Posts Tagged: ‘world’

Cuban Cigars ? The World of Cigars

January 29, 2012 Posted by

If you are interested in learning about the world of cigars, then you probably have a taste for the finer things in life. The truth of the matter is that there is a lot to learn about cigars. In many ways, cigars share more with wine than they do with cigarettes, which also use tobacco. The truth about cigars is that there are different countries they come from, which determine the quality, and different ways to store the cigars. In other words, cigars are like wine in that collectors and aficionados will be very particular about the kinds of cigars they smoke and how they are kept, as well as where the cigars are from.

As you can imagine, cigars can be very expensive, especially the Cuban cigars. This means that if you are interested in exploring the world of cigars, you will want to know how to get the best deals on the finest items.

Before we go any further, we should talk about Cuban cigars.

Many people believe that these kinds of cigars are illegal in the U.S. This is both true and false. While a company cannot begin distributing these cigars en masse to American cigar smokers, many people find ways to obtain these cigars because the regulations have been loosened since the early sixties.

As a matter of fact, these cigars are becoming more and more popular among American smokers. The truth is that these cigars from Cuba are considered to be the best cigars in the world.

So what makes Cuban cigars the best in the world? There are many factors that go into making a cigar great. To begin with, the kind of tobacco is essential. You want to make sure that you are getting only the highest quality of tobacco. There is something about Cuban tobacco that makes it superior to all others.

Also, you want to consider the way the cigar is rolled.

You will also want to consider the sensual aspects, such as smell and taste. These are all elements that go into judging the quality of cigars.

If you are ready to get your hands on Cuban cigars, you will want to be careful. The fact is that cigars from Cuba are incredibly expensive, which is to be expensive since they are of the highest quality and still relatively rare in the United States.

The cigars are best when purchased online, this way you can get the best deals and actually have the cigars you have ordered delivered directly to your home.

If you’re interested in reading more about the aficionado lifestyle associated with Cuban cigars and learn everything you ever wanted to know about cigars, then I highly recommend you visit the website below. It’s been a great source of information, advice and irresistible cigar specials to me for the past 10 years.

You can view this website now by clicking this link: http://www.cigarexport.com/

Trading the World Gold Market

January 8, 2012 Posted by admin

Gold has experienced a spectacular rise recently. I say recently, the metal has been trending upwards for months.

With limited supply, the pressure should always be easier to apply to the upside. However, if this were the only argument then precious metals prices should never really fall.

Perhaps the market is not particularly overbought at the moment so there is still good room for manoeuvre to the upside; unfortunately, the same can of course be said for the downside.

We are in uncharted territory. With inflation remaining weak, interest rates likely to stay low, the US Dollar showing no real signs of recovery, banks still looking a bit weak and fears over the strength of the rebound in world growth, all the factors pushing Gold to the upside continue to linger on.

Looking at gold on a given day though, the price can easily rally on any weakness in the US Dollar. Of course when a market jumps like that then some investors will inevitably close their positions and take their profits. That can then cause the markets to fall, albeit temporarily.

This having been said, selling Gold has proved to be an expensive mistake for quite some months. Aside from minor corrections, the price has slowly ground higher through the whole period.

Not only this but since breaking above the critical $985 level back in September 2009 and then repeatedly failing to get back below it, the omens have started to favour yet another spike higher.

In an era of concern over the value of assets, gold holds its age old allure.

There is still much uncertainty in the markets. The big recipient of all this uncertainty remains the precious metal and it is tempting to speculate that no matter which currency gains the upper hand, the continued undervaluation of the emerging BRIC country currencies will perhaps drive the price of gold to undreamt of levels.

So what are the options for the investor? I prefer to spread bet on gold. However, before I continue, it should be noted that, as with all forms of speculation, there is a negative side. You can lose more than your initial stake with this from of trading.

One of the main reasons for trading gold through spread betting is that you can go long or short with a spread bet. This means you can speculate on gold to either rise or fall, particularly useful in volatile markets.

