Here is a quick history on cigars; the history, the process and fun facts!

Enjoy this Friday’s read.

Getting Started with Cigars – An Introduction

 We all know the imagery associated with cigars; the powerful businessman or politician offering the finest rolled embargoed Havana stogie to an influential guest as a gesture of mutual profitable business to come; the celebrity and star athletes with winning smiles donned with a sleek cigar to cement their celebratory status from a recent winning project or season.

King Edward VII, Ulysses S. Grant, Sigmund Freud, Winston Churchill, Fidel Castro, Che Guevara, Groucho Marx, Mark Twain, Jack Benny, Milton Berle, Red Auerbach, Bill Cosby, and perhaps the most iconic cigar smoker of all time, George Burns, have engrained in our minds the independent maverick men respect and women flock to.

But aside from the small percentage of people that fit into these grandiose categories, there are innumerable others that have enjoyed being connoisseurs of tobacco rolled in fine leaves for centuries upon centuries.  Lawyers, general contractors, academics, and entrepreneurs, all have enjoyed the cigar as a sophisticated pleasure, a symbol of self-congratulations for achieving that long sought after goal, an attaboy, good job buddy, I’m proud of you process of self reflection.

Cigars are so strong a symbol, they are even a token of the biggest occasion in any man’s life, the birth of a child.  “It’s a boy!”, and “It’s a girl!” is exclaimed at the proudest moment, printed on a cigar and given to both family and strangers alike.  This cultural artifact is believed to have either come from the Native American tradition of gifting to the community when a family had a new child or from the time spent waiting in the den by men when babies were born at home with the expectant mother and midwife in the bedroom.

The English word cigar came into general use in 1730 according to the Online Etymology Dictionary, being derived from the Spanish word cigarro and the French word cigare but both probably being superseded by the Mayan sicar meaning “to smoke rolled tobacco leaves”.

An excellent history of the cigar can be found here, but a quick rundown of the last 500 years starts with Europeans first coming across the practice of smoking dried tobacco leaves from expeditions to the Caribbeans in the late 15th century, spreading from Spain and Portugal, then moving to France, Italy and eventually to Britain by the mid-16th century.  Half a century later tobacco was commercially grown in America and by the 19th century cigar smoking was common with cigarettes still being relatively rare.  By the 20th century the “cigar capital of the world” was in West Tampa Florida with over 500 million cigars being rolled in 1929 alone.

Fast forward to present day cigar making and we find that most are made by machine with a small percentage of them still being rolled by hand to add a feeling of superior quality and prestige.

There are three parts to a cigar – the wrapper, the binder, and the filler.  There are different type of filler leaves and how the filler leaves are blended is what gives the cigar it’s own personal taste.  Cigar tobacco falls into several categories of originating seeds whether it be Cuban, Sumatra, or Connecticut type seeds.  The regions where cigar tobacco is typically grown are Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Honduras/Nicaragua, Mexico, United States, Cameroon/Central African Republic, Indonesia, and the Philippines with each producing different characteristics.

If you’re just getting started with cigars, we’d like to help anyone willing to spend a little time to learn how to determine the difference between quality craftsmanship and an inferior roll that relies solely on marketing gimmicks.  Next time, we’ll talk about how to select a cigar that is just right for you and also how to choose a cigar for different occasions.

Author credits:

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This is an interesting article written by Nicholas Bakalar, about the research conducted on the effects of possible age increases for tobacco sales. Debates center around the idea of raising the minimum age requirement from 18 years old to 21 in order to legally purchase tobacco products.

What do you think about this argument? Read the article below from the New York Times and form an educated opinion for yourself. Let us know how you feel, we’re interested in your thoughts and are open to creating an environment for discussion.

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Debating Age Limits on Tobacco

The New York City Council has taken up a proposal to raise the minimum age for tobacco purchases to 21 from 18, the strictest such limits in any major American city.

Smoking declined significantly among the city’s teenagers from 2005 to 2007, then remained level through 2012, and Christine C. Quinn, the City Council speaker, has cited “clear data” showing that 80 percent of smokers begin before age 21.

“We have an ability to intervene on that and make a difference,” Ms. Quinn said last week at a news conference last week.

