Cigars are made in many places, with many tobaccos, and by many different people. But, does it matter? Yes, it does. I look at places to make cigars and order tobacco and get rollers all the time. It is part of my job. While it matters to some smokers, it really matters to the makers. Some pick a place because it is cheap, others because that factory has good tobacco access, others because of the rollers. One dominates the rest in some form or another. I have noticed this since working in this industry. Now, everyone says it is about quality, but I have seen some pricey sticks burn terribly and need a skewer to open up the draw. In the end, it almost always seems to fall on price.
One of the things I notice is most of the cigars I have had come from outside the United States. I hate to say this, but some makers, their rollers are practically doing slave labor. Other companies pay them well and get a good product out of it. I understand cultures and economies are different for different areas. But notice, cigars that are expensive, that get high ratings, pay their employees well. This also helps in quality since they can reap the fruit of their labor.
So, why not make more in the US? We have access to the same tobaccos, we have great rollers, and amazing blenders. I thought about this because of what people have said about Cremo (who I work for). We are made at El Titan de Bronze, our Classic was blended by Willy Herrera (before he went to Drew Estate), and we have some of the best rollers the world has to offer. The quality is high on all fronts. Never heard of a burn or draw problem, never heard of an issue with flavor (unless it is outside ones profile, but even then heard very little), and it is all made in the US. Does it all come down to price?
I am aware, many nice things cost money. I am also aware that people do not buy American products because some have terrible quality (just as someone at an electronics store). But cigars are different. We used to make a ton of them here. Not the cheap gas station knockoffs either, but premium, hand-rolled, cigars. It is not difficult to make them here either. Regulation on making them here is low (regulation on selling them is another story, but still low compared to cigarettes).
The economy is recovering at a super slow pace (or not at all depending on your source). I have always wondered why do they not buy cigars from here, or make them here. It creates a product America can be proud of, it creates jobs, and helps the economy. Also, we can export those to other countries and have money coming in.
Personally, I like having American cigars. Aside from the fact that if they produce crap we have more power to correct that issue, and monitor production, but we create jobs. Rollers, blenders, sales reps, and more. Many also strive to make a great product.
So, do you buy American cigars? Why or why not? I have had this on my mind a lot and it has been frustrating as to why many do not. Though I do understand why we do not use much in the way of American tobacco. Thanks to the cigarette industry, there are not many good places to grow it.
One of the things I notice is most of the cigars I have had come from outside the United States. I hate to say this, but some makers, their rollers are practically doing slave labor. Other companies pay them well and get a good product out of it. I understand cultures and economies are different for different areas. But notice, cigars that are expensive, that get high ratings, pay their employees well. This also helps in quality since they can reap the fruit of their labor.
So, why not make more in the US? We have access to the same tobaccos, we have great rollers, and amazing blenders. I thought about this because of what people have said about Cremo (who I work for). We are made at El Titan de Bronze, our Classic was blended by Willy Herrera (before he went to Drew Estate), and we have some of the best rollers the world has to offer. The quality is high on all fronts. Never heard of a burn or draw problem, never heard of an issue with flavor (unless it is outside ones profile, but even then heard very little), and it is all made in the US. Does it all come down to price?
I am aware, many nice things cost money. I am also aware that people do not buy American products because some have terrible quality (just as someone at an electronics store). But cigars are different. We used to make a ton of them here. Not the cheap gas station knockoffs either, but premium, hand-rolled, cigars. It is not difficult to make them here either. Regulation on making them here is low (regulation on selling them is another story, but still low compared to cigarettes).
The economy is recovering at a super slow pace (or not at all depending on your source). I have always wondered why do they not buy cigars from here, or make them here. It creates a product America can be proud of, it creates jobs, and helps the economy. Also, we can export those to other countries and have money coming in.
Personally, I like having American cigars. Aside from the fact that if they produce crap we have more power to correct that issue, and monitor production, but we create jobs. Rollers, blenders, sales reps, and more. Many also strive to make a great product.
So, do you buy American cigars? Why or why not? I have had this on my mind a lot and it has been frustrating as to why many do not. Though I do understand why we do not use much in the way of American tobacco. Thanks to the cigarette industry, there are not many good places to grow it.