You also get instant access to thousands of financial markets. Yes you can trade gold spreads but you can also trade the future value of foreign exchange markets like Dollar / Yen and Euro / Sterling as well as stocks and shares or the future price of other commodities like crude oil.

With spread bets, no assets or ownership rights are exchanged, you are simply speculating on the future price of a market, the benefit here is that spread betting is tax free*.

Before you trade though, note that spread betting carries a high level of risk so you should only speculate with money you can afford to lose. Like the adverts say, before trading, please ensure that spread betting matches your investment needs, make sure you familiarise yourself with the risks involved and, where necessary, seek independent advice.

* Based on current UK tax law, if you pay tax in another jurisdiction then tax law may vary.

Robert Thomas is a seasoned financial spread commentator who offers strategic and tactical opinion on trading commodities such as gold and crude oil.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/investing-articles/trading-the-world-gold-market-1584600.html

The World of Cigars

September 13, 2011 Posted by

Like superior quality of wine, essence and savor of cigar are influenced by the soil of that nation. Sunlight and different conditions of soil influence qualities of leaves of tobacco. It is important to understand what makes smoking of cigar an exclusive event. A peep into the best regions in the world for cigar is provided below.

Well known cigars of the world are produced in Southern and Central Asia, Mexico and Cuba. Cigars produced in Cuba are the best in the world. It produces a large variety of most famous brands. Even after surviving cold war, the industry has been flourishing well. It has huge land for cultivation at central islands. The conditions here are most suitable for producing the best quality of tobacco and it really shows in the quality of the cigars. Absolute quality control of the fields is exercised by the government.

Despite a legal ban on storage and sale of Cuban cigars by United States, the cigar industry has done extremely well. The actual legal ban has been amended in recent years to a more liberal interpretation and has grown the sale and popularity of the cigars to epic proportions.

Indonesia also produces world class cigars with a vast variety of flavor. Besuki TBN shade -grown leaf is used for production of bulk of cigars. Shade green is a technique utilized for controlling the quantum of sunlight that falls on tobacco leaves. Nets made of muslin are specially used in Indonesia for protecting the tobacco leaves from sunlight.

The plants grown out of Sumatran seeds are used for manufacturing of cigars by the industries in Indonesia. These seeds have special flavor which gives prominence to the filler. Connecticut valley is famous for yellow cigars which are manufactured using shade green method. These medium size cigars are known as Connecticut shade and are the most expensive cigars.

Mexican cigars are milder and have a sweet smell. There is a wide range of cigars available in Mexico. Their best cigars are manufactured at San Andres Tuxtla. This regions climate allows tobacco leaves to achieve the finest quality. Aromas de San Andres and Santa Clara are the best cigars of Mexico.

Honduras region is ideally suited for production of cigars. Cuban expertise helped in the growth of this industry after 1960. Many Cuban experts moved over to Nicaragua and assisted the cigar industry by providing funds, expertise and tobacco seeds.

Brazil is also famous for cigar production. It has assisted many countries in production of cigars. Brazilian tobacco is procured by many nations for producing cigars. The cigar industry of Brazil is working hard to achieve international standards. It is thought that in the coming years, Brazil with further develop into one of the top countries in the world for cigars.

Cigar industry is growing rapidly because of sweet smell and flavor of its exclusive cigars. Their unique essence and savor represent history and culture of parts of the world of their origin. Cigar lovers can gain knowledge about the region by tasting its best cigars.

I have been involved in the cigar industry for over 20 years and I have written extensive guides on such products as the Travel Humidor, and the Palio Cutter. Also, see some of my latest guides on how to properly choose a Cigar Holder

Padron Deserves Father Like Stature in Cigar World

November 4, 2010 Posted by admin

 

Padron cigars are globally noted for its fabulous flavor along with the essence of Cuban heritage. Padron still sticks with handmade cigar making process. It firmly denies the potential stake of technology used into cigar making. Probably, Padron is the only example in the cigar world which doesn’t hesitate in expressing such unusual confidence and faith upon its clients. So, the premier online cigarshop like CigarsDirect.com has included it into its wide ranges of cigar.