But the scientific picture is a bit murkier than it might seem. While most tobacco researchers agree that age restrictions will do no harm and may well help reduce the incidence of smoking among teenagers, firm scientific proof for their effectiveness is hard to come by.

In 2007, the minimum age for buying tobacco in Britain was raised to 18 from 16. The new limit had some beneficial effect, according to two studies cited by Ms. Quinn and Dr. Thomas A. Farley, the city’s health commissioner. In the first, published in October 2011 in the journal Thorax, a survey of 7,798 students ages 11 to 15 found that the lawreduced the number who reported smoking at least one cigarette a week.

But the data did not include 16- and 17-year-olds, presumably the teenagers most affected by the change. The authors acknowledged that “the sample size did not permit us to examine whether the legislation reduced the volume of cigarettes smoked.”

The second British study, published in the November 2010 issue of Addiction, also depended on self-reports and found that smoking decreased more in 16- and 17-year olds than in any other age group after implementation of the 2007 law. But smoking decreased in all age groups, the authors noted, suggesting that raising the minimum purchase age could not have been the only factor at work.

One study, published in 2007 in Tobacco Control, was a two-year prospective analysis of a random sample of 2,623 teenagers in Massachusetts; the researchers linked self-reported teenage smoking to a statewide database of smoking laws and enforcement practices.

The study found that varying laws and levels of enforcement made no difference in the rate of teenagers taking up smoking, although the authors acknowledged that other antismoking initiatives during the period could have hidden the effect.

Amanda Amos, a professor of health promotion at the University of Edinburgh who has published widely on teenage smoking, agreed that the data on whether age laws work is not completely convincing.

“When you look at the evidence about whether it actually decreases smoking, that’s not so clear,” Dr. Amos said. “There is some evidence that you can tighten up on sales, but then young people find other sources.”

Dr. Farley is more optimistic. “I would characterize the evidence as quite positive,” he said. “The two that are the strongest are the study in England where they showed a big decline, and the data from Needham, which shows a remarkable decline over six years which was not matched here or anywhere else.”

Needham, a town in Massachusetts, raised the minimum sale age to 21 in 2005. According to a health survey conducted in 24 high schools in the region, 5.5 percent of Needham students were smokers in 2012, down from 12.9 percent in 2006.

What might account for the varied results in these studies? “A lot of the studies have found that the direct impact depends on enforcement,” Dr. Amos said. “The more you put into enforcement, the better it works.”

The new law does not change the penalties to retailers for selling to underage customers, nor does it criminalize smoking or the possession of cigarettes by people under 21.

“All studies have their weaknesses,” Dr. Farley said. “You can’t do randomized controlled trials of a law. The closest you get is where you track over time the thing you expect to change and compare it to the places where you didn’t change the law. The data is pretty solid, and it makes all the sense in the world.”

Sources

Bakalar, Nicholas. “Debating Age Limits on Tobacco.” http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/29/debating-age-limits-on-      tobacco/?ref=smokingandtobacco. April 29, 2013.

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Things You’ll Need 

• Safety pin
• Quart or half-gallon food storage bag
• Gallon-size food storage bag
• 2 damp sponges
• Humidor

1. Use a safety pin to puncture 13-15 holes into a quart or half-gallon size food storage bag.
2. Place the dried-out cigars into the punctured food storage bag and seal it.
3. Place the smaller food storage bag into the gallon-size bag.
4. Place a damp sponge into the gallon-size food storage bag and seal the bag. The sponge should be damp, but not dripping wet. Squeeze the sponge to remove any excess water before placing it in the bag.
5. Allow the cigars to remain in the sealed bag for approximately one week. Be sure to rotate the cigars every few days during the week that they are in the bag. It is important to rotate the cigars to allow for even humidity absorption.
6. Open the large sealed bag and replace the old sponge with a clean damp sponge.
7. Let the cigars sit in the bag for three to four more days.
8. Remove the cigars from the bag and place them in a cigar humidor that is set at 70-percent humidity.
9. Rotate the cigars every two or three days for about one week. The cigars should be restored to smoking condition after this process is completed.

Now smoke and enjoy your cigar!

