But why are cigars discontinued? What are the determining factors? As someone straddling both sides of the industry, press and retail sides, I’ve learned a few of those reasons and I’m here to share. Sharing is caring, right? Light up a smoke, pour yourself a cold glass of something strong and let’s go.

Why are cigars discontinued?

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

There are a few main reasons why cigars are eventually phased out. While they’re not followed in any particular order, the biggest and most common reason is popularity or sales.

Here are some more reasons why cigars may be discontinued:

1. If a cigar blend, size, or line is not selling well, manufacturers will eventually phase it out.
2. Cigars are all natural, made from plants and varying harvests. If one type of tobacco or a particular leaf is unavailable, manufacturers might discontinue the line.
3. Evolving consumer preferences can affect the popularity and sales of even the most prolific blends.
4. Rising costs, in taxes, fees, or supply chain expenses can sometimes significantly impact profits for a particular blend, in which case, brands may phase it out for better options.
5. In some rare cases, raw materials or supplies can affect the shipping of cigars. For example, if cigars are shipped in authentic ammo boxes, but the materials for those boxes become rare, more expensive or unavailable, well, the line gets phased out.
6. An updated blend or change in the materials and ingredients may cause older blends to be phased out. Like when upgrading a cigar, changing the factory, or something similar.
7. Increasing or emerging production challenges, like cigars rolled a special way, unique sizes, and accoutrements, like raw leaf used for a wrapper, may eventually cause the blend to be phased out. It could be because no one knows how to do the old methods or work with new materials, or they’re just not available.
8. Poor or weakened agricultural yields, especially in certain growing regions.

It happens from time to time; the industry is constantly evolving

It sucks when your favorite cigar goes the way of the ghost. I’ve seen it happen several times, and I have no doubt it will continue to happen in the years ahead. Cornelius & Anthony, for instance, was a brand I loved — I still have a lot of their stuff in my humidor — but they are no longer made.

There are many other changes that happen, too. My Father cigars used to be made by Aganorsa, before it changed its name. Now, the Garcia family makes its own cigars, and the blends are a little different. That tends to happen a lot in the industry when new factories open and the handcrafting changes, well, hands.

The post Why are cigars discontinued by manufacturers? appeared first on The BS Lounge.

How do you get all the flavors? Aren’t you blowing out your palate? What’s the deal? Well, first, addressing the palate concerns, you build up a tolerance, especially if you retrohale, which I always recommend doing, anyway. You can reset your palate using various methods, like eating some salty crackers or coconut, or having seltzer water or club soda. I don’t usually do that unless I’ve had a crazy strong cigar somewhere in there, but it can definitely help reset your flavor picker.

But also, there’s a relatively straightforward way to set up your multiple cigar session(s).

How do you arrange several smokes?

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

As you likely know by now, so much of what constitutes as a “rule” or advice in the cigar world is really up to a matter of preference. Meaning, whatever I recommend here, ultimately, it’s up to you to decide whether you want to follow that guidance or not.

There’s no right or wrong answer, at least in this case. However, I recommend aligning the cigars from mildest to strongest. You start with a weaker cigar, both in terms of nicotine strength and flavor profile. Then, you work your way up from there to end the day or evening on a much stronger blend — a high note.

It also depends on how much time you have between smokes. If you’re smoking them one-after-another then, yes, you want to arrange them weak to strong — mild to full. But if you’re smoking one, then waiting a few hours in between, it doesn’t matter as much. For example, if you have one in the morning with your coffee, then another in the evening after dinner, the gap between the two times is enough that your palate won’t be affected. Especially if you’re eating in between somewhere. For those two separate sessions, smoke whatever the hell you want, in whatever order you want.

What happens if you smoke in the opposite direction?

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

If you do the opposite and smoke stronger cigars early and then go to weaker cigars later in the day or evening, it may or may not make it more difficult to pick out the flavors. But it actually depends on your palate and your experiences. I do know some people who smoke in that direction, strong to weak, or full to mild.

Yes, I have tried it, and now and then I’ll swap things up, but I prefer the first recommendation. In my experience, it’s better and easier to appreciate the varying flavors as you elevate the profile with each new cigar.