 

Now, let’s have the glimpse upon company profile. Padron is a family owned business, led by José O. Padrón and Jorge Padrón. The family takes care of everything right from the tobacco culmination to sorting, processing, manufacturing and distribution. The cigar is made up of extra long-aged Nicaraguan-grown tobaccos from Cuban seed. There is an interesting incident with this cigar. Cigar Aficionado is a highly reputed cigar magazine. It has continuously rated Cigars more than twelve years but never named as the best cigar of the year.

 

Thus, the complete management in own hand helps the company in determining quite lower price and quality product in spite of hard work in its making. Though all companies are raising price of their product but Padron believes in customer satisfaction and customer always remains on the top of its priority list.

 

Today, there are a many duplicate Padron manufacturers in the market. So, there are few points which must be taken care of whenever you are making the purchase:

 

• There are two special series of Padron cigars which have double band. Their names are Padrón Cigars 1926 Series and 1964 Anniversary Series.

 

• Another prominent identity is Padrón logo which is nicely visible on their uppermost ring.

 

• Unique serial number is also a credible identity mark.

 

• One must know that Padron cigars are always sold in wooden boxes. Hence, cigars in cellophane wrapped bundles are fake Padron cigar.

 

At last, let’s not miss to mention Padron’s signature line, the 1926 Anniversario. It comes under a very special category of cigar. Leading online shop viz. CigarsDirect.com may offer special pack of Padron 1926 40th Anniversary on discounted price as well. So get the best deal there.

Premium Cigars at discount prices. Take advantage of our overstocked Cigars and Save when you buy Cigars Online. Our Premium Cigar selection is unmatched and our service will make you a customer for life.

The Splendid World of Cigar Lighters

October 30, 2010 Posted by admin

 

Cigar lighters are one of the most important accessories that a cigar enthusiast can have. Cigar lighters are no longer considered a simple device to light up your cigar, but are now signs of wealth and personality of a cigar enthusiast. They come up in so many attractive sizes, shapes and styles that it is rather impossible to overlook their brilliance.

 

Cigar lighters are also available in different price ranges ranging from just a few pounds to those that are over 100 pounds. Some of the most expensive models of cigar lighters are made of hand crafted silver and have wind-resistant flames. The popularity of high-cost cigar lighters is usually enhanced by the advertisements and other promotional activities by the manufacturers using celebrities and other popular personalities. Magazines like Cigar Aficionado are pretty much influential in creating hype about superb pieces of cigar lighters through their cover pages and reports on the products.

 

Cigar smoking, which is often considered as a more glorious variant of cigarette smoking, often seen in films and movies as the favourite way to smoke for rich dignitaries. With it the popularity and sales of cigar lighters have also increased. Acquiring expensive cigar lighters of high quality and has become a matter of serious pride for experienced smokers and they derive great pleasure in exhibiting their valuable possession.

 

Purchasing cigar lighters of different prices has become quite easy as there are a lot of online stores that carry these products. The user has to log on those websites, browse through the different products available, find your favourite product and then make the payment. Once you get your dazzling cigar lighter, get ready to flaunt it to your friends and other acquaintances.

Find more information about cigar lighters from the online store of UK Tobacco.

Cigar Shops Have Changed As The World Has Changed

October 29, 2010 Posted by admin

A cigar shop is a retail establishment that exists either as a storefront or an online catalogue. A walk-in store gives the smoker access to the most premium, fine cigars. It also gives the new smoker or the smoker on a budget, access to less expensive or newer brands.

One of the great things about a storefront cigar shop is it also gives smokers a place to actually smoke, and it also maintains a wait staff who can attend to clientele and answer questions.