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Dating back as early as the 10^th century with the Mayans puffing on tobacco leaves bound up with string to Columbus’ first visit to the Americas in 1492 and discovering the natives smoking cylindrical bundles of twisted tobacco leaves wrapped in dried palm or corn husks, cigar smoking has been a beloved tradition by many through the years. And of the many, that would include notable people of American politics.

Since 2012 is a political year, what better time to blog about cigars and politics. For the first part of this two-part blog, I’m going to focus on cigar’s early history with political figures up until President Calvin Coolidge. In the early days of the White House, James Madison, the fourth U.S. president, was the first noted president to smoke cigars followed by Tennessean Andrew Jackson, the seventh president and his wife Rachel, who both loved smoking cigars. General Ulysses S. Grant was one of the most notable political figures of that time who had the biggest love affair with the mighty cigar. In fact, his consumption of cigars dramatically increased during the Civil War and continued later when he became the eighteenth U.S. president.

Then there was U.S. President Chester Arthur, the twenty-first president, who enjoyed his cigars after lavish midnight suppers in the White House and would smoke expensive imported cigars with a glass or two of Champagne. One-term president Benjamin Harrison smoked moderately and since he was a tobacconist from his hometown of Indianapolis, he would generously supply free cigars to the White House. President Herbert Hoover became a bit of a cigar chain smoker due to the stress and pressure of the Great Depression and the bigger and the stronger the cigar was, the better for him.

Lastly, during the 19^th century, probably the most celebrated cigar smoker in politics was Calvin Coolidge, who used his cigar often as a prop and always to his advantage. After the dishes were cleared at early White House breakfasts, President Coolidge was known to pass around a box of quality cigars to each legislator. While it may have seemed a bit early for a smoke, no one dare turned a cigar down, and then legislation was presented and discussed and compromise was often reached by those in the room.

Now you can see that as a cigar smoker, you are in good company with some of our nation’s former political leaders. So enjoy your stogie and when your supply is low, don’t forget to replenish your stash from a reputable online retailer like BnB Tobacco that offers everything you would need in quality premium cigars, accessories–all at the best prices around.

Until next time…

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Part two of my blog on cigars and politics takes a look at cigar usage in modern times and how it changed in the White House in the later years. Starting with fourth U.S. President James Madison’s term until approximately the mid-twentieth century, cigars had its own special place in the White House. For those who smoked, enjoying cigars was a way to alleviate stress, something to do while discussing important legislation or a relaxing after-dinner ritual to bond with dinner guests. For example, President Eisenhower enjoyed retiring to the Green Room with his male dinner guests for cigars and dinner drinks after White House state and private dinners.

President John F. Kennedy also enjoyed smoking his cigars in the White House—Cuban H. Upmann petite cigars to be exact. Cigar smoking was an enjoyable ritual for him that started when he began smoking cigars as a young man with his father Joseph P. Kennedy. So you can be sure that before he signed the Cuba Trade Embargo 50 years ago that he was not going to be left without a hefty supply of his favorite cigars.  The legendary story goes that he told his Press Secretary Pierre Salinger to round up as many Cuban cigars he could find in 24 hours and Salinger did not disappoint. He presented 1200 of President Kennedy’s favorite Upmann petite cigars within the deadline and the Embargo was signed the next day.

When Gerald Ford was in office he enjoyed smoking from a pipe and his term marked the end of presidents who smoked regularly in the White House. But it was actually during Richard Nixon’s time in office when cigars were no longer offered to men after dinner in the Green Room. Nixon himself was not a regular smoker but enjoyed smoking a cigar with other leaders and dignitaries out of ritual and respect. Then by the time President Ronald Reagan was in office, the White House no longer offered cigars or any tobacco products at state dinners and by the time President Clinton was in office, smoking was completely banned in the White House and First Lady Hilary Clinton had the staff remove all ashtrays.

But not to fret, cigar smoking is still cool and promoted by other political figures including Rudolf Giuliani, mayor of New York and former presidential candidate, who is known to have a sophisticated palate for cigars and prefers full-bodied smokes from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. Also former California Governor Arnold Schwazrenegger is a big cigar lover and enjoys smoking Cohiba and Punch but also enjoys Romeo y Julietas and Hoyo de Monterrey. Then last but not least, there is President Bill Clinton. While he may not admit to actually smoking a cigar, he can still be seen on occasion with one in his mouth and given his popularity these days –that is endorsement enough!

