A Cigar History Question For Our Experts

K

KAZ

Joined Oct 2004
852 Posts | 0+
Texas
I've wondered why we (USA) do not make quality cigars. I would think that some of our climate/soil would be very near that found in Cuba. We have forever made the very best cigarettes, and are known worldwide for them. Even when we had low cost labor we still don't seem to have captured the cigar market. Was is our success with the cigarettes that caused a lack of pursuit of the cigar market?
 
By all standards this is a hostile cigar environment. Several companies still roll cigars in Tampa and other areas down south. Some of the best wrapper tobacco in the world is gorwn in connecticut. Most production is in central america for the simple reason that the cost of labor is cheaper. Cigar rollers in Honduras earn only a couple of thousand dollars a year USD and it is a good job to have down there. But to pay that same person in the US would not be cost effective. To make the same profit margin a 3.00 retial cigar would need to sell for 8.00 Not only that with all the smoking bans and anti tobacco here it would be hard to convince someone that there would never be any major tax penalties for operating in the US.
 
I have to agree with the dollar theory.

Think about how many times tobacco gets handled by a human before it becomes a cigar.
Planting
Tending
Picking
Sorting
Curing
Sorting
Blending
Then you bunch
Bind
Wrap
Sort again
Band
Cello
Box
Age
Freeze
Ship......

And I'm sure a few steps were missed...

All of this before it comes to the US....Imagine what a US manufacturer would have to pay in labor for this.
 
Thanks guys, I suspected as much, the great cigars being rolled on the thighs of young virgins we can no longer compete.
 
I've been in the earthwork business for over thirty years. Cheap labor is part of the problem, but the real key is the soils. Cuba and only the Pinar del Rio Province has some of the most unique soils in the world.These areas were on the fringe plains of rivers. Ask the Olivas,the Padrons,Ernesto Perez-Carrillo,Jr.- they will all go back to Cuba because of the soil. I've never been to Cuba but I have seen a soil analysis. Unbelievable soil and climate perfect for tobacco. Soils will not support crops like corn, tomatoes but will produce great tobacco.Rainfall is perfect.
Nature did one hell of a job.
Malone
 
Thanks Malone, I used to live in New Mexico and friends would give me a bag of chili peppers that were grown in Las Cruces which they said had the finest soil for the best flavor. Regards
 
I've always been intrigued as to why the best Italian/French breads are in Italy,France, NY & NJ.
The Japanese have tried for years to duplicate Single Malt Whisky. They gave up.
Cuba- cigars. soils & climate.
Women- Brazil.
Bourbon- Kentucky.
Golf-Scotland.
and so on.
Fun stuff- my hobby.
Kitchen cuttlery- France.
Firearms- Europe & USA.
Bull shit- Malone.
Cooking- Vince.
Friends- Thor,Macallan,Bloof, Cian and many ohers.
Golf- for example was a winter sport in Scotland until the invention of mowing equiment- turn of the century.Grass got too long in summer time.Sheep couldn't eat the grass fast enough.That's why most old photos of Scottish tournaments have the men in Jackets. It was cold.
Let's hear what is great in your local areas and why.
What is Chicago famous for & only is only unique to Chicago.
New Mexico,Colorado,Mass. & so on.
Malone
 
Nice Thread malone,

I'm from Mobile, Al. the first thing that came to my mind was
Mardi Gras, New Orleans claim to be the mother of Mardi Gras but it is actually Mobile,
 
I had a conversation on this with an esteemed physician who I would consider a cigar expert. With my limited knowledge...almost everyone is an expert..haha :lol:

He said cuba has alot of lithium in thier soil. That also contributes to the dark olive ash of a cuban.
 
He is correct. But even if you grew tobacco in the best place in the world and shipped it into the US to be rolled it would still be a defeated cause.
 
Hmmm...some of the southern states still have chain gangs don't they?

Prison rolled cigars.....would give a new meaning to the striped wrapper! :shock:
:lol:
 
I had heard about that lithium thing, too.

Hanover County Virginia, where I live, is famous (at least locally) for it's tomatos.
 
Trainer53:
Good try but Virginia is famous for:
Lovers
Smithfield Ham
Devotion to State Rights
Hugh traffic jams ( Northern Va.)
Chincoteague Oysters
Malone
 
Hitide:
My only recollection of Alabama is:
The Bear
boiled peanuts
liquor by the drink in the 70's
long legged women
Malone
 
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