An online cigar shop is a virtual realm that replaces the old storefront. It transcends geography, and it gives smokers from all over the world access to a very large inventory. A community management program is initiated to provide clients with customer service, specials, and information. Online cigar stores also offer a variety of prices so people on a budget can also enjoy fine tobacco.

Regardless of whether or not you are walking into a storefront cigar shop or surfing the catalog of an online equivalent, you can always count on finding premium cigar brands, less well-known but very good brands, cigar lighters, cigar cutters, and cigar humidors.

Many cigar stores also carry specialty cigarettes, such as electronic cigarettes, or cigarettes made from additive free tobacco. Many also carry pipes and pipe tobacco as well.

Gift items are also very popular through online resources. Cigars can now be purchased in gift packages, and special accessories like coffee mugs, special ashtrays, and golf cart clips can also be obtained. Such gifts can be great gestures of appreciation in a world that seems to be appreciating smokers less and less on a daily basis.

But who needs them when we have each other, right?

As things have changed in this great and mysterious world that we live in, so, too, has the old imagery and feel of many cigar shops changed. What we often visualize as iconic is really a memory of a bygone era.

That is not to say that you will not find the same images and motifs present in a modern cigar lounge or store, but there is a greater diversity of products and clear evidence of globalization in even the smallest of haunts these days.

In the old days there was little difference between what we now call a cigar lounge and a cigar shop. Both were places to purchase and smoke cigars, and smaller stores had limited inventories or maybe even only a handful of brands to offer. In those days as well, many European immigrants to the United States were truly and utterly illiterate and could not read even so much as a sign over the door of a store.

So it was decided by cigar store owners at that time to symbolize the establishment with a wooden statue of a Native American man or woman standing at the door. This symbol was chosen because Native Americans introduced Europeans to tobacco when first contact was made between the two cultures.

Today, it is considered bad form to use a racial symbol like this. It promotes a negative stereotype of Native American people, and it is also no longer necessary, considering how European-Americans have since learned to read, and even shop online.

For more information on

Arturo Fuente Cigars Are Some Of The Most Coveted And Well-Loved Cigars In The World

September 1, 2010 Posted by admin

These cigars are also all handmade using only the very best vintage tobaccos that is grown on a private family reserve in the Dominican Republic that has been set aside exclusively for the cultivation of this tobacco.

There are multiple lines from which cigar aficionados can choose if you they to experience a full range of flavors and impeccable blends.

For the smoker looking for medium-blend strength in a Cameroon wrapper, there is this line, with Dominican filler, it is the personal favorite of many people. Known for its spicy smoke and flawless construction in a Colorado wrapper, it has received very high ratings for its excellent flavor and even burn.

This cigar has also been given very high ratings for its dark, oily wrapper, spicy flavor, and earthy overtones-along with an excellent draw. Aficionados praise it continuously for its abundance of smoke and its solid, medium body.

Another one is often called the small cigar with a BIG flavor. It has received consistently high ratings for its aged leaf and its perfect roll. Smokers are always that it is well worth the additional cost due to its top quality taste and appearance of the wrapper.

The president of the cigar has earned a reputation among many as being the very best of all cigars. It is renowned as a first class cigar in every respect, including its even burn, its excellent construction, and its perfect draw with a medium body. It is characterized by a rich taste and a semi-sweet finish.

The Gran Reserva is the flagship line for these items. These cigars are all medium-bodied and exceptionally smooth.

Known as medium strength cigars, they are available in two different kinds of wrappers. With Dominican filler and binders, they offer reliable, consistent amounts of flavor and lots of smoke.

The newest addition to this line is a Cuban cigar. It has a Dominican filler and binder from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Mexico, and Brazil. It comes in a Cameroon wrapper and is a great smoke for the daytime or for the evening.

Cigar smokers all over the world love this cigar. A smoker simply cannot go wrong with these. The strength of these cigars can range from Medium to Spicy to Complex. The Colorado wrapper is exceptional in quality, and oily and smooth.