As I’m saying this, do note that — and this is always the right answer — it all comes down to what you’d rather do. If you try it one way or the other, and find you prefer a particular method over another, great. That can make this guide seem like I’m providing a non-answer, or just gnashing my teeth. Why would I recommend doing it one way when you can do it whichever way you want? Well, because, as long as I’ve been smoking, that’s worked for me, and not just me, I’ve found it works for many others, too.

The wrapper or blend doesn’t matter as long as you’re following the weak/mild to strong/full pattern. Going from a Maduro or Corojo to a Habano, or vice versa, is more about the strength and flavor profile than anything else. Whichever one tends to be stronger, with bolder, spicier flavors, save that for last. And no, contrary to popular belief, a maduro wrapper doesn’t automatically mean a cigar is stronger.

The post One of the best ways to put together a cigar lineup appeared first on The BS Lounge.

When you tell me flat out that you didn’t like a cigar, my first response is not just to question your palate, but also what kind of condition the cigar you smoked was in. Most people don’t care to keep their cigars in optimal condition. If you leave them on your counter to dry out for a few days, they’re probably not going to taste good when you smoke them.

That outlines the biggest problem. Someone did something wrong, and that cigar was not ready.

What do you mean by “did something wrong?”

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

So, you didn’t like a cigar? Cool. You don’t need to go on blast and tell everyone everywhere. Really, you probably look silly doing it. The problem likely stems from the condition of that cigar you smoked. It doesn’t necessarily mean it was you, but someone probably did something wrong and it affected that cigar.

A cigar that has been stored in improper conditions will burn wonky and the flavor will suffer. Cigars can be overhumidified and underhumidified, so it’s easy to do. And contrary to popular belief, a lot of stores and lounges don’t keep their stock at optimal conditions. Worse yet, if the cigars were shipped to you in the mail, they could have dried out or been exposed to more extreme temperatures during the trip.

If you get the cigar from a friend, they might have stored it improperly themselves. They might have even left it out of the humidor too long.

Cigars aren’t perfect from any brand

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

It’s also entirely possible you got a dud. Cigars are handcrafted. No matter how thorough, how well developed a quality control process is for a brand, some bad cigars are going to make it into a batch. I know you’ll probably complain and say that’s unacceptable. To some level I agree, but the reality is — it happens and it is what it is. Premium or not, these are not perfect specimens every time. Even your most beloved brands like Davidoff, Fuente, and — gasp — Cuban varieties can have a dud from time to time.

If you smoke too fast, meaning you’re puffing too often, you can encourage the cherry and tobacco to burn faster and hotter. That also influences the taste and experience.

You can start to see why when you proclaim you don’t like a cigar, or it’s bland and uninteresting, or any number of extreme opinions, people might be hesitant to agree, especially if they’ve had good experiences with the same cigar. There are many, many things that can influence how you perceive the cigar in question. Some of those factors could result from user error.

What does any of this mean?

Source: Briley Kenney / Techigar

When you’re trying a new cigar blend, from a new brand or new label, you should try more than one. It’s not just about the cigar. Where you are, what you’re drinking, who you’re with, and what kind of headspace you’re in all influence the experience you have with the cigar you’re smoking. If you’re in a mood, then the cigar probably isn’t going to offer the best experience.

I always recommend grabbing two or three singles of each new cigar you buy, if that’s in your wheelhouse. Also, you want to smoke them at different times.

I’ve had many cigars that were absolute flavor bombs, and someone comes along and says that it was bland and they didn’t like it. Okay, that’s possible. But it’s also entirely possible your palate wasn’t ready, or that cigar was not stored correctly. Or, and this happens a lot, it just wasn’t the right time for you to smoke that cigar. Some are better in the morning with coffee. Some are great at night as lineup enders. Others are great with a whiskey, bourbon, Pepsi, or iced tea. It really depends.

