Many people continue to hold wildly polarized views of cigar smoking. To some, cigars firmly belong in the same problematic category as cigarettes, chewing tobacco, or vape pens, resulting in all kinds of serious health issues for those who choose to partake. To others, indulging in a cigar serves as an elegant pastime that promotes self-reflection, deep-seated relaxation, and a general indulgence in the unique flavors and aromas that come with high-quality tobacco.
As divisive as it might be, cigar smoking remains a cherished activity perfectly capable of elevating an otherwise normal occasion into an important special event. Whether enjoying a stogie during a roaring bachelor party or having a special smoke to celebrate your wedding day, cigars can be a rich, sophisticated way to make your day that much more enjoyable and impossible to forget.
The Early Roots of Tobacco
Like alcoholic libations, historians struggle to put an exact date on tobacco’s discovery and commonplace popularity. However, we do now that ancient civilizations in North and South America routinely used tobacco.
In its earliest inception, the Maya people of South America used tobacco for medicinal purposes, likely sometime around 2500 BCE (per TheCigar.com). In this early form, the South Americans referred to tobacco as “tzibatl,” which European explorers promptly translate into “tabaco” (in its Spanish form) and “tabago” (in Portuguese).
At the time, Indigenous South and Central Americans considered tobacco such a valuable item, they gifted it to Christopher Columbus upon his 1492 arrival to the Bahamas. Columbus’ Santa Maria crew member, Rodrigo de Jerez, even became the first known European in history to smoke a tobacco roll.
Spread to the Old World
Like the allure of sugar, tomatoes, corn, and coffee, tobacco and cigars themselves quickly found a treasured place in European culture, spreading first to Spain and Portugal before eventually carrying over into France and Great Britain. By the 17th century, the tobacco plant had become one of the most financially sought-after commodities of both North and South America, giving way to a lucrative industry throughout the New and Old Worlds.
While tobacco and early versions of the cigar existed long before Columbus’ arrival to the Bahamas, the cigar we know today was first created in 18th century Spain. Using Cuban tobacco, the company Tabacalera refined the tobacco roll into a more durable form, introducing the idea of a filler, binder, and decorative wrapper for easier consumption.
In the decades that followed, additional companies across Europe adopted Tabacalera’s design, so much so that more and more brands began relying on decorative bands to help differentiate their products, as well as to protect the white gloves gentlemen often wore as a 19th century fashion trend.
Cigar Smoking Today: Where to Find the Best Cigar
With the introduction of comparatively less-expensive forms of tobacco in the 19th century (most especially the cigarette), cigars rapidly declined in popularity by the early days of the 20th century. Further exacerbating availability was the U.S. government’s trade embargo with Cuba in the 1960s, causing further issues for Americans who wished to smoke a premium stogie.
In the decades since, even as new forms of nicotine use have become popular alternatives, cigars hold a special attraction for those interested in a more flavorful form of tobacco instead of cigarettes, chewing tobacco, or E-cigarettes. While the U.S.’ embargo of Cuban exports has continued to the present day, the Caribbean island nation nevertheless maintains a booming tobacco industry, as does Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic, where most higher tier U.S. cigars originate from.
Today, cigar smoking continues to remain a popular if slightly niche activity for most tobacco enthusiasts, with smoke shops and cigar lounges rising in popularity throughout Miami, Tampa, New York, and Las Vegas.
Rather than yet another unhealthy provider of harmful toxins, a good cigar can be more directly compared to a cup of fresh-ground coffee or a glass of premium whiskey, especially by those who favor its distinct flavor, bittersweet scent, and dopamine-releasing characteristics. While it might not be an ideal pastime for everyone, cigars nevertheless can add a delightful spin on an occasion worthy of celebration, be it a partner’s birthday, the birth of your first child, or the romantic wedding ceremony of your deepest dreams.
