Cigar rollers in Cuba in the 19th century were well-versed in the classics, because many factories employed cigar factory readers. These readers read aloud from literary works such as stories and poetry by Victor Hugo. Victor Muñoz, the “Father of Mothers’ Day,” was one such factory reader before he moved on to the realm of journalism.
Annie Oakley smoked “cheroots” (a type of cigar) to steady her nerves before getting her gun belt laced on and performing.
Charlie Chaplin, cast as the Little Tramp, made movie history when he happily discovered a well-chewed stub of an abandoned cigar in the memorable last scene of the film “The Gold Rush.” He was a cigar smoker in real life, and his daughter, Geraldine, also enjoyed cigars in an era when not too many women openly smoked them.
Catherine the Great may be responsible for the “invention” of cigar bands. She requested that a silk band be wrapped around all of her cigars so her fingers would not become soiled with tobacco stains. (She passed away in 1796 at the ripe old age of 67, and her passing had nothing to do with smoking.)
Decades ago, children who scoured the gutters looking for discarded cigar butts to smoke or trade for food were labeled Guttersnipes. These poor but resourceful kids often traded or exchanged the cigar bands for prizes.
Author Ernest Hemingway presented actress Ava Gardner with a cigar band as a souvenir of their first meeting. (She probably would have preferred jewelry.)
In World War I, the movements of the Allied Navies were encoded by sneaky German spies who made them appear to be orders for Havana cigars, in case their encodings fell into enemy hands.
American cigar importers named actor Edward G. Robinson “Mister Cigar” in 1949, thanking him for using cigars as props in his gangster movies.
In 1962, John Glenn, former astronaut and U.S. Senator, received his weight in Cuban cigars after making space history. Holy smokes, what a great gift!
March’s Featured Countries of Origin Include THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AND HONDURAS
SN# 31231: ROMEO Y JULIETA RESERVA REAL TORO 20 / $120.00
- Nationality: Dominican
- Appearance: MEDIUM-FULL bodied, 6.0; 54 ring; In an Ecuadorian-grown Connecticut shade wrap
- Personality: Romeo’s richer and more robust than in the 1875 line. He keeps things interesting with smoothness and spice
SN# 31232: LA GLORIA CUBANA CHURCHILL MADURO 25 / $100.00
- Nationality: Dominican
- Appearance: FULL bodied, 7.0; 50 ring; Cloaked in a handsome, dark Ecuadorian wrapper
- Personality: A long smoke, it’s Carillo-crafted using delicious Brazilian, Dominican, Mexican and Nicaraguan leaves
SN# 31233: TORANO VIRTUOSO BATON 25 / $80.00
- Nationality: Honduran
- Appearance: FULL bodied, 7.5; 38 ring; In a luscious, light, ultra-smooth Nicaraguan wrapper
- Personality: This is a full-flavored premium, tall and trim. A joyride for your taste buds with a robust, aged blend of tobaccos.
SN# 31234: G.A.R. BLACK GRAN OPIUM ROBUSTO 25 / $125.00
- Nationality: Honduran
- Appearance: MEDIUM-FULL bodied, 6.0; 52 ring; In a red/brown Nicaraguan Habano Corojo wrap
- Personality: Smooth and assertive with cedar, leather, spices and coffee, it demands your attention and respect.
SN# 31235: PUROS INDIOS RESERVA MAXIMA ’03 CHURCHILL ESPECIAL 20 / $50.00
- Nationality: Honduran
- Appearance: MEDIUM bodied, 7.25; 52 ring; All dressed up in a lovely Ecuadorian wrapper
- Personality: Celebrate Rolando Reyes Sr.’s 70 years in the cigar business with this smooth, complex, aged cigar from 2003.
