

From Cigarettes to Cigarillos

As we mentioned, sometimes size really does matter and the slimmer shape and flavors are gaining popularity among women. Filters or non-filters? That depends on individual preference, but with so many juicy new flavors to choose from, who cares?

“The cigarillos I bought didn’t have a filter and I really liked that. They were thin and smaller [than traditional cigars], easier to hold, and easier to throw in your purse. I love the grape flavor. That one is my favorite.” – Donna Ward, Morton, Illinois

Well, there you have it. The flavor is a powerful thing. Yet, if you thought that the cigarillo was the only player in the game for women, you might want to reconsider. Throngs of women are taking to cigars more now than ever before. In fact, a simple search on Facebook yielded not one, but four different groups and several websites dedicated to women cigar aficionados.

Cigars smoking is no longer viewed as a taboo thing for women to do. So, ladies, grab your sticks and puff away, but why stop there? The world needs more quality cigars to intrigue them, right? With that said, it’s time to go beyond the smoke.

Beyond the Smoke

Going beyond cigar-smoking means stepping it up a notch. It’s not rocket science or anything, but neither is it just about smoking the finest leaf around either. It’s so much more than that and to fully appreciate it, you must immerse yourself in it, and for some, only a full immersion will do. That’s precisely what Afro-Cuban-American twin sisters and cigar aficionados, Yvonne and Yvette Rodriguez did down in Miami.

Tres Lindas Cubanas goes beyond the smoke as the first female-owned cigar brand to launch in the U.S. It was their love of leaf and ancestral history that brought this cigar lover’s dream to fruition. This dynamic duo specializes in superb Nicaraguan manufactured stogies that dazzle the taste buds in packaging that does triple-duty by branding their product, ensuring tantalizing freshness, and dishing up some simple, but sophisticated packaging eye-candy along the way. It’s cigars like these and more that’ll leave you proud to nub your stick all the way down.

Today, cigar smoking isn’t just about the smoke. It’s about camaraderie or even joining a herf. It’s also about relaxing with a Macanudo or Montecristo. Finally, it’s about savoring the richness in leaf, the fullness of flavor, and the love of life in general. Cigar lifestyle isn’t just about smoking a cigar or cigarillo. So, if you’re ready to join the clan of rising cigar aficionados, then grab your stick and light that baby up.

7 Awesome Reasons Why Cigar Life is for You