Lounges aren’t the best places to smoke a cigar for the first time

Source: Valiant Made / Unsplash

And yeah, sure, the camaraderie is fun in a lounge, but if you’re smoking a cigar in a lounge for the first time, it’s going to be tough to get the full experience of that cigar. The entire experience is what you’re looking for, including the aromas while burning, the retrohale, and what you get orally from smoking. A lot of those elements are interrupted or influenced heavily when you’re in a lounge with several others smoking different cigars. The smoke, the aromas, the flavors of that other, nearby tobacco can and will affect how you feel, taste, and what you remember about said cigar.

If you go to light up a mild to medium-bodied smoke in a lounge or shop and everyone else around you is smoking heavier options, forget about it. You’re probably not going to taste much if you pick up any flavors at all.

And for the love of all that is holy, learn to retrohale. If you’re not retrohaling you’re not even smoking the cigar to its full potential. You’re pulling it into your mouth and over your tongue, but your taste buds can only pick up so many flavors: sweet, salty, bitter, sour, and umami. Retrohaling — pulling through your nostrils and out without inhaling — moves that smoke past your olfactory senses, which help you get more nuanced flavor notes.

It might burn a little with more peppery tobacco when you start, but eventually you build up a tolerance. Keep at it.

The post The single smoke conundrum: Why you need to smoke most new cigars more than once appeared first on The BS Lounge.

Damn, that sucks and I hate when that happens.

What do you do? Well, the obvious and shortest answer is to relight it. That’s a no-brainer. But how do you relight it so that the top-notch experience continues?

Speaking of light up, this is where you do exactly that. Pour yourself a glass of something cold, get your puff on with me and let’s dive into this thing.

What to do when your cigar goes out?

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

We’ve covered before how to handle cigar tunneling, when a hole bores through the center of the cigar’s tobacco and makes enjoying it pretty difficult. I’m sure you already know this but if your cigar is tunneling and it goes out, you probably don’t want to relight it.

But if your cigars just fine and went out because of a time lapse or wind or some aliens that sped by, then it makes sense to relight that bad boy. It’s as easy as igniting your torch lighter, bic lighter, or matches and relighting. But hold fast. Is there something else you should know or do before you caveman this shit?

Kind of. It really depends on the cigar, and how much time has passed since the cherry went out. If it has been more than an hour, you’ll want to purge the cigar. While I don’t recommend re-lighting old cigars, purging can help get rid of tar that builds up in the foot and some of those chemical flavors.

Also, you’ll want to tap off any excess ash before you relight. One, it’s messy and can get in the way of the relighting. Two, it can affect the flavor a little when you relight. I recommend gently pressing the cigar foot against an ashtray and rolling, that way it will fall off. Some guides might also recommend cutting the cigar foot again about a half inch from the ash line. I’ve never done that, personally, but it’s something to think about.

The best way to relight your cigar

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

Common sense or common desire dictates that you take the lighter and torch the shit out of the foot, including the center, to build up a nice cherry. Don’t do that. What you actually want to do to relight your cigar is touch up around the edges on the exterior of the wrapper. Once that burn starts, nice and even, it will spread to the center, especially after a few puffs, and produce that beautiful orangish-red cherry.

That’s actually the same method you should use when touching up your cigar if you notice it’s burning out of whack or unevenly. Just a light boost around the edges to get those flames moving again.

Practice makes perfect. Meaning, the more you do it, the better you’ll get at it. Hopefully, your cigars aren’t going out on you that often, because that might signal another problem, like humidity concerns, but it can and does happen.

But now you know the best way to relight and get back to enjoying that delicious cigar. At least, I hope it’s delicious, because if it’s not, what are you doing? Put it out and go get a better one.

The post What to do when your cigar goes out? appeared first on The BS Lounge.

When you buy a cigar from a lounge, shop, or cigar retailer’s warehouse, there are a lot of things happening that affect the condition of your cigars. Even with optimal warehouse maintenance, which is not always the case, mailing can dry out the cigars. If you buy and take out of a shop’s humidor, there’s always a chance the cigar is over-humidified or, worst case, under-humidified.

I won’t name names, but there’s a shop near me that seriously over-humidifies their shit. To the point where I have to let cigars I buy from them dry out a little before smoking.

