Cigars have been around for centuries, with some of the oldest forms of tobacco put to use by the Mayans in Central America. That was more than two thousand years ago. The cigars of yore were very different from the cigars today, despite being crafted in nearly the same ways, using aged tobaccos.
Today’s cigars are a luxury item. They’re indicative of a premium or indulgent lifestyle, and for good reason. Sure, modern cigars can be relatively pricey. They’re also meant to relax and enjoy life, and they require you to slow down — and some people just can’t get down with any of those things.
However, aside from a few labels or SKUs, they’re still accessible. From budget options to middle-ground cigars there are a ton of ways to procure them today and hundreds, if not thousands, of retailers that sell them. They’re not quite as rare as they used to be, or as coveted.
You or I, provided we’re the legal age, can walk into any cigar shop or lounge and find hundreds of different options. Would you believe many years ago that would not have been possible?
In colonial times, and for early colonists in America, tobacco and cigars were a currency. Tobacco was the safest and most stable commodity that the Chesapeake colonies had at the time.
Cigarettes have been used the same way across history. A unique example is how they’re used in prison as currency, although that’s a bit off-kilter. They were also used as currency during the World Wars.
The average person did not smoke cigars as we do today. They might have had one now and then, but mostly, they used them as bargaining chips and to trade for goods. They also traded raw tobacco.
Both tobacco and cigars were used as reliable commodities because of their portability, durability, and widespread appeal. They were also incredibly rare to the common man, making them valuable the world over, not just in North America. Some of the first cigars to reach Europe came by way of Spain and were even more challenging to acquire.
During the 19th and 20th centuries, only the rich or well-off could afford to consume tobacco and cigars, especially imported Cuban varieties. That rarity, at that time, and for those people, was a way to flash their wealth. It’s similar to how people today dress in expensive suits, wear expensive jewelry and watches, and — would you look at that — smoke expensive cigars.
I realize times are different, in many, many ways, but if those people could look at us today, they’d probably think we’re living in the lap of luxury. By their standards, we’re rich. Not purposefully ignoring some of the deplorable things happening in this world, we are really fortunate to have widespread access.
New growing regions introduced new types of tobacco
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
I suspect the tobacco and cigar industry would have evolved eventually, regardless of what happened with the Cuban exodus. But because of tobacco growers leaving the region, they spread to new areas like Honduras, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and so on. That also helped introduce a whole new wave of tobacco types. While you might prefer Cuban-grown varieties, it significantly improved the market and created a lot of excellent competition.
That overall growth, expansion in terms of variety, and general success across businesses small to big is what made cigars more accessible. Yes, there are still $100+ cigars out there, and many of us can agree we’re not the market for those. But there are also a ton of excellent, budget-friendly and more affordable cigars. Just as there are many premium cigars focused on a luxurious lifestyle.
It certainly makes you wonder what Churchill would think. I bet he would absolutely love some of the stuff we have available today. It would be interesting to sit down with Mark Twain and share a Boneshaker, Aganorsa, or Casa Carrillo (E.P. Carrillo).
Briley has over 16 years in the publishing and content marketing business. He's been writing about cigars for nearly half that in various forms. What makes him a tour de force is he also smokes them.
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