This line is also one of those lines that can introduce cigarette smokers to the world of cigars. It offers pure relaxation, laid back, stress-free moments, and long hours featuring continuous draws of contentment.

Aficionados also love the line for its dark Cameroon wrapper. It is firmly rolled so that it burns with a nice, white ash. Many say too that it features a unique blend of mild leather and coffee taste and call it a good hour smoke. Overall, it is an ideal great cigar for first time smokers.

One of our customers stated that he only smokes once per week, and that this is the only cigar he smokes. He loves the mild start and solid finish rich that is rich with oils.

The line of Cigars is a line that cigarette smokers can enjoy as an introduction to the world of cigars. It is pure relaxation, kicked back, distressed, and long, continuous draws of contentment.

For more information on Arturo Fuente Cigars and Cigar Smoking come visit our Cigar Shop online for Premium Cigars and Accessories

The Coolest Golf Cigars in the World- The 2010 edition

July 30, 2010 Posted by admin

It’s finally golf time. Thank God. You’ve dusted off the ‘ole clubs, rounded up your buddies, and shipped the kids off to summer camp.  You’re free. But every good golfer knows (good being a very broad term here) that the cherry on top is always picking the right cigar.

 

You know the usual suspects: The Montecristo Whites, the Edge Lites, and pretty much anything by Davidoff.  But this is 2010. It’s a new year my friends and with every new year comes new opportunity. I’ll be taking you through some new, more unique or “boutique brands” that you might not of considered for the course. Emerson’s cigars (www.emersonscigars.com) is known for carrying these types of cigars at an amazing price with incredible deals so I’ll be focusing on cigars featured in their inventory. So grab a mental (or physical for you forgetful types) pen and take notes. If anything else, you’re going to be able to impress your friends with my plethora of knowledge. But don’t be too impressed- it’s my job. However the most important thing you need to take away from all this?  It’s gonna be a kick butt season.

 

It’s always good to start off with a good, mild cigar. Some of you seasonal smokers may not have braved the winter to smoke a stogie and could be a little out of practice. Or, you just enjoy a smoother smoke. Who cares. You love mild, good for you. My pick this season is Acid’s line of cigars. I know what you’re thinking, “Infused cigars? Say WHA?” These might track a little more medium than you’re used to but it’s worth it. Acid is the brainchild of Jonathan Drew and every time Drew hears someone say, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” he must smile a little inside. That’s because Jonathan Drew is one of those rare innovators that doesn’t let mainstream traditionalists dictate and prevent change. Jonathan did something no one else seemed to be able to do- come up with something new. Acid by Drew Estate has perfected the idea of infusing premium cigars with amazing flavors. You know in order for this concept to work, it had to be executed without flaw. Acid did this through a cutting-edge technique in which he doesn’t cure the tobacco in traditional curing barns but instead what Drew calls, “Aroma Rooms.” You might need top-secret clearance to get into one of these rooms, but word has it that it’s filled with botanicals, spices, oils, and herbs.  These flavors gently infuse the premium, whole long-leaf filler Nicaraguan tobaccos and the combinations seem so seamless you’d think this is the way cigars were supposed to have been designed all along. Acid truly is the “rebirth of cigars.” These cigars can be found at www.EmersonsCigars.com. Allow Emerson’s Cigars and Drew Estates to welcome you to the new world.

 

So maybe you’re lookin’ for more flavor but you’re not quite up for a full-bodied delight. Perhaps you could say you might just need a little more “punch?” (This is my uninspired attempt to segway into my next pick- Punch Uppercut.)  Please don’t let my lack of grammatical seamlessness turn you off. The Punch Uppercut is an exciting and beautiful cigar for the course. Imagine an election where everyone wins. That’s not just the stuff of political fairytale- it’s Uppercut by Punch! The chosen cigar from a national taste test called the “Election” promotion, Democrats and Republicans alike can all agree that this cigar is good for America. By masterfully blending the rich flavors of Punch with that sought-after spiciness of Nicaraguan tobacco, the Uppercut is an amazing medium-bodied addition to any ticket. A silky Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper finishes this unique cigar with palate-loving flavors as warming as Mom’s apple pie. The verdict? The Uppercut is a knock-out Punch…especially for the golf course. Check out www.EmersonsCigars.com for pricing.