This raises a question I’ve seen others pose and have even been asked myself. Is it better to smoke a cigar that’s under-humidified or over-humidified, when you can’t help it?

Under or over-humidified cigars, that is the question?

Source: Boveda Inc

The correct answer is neither, but that’s obvious. I like to keep my RH (relative humidity) in the range of 62 to 68, ideally right around 65. The temperatures in my house stay around 75. Frankly, temps don’t matter as much as long as they’re not too high — anything above 78 is suspect for beetles.

But, and I’m including the disclaimer here that this is my opinion, if you have to smoke a cigar that’s been kept in sub-optimal conditions, I would say under-humidified is better provided the cigar is not so dry it’s cracking or breaking.

Why dry, guy?

A cigar that’s too wet or too humid is going to burn hotter. Yes, so will a dry cigar, but allow me to explain. I live in Florida where it’s hot and humid, sometimes way too humid. When I take cigars out of my humidor and go outside, you wouldn’t think so, but some will immediately soak up that humidity to the point where they expand, have burn issues, or even crack and break. Realistically, it’s probably the sudden change in temperature and humidity that does the most damage. The heat from the cherry can be a bit of a shock depending on the tobacco blend. Especially if I light up the cigar too soon after bringing it out. Down here, they need a little time to acclimate.

But every single time I’ve dealt with a dry cigar, the issues are far less troubling and cumbersome. They don’t crack as much, expand, or have burn issues, at least not to the extent that a wet cigar does. Moreover, even if you’re not in Florida with an abundance of humidity, in most places, that cigar will soak up some humidity when you go outside. And, in my experience, even when I’ve traveled elsewhere in the country, a dry cigar doesn’t take as long to soak up some humidity and become acceptable — as long as it hasn’t dried out completely.

It likely depends on where you are

Here’s the thing, though. That experience is likely going to depend on where you live. If you live out west in Arizona where it’s super dry, I’d bet dry cigars will give you more issues.

That’s why it’s important to keep your cigars in a humidor, under the right conditions, and as I always recommend, to let them rest when you first get them. More often than not, after a mail call, if I light my cigars up right away, even in humid Florida, I run into burn issues. They need time to rest and settle in those humidity conditions you prefer.

It’s an odd thing to explain to people who have never visited Florida, but when it rains, usually every mid-afternoon for an hour or two, it gets crazy humid. Even when it’s not raining and those rain clouds are just hanging out, it’s so humid you can feel it. It’s a palpable moisture on your skin, and it breeds swamp ass like there’s no tomorrow. Trying to smoke an already over-humidified cigar under those conditions is absolutely miserable.

While both dry and wet cigars take away from the flavors and experience, cigars that are too humid ruin it more. The flavors become so incredibly muted the smoke mellows out to where it’s almost tasteless, and the burn on your lips is far hotter than when a cigar is dry. Don’t get me wrong, both experiences suck. But that’s where I stand on under versus over-humidified cigars.

The post Is it better to smoke under-humidified or over-humidified cigars? appeared first on The BS Lounge.

You wouldn’t know it from the outside, but the cigar community is fairly tight knit, and the best part is that most of us don’t know each other well outside of our little cigar circles. Sure, we might send the odd cigar bomb or two — where we ship a small pack of stogies for friends to try — but still, great distances separate many of us.

That means one of the easiest ways to connect is thanks to modern technology, online and often via video calls, meetings, and group events. That’s why on a given evening you’ll find several X (formerly Twitter) Spaces being hosted by cigar aficionados. You might also run into a couple of big vHerfs. If you’re interested in the hobby, I highly recommend getting involved with a group or two.

Start with what you like. If you like Fuente, start there. If you love AJ Fernandez stogies, check out those communities. Aganorsa fan? Yep, there’s a group for you. Either way, join a group that aligns with your interests and you’re well on your way. Of course, the next question is where do you find these groups, and which are the best ones?

While I don’t know for certain which are the best in terms of score and rank, I can share a few that have lots of good people involved. If you can’t find any of your own, join cigar communities like these and you’ll be alright.

