| Ah, the fine premium cigar. There truly is nothing to | | | | From there, tobacco made its’ way to the |
| compare to the experience of a fine cigar, a glass of | | | | distant lands of Portugal, Russia, Turkey, and Italy. |
| really good cognac, and an evening in the shade. It is | | | | The Portuguese, via a trade route, introduce it to the |
| a peaceful experience to say the least. | | | | Japanese. Onward it spreads to Morocco, Egypt, and |
| However, have you ever looked at your high-profile | | | | even to the Philippines. Finally, in the early 1600’s, |
| smoke and wondered what the events were that led | | | | it makes a full historical circle as documents reveal |
| to the making of it? Most true cigar aficionados have | | | | that the husband of Pocahontas, John Rolfe, brings |
| at one point or another. | | | | tobacco to the state of Virginia. |
| The chain of events that led to the production of | | | | By the early 1600’s, Cuba has built a solid name |
| the cigar that you now hold in your hand is a long | | | | for fine tobacco growth and becomes the major |
| one, spanning back over 500 years. It all began when | | | | supplier for the majority of the known world. |
| a brave explorer by the name of Christopher | | | | In the mid 1700’s, the infamous Catherine the |
| Columbus decided to throw caution to the wind and | | | | great creates the cigar band as a concept. It seems |
| risk it all to prove that there was more to the world | | | | that Catherine would smoke cigars so often that her |
| than everyone knew at the time. In 1492, he found | | | | fingers would take on a brownish colored stain. |
| success, along with a little something in the new | | | | Therefore, to avoid this, she had a band designed so |
| world called tobacco. | | | | she could hold her cigars without the irritating stain. |
| Ironically, Luis De Torres of a Spanish Envoy to | | | | From there, it is only a matter of time until the major |
| America decided to take some back to his home for | | | | brands began to establish themselves. Cohiba, H. |
| personal use. After spotted lighting it, he was | | | | Upmann, Partagas, El Rey del Mundo, Sancho Pancza, |
| arrested for witchcraft and sentenced to a decade in | | | | Romeo y Julieta, Hoyo de Monterrey, Montecristo |
| prison. | | | | and the rest of the premium cigars that you and I |
| The presence of tobacco popped up again as Cortez | | | | enjoy today become very notable over the next |
| stumbled upon a tribe of Aztec natives that are | | | | century. |
| smoking tobacco. Through Cortez, the tobacco | | | | That brings us to the here and now. Today, we can |
| makes its way throughout Spain. From there, the | | | | sit back and enjoy our fine cigars knowing that they |
| pipe-smoked substance began to grow in fame and | | | | have a history that dates all the way back to |
| use. By the mid 1500’s, tobacco had made | | | | Christopher Columbus. So when you enjoy that next |
| its’ way all the way to France where the first | | | | high-profile smoke, blow a plume and say, |
| seeds were planted and cultivated by a monk by the | | | | “Here’s to you Chris!”. |
| name of Andre Thevet. | | | | |