When it’s time to replenish your own stash of favorite stogies, be sure to shop at a reputable online tobacco shop like BnB. They offer a wide selection of premium cigars, pipe tobacco and accessories all at discount prices and delivered right to your home.

Until next time…

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Some of the most famous men in history have smoked cigars.  Be it statesmen, writers, philosophers, scientists, entertainers, or athletes, these gentlemen have changed the world with a cigar clenched firmly in their teeth.  But with the November elections not far off, we thought we would take a decidedly non-partisan look at the most famous political smokers in history.

• Winston Churchill—Admit it, you knew that Churchill would have to be the first on our list.  The greatest British statesman of the twentieth century (perhaps of all time), Churchill was an orator of the highest power, delivering speeches that inspired and moved the British people during the dark days of World War II and the blitzkrieg.  And he did all of this while smoking a cigar.  It is his commitment to cigar smoking (he allegedly smoked eight to ten a day) and his world renown that led the cigar industry to name one of the most popular cigar sizes after him, the Churchill.
• John F. Kennedy—JFK has two close connections to cigars and cigar smoking.  First, he was an avid smoker himself.  And secondly, at the height of the Cold War, he signed into law the trade embargo with Cuba that made Cuban cigars, arguably the greatest in the world, illegal in the United States.  But before he did this, he rather famously ordered as many of the soon-to-be-contraband stogies rounded up for his own personal collection.
• Fidel Castro—On the other side of the Cuban Embargo was the famous revolutionary leader and his ubiquitous cigar.  Who would have imagined that this small island leader (and his cigar) would outlast ten U.S. Presidents and still be going?
• Tom Delay—The beleaguered former Speaker of the House was famous in cigar circles for one bit of hypocrisy. Delay was one of the biggest opponents of lifting the trade embargo on Cuba, citing the need to bring down Castro’s dictatorship.  But he was also snapped in an infamous picture smoking a Cuban cigar which runs around $25 a pop.
• Bill Clinton—Don’t worry, we aren’t even going to go there.  But, this famous ex-president has been equally famous for chewing on cigars while enjoying a round or two on the golf course earning him a spot on our list.
• King Edward VII—Not an elected official, but a statesman nonetheless, King Edward VII of England took the throne in 1901 and immediately reversed the edict banning smoking which had been established by his mother, Queen Victoria.  Edward was also known for his overindulgences, sometimes polishing off a dozen cigars in one day.  (And we also have to give him a mention on this list just for the fact that his father, Prince Albert, gave his name to the infamous “Prince Albert in a can” joke.)
• Arnold Schwarzenegger—Another member of the Kennedy family (at least a former one that is), Schwarzenegger seems to have done everything under the sun.  But when he announced that he was running for governor of California, many people thought he had overstepped his boundaries.  But of course, that was two terms ago.  Schwarzenegger’s love of cigars is almost as much a part of his personality as his heavy Austrian accent and buff body-builder physique.

Some politicians have been famous for trying to keep their use of cigarettes under wraps during campaigns, especially since cigarette smoking has fallen out of vogue with most voters.  But these politicians embraced their love of cigars and were proud to be seen chomping on a cigar and, for that, we salute them.

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Just for the fun of it, I recently invited some of my non-cigar-smoking friends over to my place for some relaxation time and I decided to show them a little of what they were missing. It turned into a fun lesson on how to smoke a cigar and I actually got a few converts out of the experience. In fact, they can’t wait until the next time we can share a cigar smoke over some drinks. So if you are a cigar beginner or are thinking of giving it a try, check out below some of the tips I shared with my friends that night.

Choosing a cigar-The best place to start is with a mild cigar, which you can tell by its light-colored wrapper. Save the more robust flavors with the dark-colored wrappers for a later time because those will probably taste too strong at first. To purchase your cigars, check out a reputable online tobacco shop retailer like BnB Tobacco for the best selection of premium cigars at warehouse prices. If you are not ready to store your cigars in a humidifier, only order enough you can enjoy yourself or with friends for one or two times. A good time to try cigar smoking is after a meal when you are slightly full and feeling relaxed and comfortable. Allow yourself a good half hour to enjoy your cigar.