Aganorsa Acolytes (Facebook)

Based around one of my favorite brands, Aganorsa, this social club is all deliciousness all day. With over 3K active members, daily posts, and some kickass moderators (admins) the group is lots of fun to be involved with. Also, you might run into the illusive Terence Reilly once in a while who’s nothing short of a great guy — who am I kidding, he’s not short at all.

Hump Day Herf (X)

Hosting regular community Spaces, on X, with lots of people from the cigar community, Hump Day Herf focuses on “traditions” and “personal rituals” that bring all brothers and sisters of the leaf together. You might learn a thing or two, get introductions to new brands to try, or make some friends. Either way, I recommend joining up if you spend any time on X and be sure to set aside some time to show up to a live discussion or two.

Cigar Refuge (Reddit)

The cigar communities on Reddit have a way of being very controversial, for some reason. Cigar Refuge is the exact opposite, at least for now. You can post some pics of what you’re smoking, get recommendations, meet folks in your local area who also enjoy cigars, whatever it is you want to do. The community is very chill, and compared to some of the others I’ve joined in the past, there are no judgments about what you like. Unless it’s a Ghurka, people don’t seem to be fond of the brand. Don’t worry, no shade from me. Like what you like. That’s just an observation.

Cigar.com Forum

If a traditional comment by comment forum is what you’re after, look no further than Cigar.com’s titular experience. There’s not much to be said about this one that you can’t figure out yourself. There are lots of discussions across varied topics, with hundreds if not thousands of active users.

The Cigar Community (Facebook)

With over 16K members, The Cigar Community is a great place to discuss your favorite stogies and more. As you can tell by the cover photo, they tend to like Cubans in here (cigars). But there’s nothing wrong with talking about the ever-peppery new worlds either.

To join cigar communities, or not to join

That’s it for now. I will probably add to this list over time as I come across new communities worth recommending.

The post Join cigar communities to find the best of the best appeared first on The BS Lounge.

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?

Cigars were once used as currency

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

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).

The post It’s wild to think: Once incredibly rare, cigars were used as currency appeared first on The BS Lounge.

I won’t even begin to lecture you on caring for your beard normally. I’m willing to bet if you’re here, and you have a beard, you know the drill already. What I am going to talk about, however, is the intersection between beards and cigars. Specifically, after care that you should be doing after you smoke. Why? Because if you’ve ever had a dry beard or dry skin before, you get it. It’s uncomfortable, it’s itchy, and it can create a host of problems — like beard dandruff.

There is a link between smoking and hair growth issues, but it’s likely most of the studies focus on cigarettes rather than cigars. This still shows that smoking can negatively affect hair growth, including facial hair. Nicotine also restricts blood flow, and blood circulation is essential for hair growth and healthy hair follicles. And it’s not just hair growth affected, it’s the health and moisture of said hair, as well.

Smoking dries out your beard and facial hair

Source: Charles Etoroma / Unsplash

I have sensitive skin, but that also affects my hair. Before someone tells me to use different shampoo or conditioner, or a certain type of beard care, I’ve tried it all. My skin tends to dry out easily, as does my regular hair, my facial hair, and various areas of my body. To keep everything healthy, moisturized, and not bothering the hell out of me, I have a whole routine. But smoking, as much as I love it, also throws that routine off. The point to all of this is to establish my routine, share a little about what I do, and then discuss how smoking walks it all back.

Normally, I shampoo and condition my beard in the shower. Not every day, but usually every two days to once a week — washing your beard every day is overdoing it unless you’re outside getting dirty and sweaty all day. If it seems dry, I’ll use conditioner more often. When I’m out of the shower, and my beard is still damp, I’ll use beard oil or beard balm. Sometimes, I’ll use some waterless or leave-in conditioner, as well. Then, I work in beard butter to shape it and keep it moisturized. You may not have to do all of that, but at the very least, put in some conditioner or beard butter.

If I don’t do these things, and I just let the beard ride, it dries out fast. That leads to itchy skin, rashes, and sometimes even beard dandruff. When you try to wear dark-colored shirts with dandruff falling out of your beard, it makes a huge mess. You also look ridiculous.

