“After a truly good meal, an outstanding cigar is still the most satisfying after-dinner activity that doesn’t involve two or more human beings.” Brad Shaw

“I have made it a rule never to smoke more than one cigar at a time.” Mark Twain

“I am at the age now where just putting my cigar in its holder is a thrill.” George Burns

I, Jim Walberg, love a good cigar from time to time! And, I realize that some of you are not fans of this hazardous habit. However, I have moderated my consumption over the past few years, even though I still have over 400 cigars in my humidor. But, when I am in the Caribbean, either sailing on a Lagoon 57 in the BVI, or drinking a fine glass of Bodegas Aguirre Petite Syrah, I am always tempted to clip one of them and enjoy the moment. I have even been known to have one at sunset at romantic Soggy Dollar Bar with Mick the bartender. Even though Cuba has the reputation as the producer of the world’s finest cigars, I am a BIG fan of what the Dominican Republic produces in ultra-premium cigars. For those of you who are unfamiliar with some of history of cigars here is a brief history.

The history of the cigar goes back about two thousand years. The origins of the world ‘cigar’ and the cigar itself are lost in time. Some scholars say the word cigar originated from sikar, the Mayan word for smoking. After Columbus’s discovery of the West Indies and other explorers visiting the American continent, numerous accounts were written of these New World people who smoked tobacco and also used it for chew and as snuff for medicinal properties in their ceremonies.

Although the first tobacco plantations were set up in Virginia in 1612, and Maryland in 1631, tobacco was smoked only in pipes in the American colonies. The cigar itself is thought not to have arrived until after 1762, when Israel Putnam, an American general in the Revolutionary War, returned from Cuba, where he had been an officer in the British army. He came back to his home in Connecticut with a selection of Havana cigars, and large amounts of Cuban tobacco. Before long, cigar factories were set up in the Hartford area. By the mid 1800’s the cigar had had become well accepted and in 1870 it was recorded that over half of the tobacco smoked in our towns was in the form of cigars.

Cuba has led the way in the cigar industry. Early in the 16th century, Cuban peasants became tobacco growers. Later, the cigar became the country’s national symbol and the Havana cigar became recognized as the world’s finest.

The take-over by Fidel Castro and the subsequent U.S. embargo were the start of events that began to challenge Havana’s supremacy in the world of cigars. Many Cuban cigar-makers took their skills and seeds to the Caribbean, Dominican Republic, Honduras and Mexico and began producing high-quality premium and super-premium cigars for the American public. The Dominican Republic alone produces almost half of the hand-made cigars sold in the U.S.

A few of my favorite cigars in all the world are made in the Dominican Republic; Arturo Fuente’s Hemingway series was the first limited edition extension the Fuentes ultra-premium cigars honoring the world reknown author - Ernest Hemingway; Drew Estate “Acid” are all hand-crafted with many different tobaccos and over 140 botanicals, herbs, and essential oils to impart a unique flavor; The Gurkha Legend has been the choice cigar among the most elite - from business executives to Royalty; Cohiba “Red Dot” is the Dominican version of it’s Cuban cousin. I smoke the Robusto and it is an incredibly smooth and rich cigar.

( Again, this is not a past time for most people, but for those that enjoy a cigar from time to time, my hope is that you have enjoyed my brief editorial on one of my enjoyable habits.)