Up in smoke

Cigars have been around for over 500 years and they have never failed to deliver delight and controversy all over the world. They have always been associated with strong personalities from royals to gangsters, generals to thinkers and have marked moments for many people.

In the past decade cigars had a resurgence of sorts all over the World. Unit sales have never been higher, popularity and prestige is at an all-time high. What the fancy designer handbag is to the ladies, the fine cigar has become for-the men of the new millennium.

While anti-smoking forces have cigarettes on the defensive, cigars have neatly side-stepped the attacks and emerged largely unscathed. Not just more popular than ever, but a necessary decadence. High society all over the globe has gracefully accepted a fine cigar as a mark of luxury. Many famous luxury brands now produce accessories for a cigar smoker as part of their collection and indeed even offer it to their guests alongside the canapes and bubbly when hosting a party.

For the first time in history the fine cigar is viewed not only as a product of affluence but also as a symbol of refinement. It has become an essential part of the finer things of life. A must have for the connoisseurs of life. Along with the fancy watches, fast cars and designer garbs, a man's toys aren't complete without a collection of cigars and its paraphernalia.

Recently I was asked by Nick, our Editor to join his team of contributors to this new magazine, HOMME. He insisted that my thoughts and experience in the cigar world will contribute to making the magazine interesting to the readers of this publication. Well after much arm-twisting... no I'm joking. I agreed almost immediately to this exciting opportunity because I always felt there was a need for a platform for us Cigar Smokers in Malaysia to communicate effectively. Well guys, and ladies... here we are. A whole section dedicated to cigars and all associated to it in what I am sure will be a must read magazine dedicated to all things manly.

I've been in the cigar trade since 1992 when I realized that there was a niche to be looked into. At that time trying to get a Habano (means a Cuban cigar for the uninitiated) was quite a challenge here in KL. There was only one credible store and they were out to lunch whenever you wanted to have a smoke after lunch. I still remember vividly my first trip to Havana, the land of the famous Leaf... And much more I assure you. We'll get to that probably in the future but for now let's stick to the cigar world.

In those days the World of Cigars was quite different. The State Company in Cuba at that time responsible for exporting those delicious stogies was called Cubatobacco. The Soviet empire, the USSR had just disintegrated and Cuba had lost its "big brother" and major trading partner. Their major exports were sugarcane and cigars. There were "brown-outs" every evening due to fuel rationing and we spent many evenings after dinner smoking a fine cigar, accompanied with some vintage rum and great company under the Caribbean moonlight.

The one thing that struck me there were the people. How carefree in spirit they were and at the same time they were so diligent in their work. They were facing very difficult times from the crippling US embargo to the collapse of the Soviet Union. But the average guy on the street was still smiling. There were no beggars and no hungry children on the streets. Everyone seemed to be employed and went about their daily routine. There was music on the radio everywhere and occasionally you'll see people dancing. Not in bars but on the street or on the factory floor. Just very impromptu, "I feel like dancing now" kinda thing. I thought to myself, "Wow! There's something special going on here in this country." I was catching the bug... a bug called Cuba.

Since then I've been back almost every year, some years twice, to learn about the famous Habano and the people that make it. I wanted to know more so I bought many books on the subject and traveled to the US and Europe to experience first hand the cigar World in those countries. Naturally I met many interesting people of different creeds but all joined in one common bond - Cigars! Many were accomplished men, be they the successful entrepreneurs who imported and sold cigars or the interesting characters who smoked them. Perhaps the most colorful of them all were the Icons behind those brands of cigars that people all over the World enjoyed.

From the great people of Habanos SA, to the Fuentes, the Shermans, Avo, Dadvidoff and many more, they have all given to the World a real treasure that has evoked much joy and controversy throughout the times. Never has a product been so close to a man that it actually characterizes him and determines his lifestyle. Many great men were remembered by the cigars they constantly held close to them all the time.
One such example was Sir Winston Churchill who was probably the most famous cigar smoker of the 20th. Century. Reputed to have smoked over 300,000 cigars during his life, the Cubans immortalized the man by honoring him in renaming his favorite size which was traditionally known as a Julieta. Today the Romeo & Julieta - Churchill is famous the world over as a benchmark large cigar. Another albeit less famous, brand that honored him is the H.Upmann - Sir Winstons. Similar in shape and size this cigar however smokes with a fuller body and is less readily available.
In a joint press interview with Field Marshall Montgommery who claimed to be in a hundred percent form because he never drank or smoked, Sir Winston retorted "I drink a lot, I sleep little and I smoke cigar after cigar. That's why I am in two hundred percent form!"

Many great men used their cigar as extensions of their personality. George Burns and Orson Welles never went on stage without their cigar. In fact it was said Orson would purposely write cigar smoking characters into his films just so he would have a supply of free cigars. George Burns, who lived to be 100 years old, used to puff on his cigars between every joke so his audience had time to get his gags. His favourite cigar joke was about how he outlived his physician who insisted that smoking would kill him.

The list goes on and on about significant men and their antics concerning cigars. JFK had to guarantee his personal stash of Petit Upmanns before signing the trade embargo. Bill Clinton nearly got impeached from his presidency because he couldn't control his two passions - Monte & Monica.

Perhaps Mark Twain summed it up the best. He said "If there are no cigars in Heaven, I will not go!"

What makes this bunch of tobacco leaves so irresistible that many great men throughout the times have insisted to have it available to them? Puffing it, caressing it, it is the constant companion of a man whether in deep reflection or in celebration. Well let's think about it. Light one up, your favourite one, and ponder.

In the coming articles I will not fail to address subjects directly related to the fine cigar. We'll go into a brief history of the famous leaf, to the art of cutting, lighting and smoking the cigar with grace and dignity. We'll also go into the accessories related as well as some limited edition pieces.