Before smoking — unless I’m going out to a lounge — I add some leave-in conditioner to my beard. Now, the trick here is to find something that doesn’t have a strong or offensive smell, because that can interfere with your cigar experience. Most men’s beard conditioners will work as a stand-in here.

Smoking will instantly dry out my beard and my skin — and yours too. If I smoke more than one cigar in a row, forget about it. So, essentially, when I smoke, it’s like I haven’t done anything positive for my beard and instead chose to let it dry out, fast. That may or may not describe your own experiences, but the fact of the matter is that smoking dries out both your facial hair and skin.

What do you do after smoking?

Source: César Badilla Miranda / Unsplash

When I’m done smoking, I’ll wet my beard and use a small amount of leave-in conditioner or beard balm and work it into the hair and skin. Now, that doesn’t completely get rid of the smoky smell. So, if you don’t like the aftersmell of cigars, or your partner doesn’t like it, you’re up a creek. The best way to get rid of smoke smells in your beard is to wash with shampoo and conditioner, but again, you shouldn’t do that every day. That said, most beard balms or conditioners you can find have a nice scent to cover up some of the smell.

My wife is used to the smell and doesn’t care. I also don’t mind it. So, I’m not treating my beard to rid that smell, more to keep it moisturized so it won’t bother me. Keep that in mind for yourself.

Something to add to this is that usually I smoke two to three cigars in a lineup. I rarely smoke a single cigar at a time. If you only smoke one, you probably don’t need to worry about moisturizing your beard as much — just apply some conditioner before or after you smoke and that should do it. If you smoke several back to back, expect to run into some problems.

Make sure you’re moisturizing in some way and you should be all set. If you have sensitive skin like I do, then you might want to get into a more involved routine.

The post Beards and Cigars: After care to keep your beard cozy appeared first on The BS Lounge.

I’ve been asked before why people smoke cigars. My answer is always the same. The flavors, the relaxation, and the experience, whether you’re smoking alone or with others. I mostly smoke alone, though, in my own little paradise.

When I sit down, trim the cap, and get to toasting the foot of my cigar, gently brushing the flame back and forth like a paintbrush, I’m in my happy place. It’s not my only happy place. But it is a big one. Not an addiction, mind you, but rather an escape. An escape from mediocrity, an escape from the crumbling world, and also, sometimes, an escape from others.

For a long time, before I lost it, I was a salaried copywriter for a decently-sized media company. I spent most of my day working with various clients to craft content that met their style needs, made the points they wanted to make, and drove home their products or services to people like you or me — consumers.

I still kind of do that with Techigar, but now it’s on my terms.

The point I’m trying to make, though, is that I spent a lot of time working with, and for, others. Cigars were my peaceful bliss at the end of the day, and even right now, they remain my outlet for releasing stress, anxiety and other worldly issues.

That’s why I smoke.

I love the flavors. I love the experience. But most of all, I just like relaxing and getting away from the monotony of everyday life. There’s no one nagging me to hurry up or finish what I’m doing. No one criticizes how or why I’m doing things a certain way. No one insulting me, or questioning me, or goading me.

It’s just me and the cigar and a cold drink.

Is it that way for everyone?

Source: La Aurora

No, I’d imagine not. Some people smoke cigars because it’s part of their culture. Others, because it’s their job or what they do to make a living. For some still, it’s a status symbol, or a way to say “hey, I like fine things in life.”

For me, it’s not like that. I don’t smoke to look good, portray a certain lifestyle or even to engage with others — though sometimes that does happen when I’m in a lounge. I smoke for me.

Don’t get me wrong. I do love sharing the craft with others, and introducing new people to cigars. Sometimes, I also love to venture out, hit a local spot, or go to big events — like the Tampa Cigar Bash. But a majority of the time, it’s just me, my dogs, with a TV or some tunes on, and a lit stogie with a sweet, cold beverage. Honestly, that’s the way I prefer it, and I’m sure many will agree.

Cigars are an excellent way to drown out the negatives of the modern world, but also, just a downright reliable way to kick back and really enjoy yourself. That’s why I always like to preach the importance of having a vice in today’s fucked up, unpredictable world.

