Part 2: The Premium Cigar Market Is Changing

Last week we looked at where premium cigars are coming from. This week, let's talk about what I think matters even more.

Most smokers identify cigars by country.

"I'm a Nicaraguan guy."

"I prefer Dominican cigars."

"I don't smoke Honduran tobacco."

Twenty years ago, that was a pretty good way to shop.

Today, I think the factory tells you more than the country.

The world's best factories have become brands in their own right. Their fermentation, aging, quality control, and construction are so consistent that they produce exceptional cigars for dozens of different companies.

Take Plasencia. They produce their own award-winning cigars, but they also manufacture for brands like ADVentura and many others. Their tobacco comes from both Nicaragua and Honduras, and their reputation is built on consistency.

The same is true for A.J. Fernandez. Most people know his name, but many don't realize how many brands rely on his factories. Chances are you've enjoyed one without ever knowing he made it.

Then there's Tabacalera de García, the largest premium cigar factory in the world. When production slowed there recently, it didn't just affect one brand—it influenced import numbers across the entire industry.

Davidoff is another perfect example. Their Dominican factory is known for incredibly strict quality control and extended aging. That's part of what makes a Davidoff smoke like a Davidoff.

The truth is, two cigars can use similar tobaccos from the same country and taste completely different because they were fermented differently, aged differently, or rolled in different factories.

Country tells you where a cigar was made.

The factory tells you how it was made.

That's why I encourage customers not to limit themselves to one country. Instead, pay attention to the factories and blenders whose work you consistently enjoy. Once you recognize those names, you'll start discovering great cigars across brands you may have never considered.

That's one of the things I love most about this industry. The more you learn, the more there is to discover.

Cheers,
Brandon