Interesting Cigar Facts

Cigars have been a part of history for thousands of years, which means there is plenty to learn about them, below are some fun facts that may even surprise you! 

Readers are employed at cigar factories

Hand rolling cigars is a very skilled job but it is also a repetitive one, with hundreds of cigars rolled a day it isn't very exciting for the mind. To counteract this factories in Cuba were known for employing people to read aloud to the workers which would keep them entertained and motivated. This tradition continues now in some factories with popular novels or even newspapers being read aloud.

In actual fact, the name “Montecristo” comes from the famous novel “The count of Monte Cristo” by Alexander Dumas. This was a firm favourite of the cigar rollers back at the time.

Popular writer Mark Twain couldn’t write without cigars

To say American novelist Mark Twain liked his cigars is an understatement - he is known to have smoked 300 a month! But for a very good reason: When his wife asked him to give up his habit he agreed, however he then started suffering writer’s block, but when he resumed his habit Twain was able to complete a whole book in just three months!.

Famous explorer Christopher Columbus introduced the western world to Cuban tobacco

In 1492, Christopher Columbus arrived on the island known today as Cuba. He was disappointed that there was no treasure to lay hold of, however the locals introduced him to the burning and inhaling of the leaves they called Cohiba, which is now known as tobacco.

Catherine the Great invented cigar bands

The Empress of Russia enjoyed smoking cigars, however she wanted to avoid her hands smelling like tobacco. To avoid this, she began to wrap a band made of silk around each cigar, this would protect her fingers from touching it. This origin tale is often contested with other sources claiming the responsibility of cigar bands.

Sir Winston Churchill smoked a cigar at 15,000 feet

As we all know Winston Churchill was a cigar lover and would rarely be seen without one in hand. When flying at high altitudes, an oxygen mask was required which would leave him unable to smoke his favourite cigars. Not willing to go without, he requested a specially designed oxygen mask to be made which would allow him to smoke as he flew over Berlin at 15,000 feet! The mask had a hole near the mouth area that was big enough to slide a cigar into and take a draw.

Cigars used to be fairground prizes

Around the start of the 19th century cigars were actually prizes at the fairground! This is where the phrase “Close, but no cigar” came from. Imagine a time where you were rewarded with a cigar instead of a cuddly toy.

Poisoned cigar were used to target Fidel Castro

In 1961, the CIA was given instruction to use their medical services to put poison into Castro's cigars, but the plan didn't work. Castro came out and said he received a gift from the CIA and that the cigars made him sick but had tasting notes of leather and gorgonzola.

Written by Oliver Partington