 

Now for the fun of full bodied cigars. It’s really hard to chose only one full-bodied cigar for 2010 because there have been so many amazing creations this year. However, I have to give it up to Kristoff’s creator, Glen Case. He makes my list for the coolest cigars for the golf course with the Vengeance Maduro Ligero. This cigar just landed at Emerson’s Cigars a couple months ago and is flying off the shelves. That’s because Glen Case is back with a Vengeance. Literally. After the highly acclaimed success of his Kristoff line, Exclusive Cigars is back with the Vengeance Ligero Maduro I’m definitely like a kid in a candy store. I recently got to meet Glen Case at one of the Superstar Cigar Events for Emerson’s Cigars brick and mortars. They have a bunch of big names this year so check the website. Glen gave me a little insight into the Vengeance and it’s just as beautiful as I thought it would be. An amazing Brazilian Maduro wrapper is combined with a Cuban-seed Honduran binder and Cuban-seed Dominican and Cuban-seed Honduran fillers which produces a fantastically awesome full-bodied smoke. This one-of-a-kind flavor profile consists of espresso, dried apricot, and chocolate with a perfect spicy/sweet finish .  No matter what kind of day you’re having on the course, this cigar will get you through it.

 

So that’s all folks! I’m super excited for the 2010 golf season. Beautiful weather, challenging courses, and fantastic cigars await us. In fact, I’m going to stop wasting my time writing about it and get out there. I suggest you do the same. You can find all the cigars I described at www.EmersonsCigars.com or at one of their five brick and mortars in Hampton Roads, VA.  Happy golfing!!

 

 

Maria is an expert author and webmaster of Cigar websites. The website having details of Cigar, Cigars, Montecristo White cigar, Punch Uppercut cigar, Vengeance Maduro Ligero cigar, Edge Lites cigar, Davidoff cigar

http://www.emersonscigars.com
Emerson’s Cigars
Peninsula Town Center
4310 East Claiborne Square
Hampton, VA 23666
Phone: 757-224-4996

Cigar Deals Abound All Over This Big Beautiful World Of Ours, And They Are Found In All Kinds Of Places

July 12, 2010 Posted by admin

Cigar deals abound all over this big beautiful world of ours, and they are found in all kinds of places.

You have all kinds of choices out there. It doesnt matter if you want a cheap cigar, a mild cigar, a robust cigar, a fine cigar, or a premium cigar. Somewhere, there will always be a cigar deal that will bring you the lowest price at the highest possible point of quality.

Many times, you will find cigar deals by their country of origin. For instance, the Dominican Republic exports more premium cigars than any other country on Earth. Honduras and Nicaragua export just about as many cigars themselves.

There was a time in our human history when Dominican cigars were considered mild, Nicaraguan cigars were medium, and Nicaraguan cigars were full-bodied. This is no longer the case. Categories are more fluid now, and no longer represent fixed absolutes of qualitative assessment.

This new flexibility opens the door for cigar deals that allow the aficionado to try all sorts of trends in the marketplace.

To keep cigars in premium condition, you must purchase a good humidor and humidifier for your cigars. It is an investment that will quickly pay for itself. Just let one premium box of cigars you have invested a small fortune in go bad, and you are going to wish you had invested in quality humidor rather than having to buy replacement cigars.

Keep in mind, too, that cigar deals are always changing at the sole discretion of the retailer. Retailers keep these specials going only while quantities last. It is essential to check back frequently to keep on top of what deals are offered.