What about you? Why do you smoke?

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Cuban Cohibas

Made by Habanos S.A., the Cuban organization that handles the country’s state-run cigar market, Cuban Cohibas are some of the most popular in the world. They’re also the Cubans that many talk about, particularly when it comes to finding authentic-made cigars — the labels are iconic.

USA Cohibas

Made by General Cigars, the U.S. trademark covers the local Cohiba brand, which is only similar in name. You can tell the difference, because non-Cuban Cohibas have a red dot or “O” somewhere on the label.

Cohiba versus Cohiba: They’re locked in a years-long trademark battle

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

Although it has been ongoing for years, we’re finally starting to see some impactful decisions happening in the Cohiba versus Cohiba battle — which is realistically between General and Cubatabaco. In December 2022, the United States Trademark Trial and Appeal Board canceled General Cigar Company’s two Cohiba trademarks in the U.S.. General filed an entirely new appeal, which is some of what we’re seeing now.

In December 2024, the courts ruled in favor of the Cuban brand. But the fight has been ongoing since the late 90s. The legal battle is between General Cigar Company and Cubana del Tabaco (Cubatabaco). Each wants the rights to use the trademark within the United States.

If Cubatabaco wins, General will be forced to give up the Cohiba name and stop selling products under that moniker in the United States. It’s not likely that will happen anytime soon, if at all. For now, nothing has been concrete and both brands continue to exist. Although, you still can’t legally buy Cuban Cohibas within the U.S.

How did this happen?

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

The “Cohiba” brand, which is really the word “Cochiba” and means tobacco in Taino, is the basis for this legal argument. Originally, Cohiba cigars were privately produced for Fidel Castro’s chief bodyguard, but after trying one, Castro fell in love and had them commissioned as his personal cigar. The brand was formally launched in 1968, headed by Cubatabaco, the Cuban state’s tobacco marketing bureau.

For years, they were unavailable publicly unless Castro gifted you a cigar. In 1982, the brand made them publicly available — to celebrate the 1982 World Cup in Spain — but only in select locations. Eventually, they became more widely available and, as you likely recognize now, world-renowned.

The Cuban embargo in the 1960s made them virtually impossible to find here in the states. General Cigar Company, a private firm with no relation to the Cuban cigar industry, took the opportunity to register the name Cohiba in the United States — in 1978. These are the Red Dot Cohibas you know today. Not long after, Cubatabaco and Altadis SA launched a legal battle against General involving the Cohiba name trademark.

One of the primary arguments General has made throughout the legal battle is that Cubatabaco and Cuba allowed the trademark to lapse due to non-usage in the 1970s when the cigars weren’t publicly available. The courts did not agree with this and ruled in Cuba’s favor, saying the noncommercial distribution was irrelevant.

In 2006, the U.S. Supreme Court denied Cubatabaco’s petition. But more legal events have happened since, including the recent rulings.

The U.S. Cohibas are essentially ‘New World’ cigars

Source: Tim Stief / Unsplash

During the Cuban exodus there was a mass emigration of Cubans from the island following the Cuban Revolution in 1959. Many tobacco makers fled and spread out across the southern regions. Those fleeing were also able to escape with Cuban tobacco seed and started growing elsewhere. This created a divide in the history of cigars, if you will. Old school cigars — and those still grown in Cuba — were classed as authentically Cuban. The new cigars were referred to as ‘New World’ cigars, which is where the term comes from today.

That means, U.S.-made Cohibas are new world cigars, versus the genuine Cubans. Cuban tobacco is well known for its smooth offerings and distinct twang, a unique flavor that only Cuban-grown tobacco can provide — or so it’s claimed. New World cigars are generally stronger, bolder, and tend to be associated with a more harsh experience, although that’s both subjective and wildly generalized these days.

I’m not here to debate the semantics. The point is that the two brands are different, and depending on which type of cigar you’re smoking, you’re going to have a different experience, too. U.S.-made Cohibas from General are obviously much more accessible, and carried by pretty much every cigar shop or lounge in the country. Proper Cubans, however, are tough to find, though maybe someday that will change.

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