Cutting and lighting a cigar- Now that you have your cigar and are ready to smoke it, you need to cut it at the end to prepare it for lighting. Never, and I repeat never use scissors but rather a cigar cutter preferable the guillotine type that you can also find online at BnB Tobacco. If smoking in public, be sure to remove the wrapper because it’s considered bad etiquette if you leave it on for everyone to see what brand you are smoking. To light, use a butane lighter or wooden match and avoid Bic-type lighters or other household lighters that work better for lighting cigarettes. Light the bottom end of the cigar but do not touch it with the flame—you want to warm it up first. Puff on it slightly without inhaling and rotate the cigar until the flame catches on, which can take about 10-20 seconds. Hold the cigar between your index finger and your thumb and again, never inhale the smoke. Savor the flavors and scents of the cigar –this experience is something you don’t want to rush.

Final thoughts- a good smoke can always be a better smoke when accompanied by a proper drink. It is part of the cigar smoking experience and the best choices are brandy, scotch and port wine and for non-drinking smokers—a nice robust coffee or Kahlua drink would be splendid! When it is time to stop smoking, just place your cigar in an ashtray and let it extinguish itself on its own—never crush a cigar like a cigarette. Keep in mind that most cigar smokers choose to not re-smoke a used cigar. Practice makes perfect so enjoy getting to know what brands of quality cigars you enjoy smoking by trying a variety at first. There are aromatics available as well as the classics and even cigar sampler packs that are fun to try–all can be found online at www.bnbtobacco.com.

Until next time…

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“Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker”—Willy Wonka

One of the most frequent questions asked about cigars is which type of liquor goes best with a good smoke.  Alcohol and cigars go hand-in-hand for many as two of their favorite vices, so naturally the question is a valid one.  Unfortunately, there isn’t one clear cut answer for this.  Many people experiment until they find the brand of cigar which they feel suits them the best and then stick with it.  Others try different things as their tastes in cigars evolve.  The same can be said for alcohol.  Here, then, are my personal choices for five drinks that will help you relax at the end of a long day and which are perfectly complemented by a premium cigar.

• Scotch—This is a no-brainer.  Scotch has a very powerful, robust flavor and is probably one of the best drinks to have while smoking a cigar because it doesn’t let the cigar overpower the drink.  Stick with your traditional single-malts like Glenlivet   Purists will say that having scotch on the rocks is heresy and that the drink should be enjoyed straight up.  Either way, enjoy your drink with a nice, full-flavored cigar like an El Rey de Mundo.
• Rum—Because of the exotic nature of cigars, rum is a great pairing for a good smoke.  Many of the countries that produce the finest cigars also, coincidentally, make some of the best rums.  You don’t want rum mixed with something fruity when you are smoking.  (Leave the daiquiris to the ladies.)  Instead try a good dark rum like Appleton from Jamaica which will match up nicely with an Adduci cigar from the same locale.
• Coffees—Perhaps one of the easiest ways to make sure that a drink isn’t overpowered by a cigar is to serve it mixed with coffee.  Baileys, to my taste, is a little too sweet for when you smoke so you may want to forego the Irish coffee and instead try coffee with a shot of rum or tequila.
• Whiskey—Another popular favorite is whiskey and all of its seemingly infinite varieties.  A good choice is a traditional American whiskey like Jim Beam or Jack Daniels paired up with a nice Arturo Fuente cigar which has a nutty hint that goes nicely.
• Beer/Ale—Again, most beers will be overpowered by the taste of the cigar and there is nothing worse than pairing a top of the line, premium cigar with cheap beer.  Instead, a good stout drink like Guiness is the perfect choice if you want to enjoy a draft with your cigar.

Once again, the key to finding a good cigar-liquor combination is to just try mixing it up yourself.  Use the “strong flavor” rule of thumb so that your drink won’t be overpowered and enjoy.