There are so many benefits you can gain from cigar deals. The greatest of these is saving money. Buying cigars on special gives you access to so much from other countries. Many of these specials are let you buy directly from the factory.

There are things to be look out for when looking for cigar deals online. First, find out where the cigars originate from. When you buy from a cigar store that operates a website, make absolutely certain that they store their cigars properly. There are those online cigar stores who act as wholesalers competing with brick and mortar shops, and you really do not have any idea of where these cigars came from or whether or not they are stored properly.

Another thing to be cautious about when buying your cigars online is how your order is processed. You must make absolutely sure that you are buying from a secure server site. Several US merchant accounts refuse to process tobacco product transactions, so many online cigar retailers use offshore accounts to process credit cards.

You dont have to worry about any of this with Serious Cigars. Since June 6, 2007, we have been accredited by the BBB. The following day, on June 7, 2007, we were approved for meeting BBB Online business standards.

Our quality is guaranteed by a huge walk-in humidor that maintains the freshness of every premium cigar we offer. Many of our best cigar deals are available in sampler pack form. You can try all sorts of new brands to see which ones you like the most, and you do not have to spend a lot of money. You can also save money on cigar accessories and gifts for fellow smokers, clients, and relatives new to the world of cigar smoking.

For more information on Cigar Deals

History of Cigars

July 3, 2010 Posted by admin

Ah, the fine premium cigar. There truly is nothing to compare to the experience of a fine cigar, a glass of really good cognac, and an evening in the shade. It is a peaceful experience to say the least.

However, have you ever looked at your high-profile smoke and wondered what the events were that led to the making of it? Most true cigar aficionados have at one point or another.

The chain of events that led to the production of the cigar that you now hold in your hand is a long one, spanning back over 500 years. It all began when a brave explorer by the name of Christopher Columbus decided to throw caution to the wind and risk it all to prove that there was more to the world than everyone knew at the time. In 1492, he found success, along with a little something in the new world called tobacco.

Ironically, Luis De Torres of a Spanish Envoy to America decided to take some back to his home for personal use. After spotted lighting it, he was arrested for witchcraft and sentenced to a decade in prison.

The presence of tobacco popped up again as Cortez stumbled upon a tribe of Aztec natives that are smoking tobacco. Through Cortez, the tobacco makes its way throughout Spain. From there, the pipe-smoked substance began to grow in fame and use. By the mid 1500’s, tobacco had made its’ way all the way to France where the first seeds were planted and cultivated by a monk by the name of Andre Thevet.

From there, tobacco made its’ way to the distant lands of Portugal, Russia, Turkey, and Italy. The Portuguese, via a trade route, introduce it to the Japanese. Onward it spreads to Morocco, Egypt, and even to the Philippines. Finally, in the early 1600’s, it makes a full historical circle as documents reveal that the husband of Pocahontas, John Rolfe, brings tobacco to the state of Virginia.

By the early 1600’s, Cuba has built a solid name for fine tobacco growth and becomes the major supplier for the majority of the known world.

In the mid 1700’s, the infamous Catherine the great creates the cigar band as a concept. It seems that Catherine would smoke cigars so often that her fingers would take on a brownish colored stain. Therefore, to avoid this, she had a band designed so she could hold her cigars without the irritating stain.

From there, it is only a matter of time until the major brands began to establish themselves. Cohiba, H. Upmann, Partagas, El Rey del Mundo, Sancho Pancza, Romeo y Julieta, Hoyo de Monterrey, Montecristo and the rest of the premium cigars that you and I enjoy today become very notable over the next century.

That brings us to the here and now. Today, we can sit back and enjoy our fine cigars knowing that they have a history that dates all the way back to Christopher Columbus. So when you enjoy that next high-profile smoke, blow a plume and say, “Here’s to you Chris!”.

Denis is the author and webmaster for CigarInspector.com, your source for cigar reviews and cigar ratings.