| Ah, the fine premium cigar. There truly is nothing to | | | | From there, tobacco made its' way to the distant lands |
| compare to the experience of a fine cigar, a glass of | | | | of Portugal, Russia, Turkey, and Italy. The Portuguese, |
| really good cognac, and an evening in the shade. It is a | | | | via a trade route, introduce it to the Japanese. Onward |
| peaceful experience to say the least. | | | | it spreads to Morocco, Egypt, and even to the |
| However, have you ever looked at your high-profile | | | | Philippines. Finally, in the early 1600's, it makes a full |
| smoke and wondered what the events were that led | | | | historical circle as documents reveal that the husband |
| to the making of it? Most true cigar aficionados have | | | | of Pocahontas, John Rolfe, brings tobacco to the state |
| at one point or another. | | | | of Virginia. |
| The chain of events that led to the production of the | | | | By the early 1600's, Cuba has built a solid name for fine |
| cigar that you now hold in your hand is a long one, | | | | tobacco growth and becomes the major supplier for |
| spanning back over 500 years. It all began when a | | | | the majority of the known world. |
| brave explorer by the name of Christopher Columbus | | | | In the mid 1700's, the infamous Catherine the great |
| decided to throw caution to the wind and risk it all to | | | | creates the cigar band as a concept. It seems that |
| prove that there was more to the world than | | | | Catherine would smoke cigars so often that her |
| everyone knew at the time. In 1492, he found success, | | | | fingers would take on a brownish colored stain. |
| along with a little something in the new world called | | | | Therefore, to avoid this, she had a band designed so |
| tobacco. | | | | she could hold her cigars without the irritating stain. |
| Ironically, Luis De Torres of a Spanish Envoy to | | | | From there, it is only a matter of time until the major |
| America decided to take some back to his home for | | | | brands began to establish themselves. Cohiba, H. |
| personal use. After spotted lighting it, he was arrested | | | | Upmann, Partagas, El Rey del Mundo, Sancho Pancza, |
| for witchcraft and sentenced to a decade in prison. | | | | Romeo y Julieta, Hoyo de Monterrey, Montecristo and |
| The presence of tobacco popped up again as Cortez | | | | the rest of the premium cigars that you and I enjoy |
| stumbled upon a tribe of Aztec natives that are | | | | today become very notable over the next century. |
| smoking tobacco. Through Cortez, the tobacco makes | | | | That brings us to the here and now. Today, we can sit |
| its way throughout Spain. From there, the pipe-smoked | | | | back and enjoy our fine cigars knowing that they have |
| substance began to grow in fame and use. By the mid | | | | a history that dates all the way back to Christopher |
| 1500's, tobacco had made its' way all the way to | | | | Columbus. So when you enjoy that next high-profile |
| France where the first seeds were planted and | | | | smoke, blow a plume and say, "Here's to you Chris!". |
| cultivated by a monk by the name of Andre Thevet. | | | | |