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From the makers of Davidoff, the Private stock is an exceptional value.  Private Stock No. 6 assaults your senses with a mild to medium bodied distinctive flavor, with each Private Stock hand rolled in the Dominican Republic. The wrapper is all natural, the binder Ecuadorian. The filler is made from a fine blend shipped in from the Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. You can grab a box of 25 for about $65, putting this in the inexpensive range at little more than $2.50 each. But do not let the price fool you. This cigar is worth every penny, probably more. As for the size: Long and kind of thin, at 5 and a quarter inches with a ring gauge of about 46. Private Stock No. 6 cigars are made by Davidoff, a Swiss luxury tobacco goods brand name, which makes a range of products including cigars, cigarettes and pipe tobaccos.

Private Stock is mild to medium bodied and has a slightly metallic flavor that comes from its unique Ecuadorian binder. Each cigar in the Private Stock line is hand-rolled under the direct supervision of legendary cigar master Henke Kelner, whose very name is synonymous with top quality cigars. Kudos to Davidoff about one other thing, though. Because of storage in near tropical conditions for what could be years at a time, cigars tend to change, but not with Davidoff, who has insured consistency in every smoke.
As far as flavor goes, I noticed something beyond the slightly metallic taste that piqued my interest. Something vaguely nutty and herbal, perhaps from the filler. About two inches in, I also detected an aroma that reminded me of burning cork – which is not necessarily bad, just unexpected. Bottom line: This will not be confused for a Davidoff Classic.

After a leisurely smoke, I would describe the Private Stock No. 6 as a wonderful, “anytime” smoke and comes highly recommended. The caveat, though, is the ring gauge or diameter of the cigar at its widest point, which I would say is borderline anemic. If you are going to drop a five spot on a cigar, it should be a little more substantial. Overall, this is a complex cigar for the price. Speaking of which, you can snag a box of 25 for about $65, a good deal in itself, especially if you are throwing a game night bash with college buddies like I did.

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Over the past few years, it has been almost impossible to avoid the resurgence of comic books.  These “kids” books are anything but.  The themes and artwork are more adult and even the name has changed with “graphic novel” now being the accepted term for a collection of multiple comics.  And with The Avengers breaking one billion dollars in worldwide box office, the trend looks like it will continue for years to come.  So now, let’s look at the Top Ten Cigar Smoking Comic Book Characters of all time.

10.  Howard the Duck—Just making the cut at #10 is Howard the Duck, star of one of the worst comic book films in history.  The 1986 movie may be the most well-known comic bomb, but it is still a guilty pleasure and is considered by many to be a cult classic.

9.  Lobo—The hard-living, cigar-smoking, loudly swearing bounty hunter may not be as famous as most of the characters on this list.  But all of that is poised to change now that a film version of the comic book character is in talks with none other than Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson being considered for the role.  (Although we have to agree with many bloggers that Danny Trejo of Machete fame would be perfect for the part.)

8.  The Comedian—Alan Moore’s celebrated comic book, Watchmen, has become so synonymous with the graphic novel genre that it was included by Time Magazine on their list of the 100 Greatest Books of the Twentieth Century, the only comic book to be included along with literary luminaries such as John Steinbeck and William Faulkner.  The Comedian, Moore’s dark anti-hero, chews his cigars throughout a retelling of history, including a stint as Richard Nixon’s personal hitman.

7.  Perry White—What is it with newspaper editors and cigars?  Both Perry White (of Superman) and our #6, J. Jonah Jameson (of Spiderman) chomp their cigars with style as they chew out employees Clark Kent and Peter Parker.  Look for the new Superman film next year with Laurence Fishburne set to play the Man of Steel’s boss.

6.  J. Jonah Jameson—Our second newspaper editor, Jameson gets a slight edge over his DC counterpart for one reason:  actor J.K. Simmons’ awesome scene-stealing in the Sam Raimi Spiderman series.

5.  Nick Fury—What comic book character could possibly endure being portrayed in film by David Hasselhoff only to bounce back and snag the legendary badness that is Samuel L. Jackson?  Nick Fury has been a mainstay for decades, undergoing multiple tweaks to his character as the head of shield and the boss for the Avengers in this summer’s hit film.

4.  Kingpin—Cigar smoking master villain the Kingpin has battled almost every character in the Marvel universe, most notably Spiderman and Daredevil.  Check out the great Daredevil graphic novel Born Again penned by Sin City and 300 scribe Frank Miller.

3.  Ben “The Thing” Grimm—When he isn’t clobbering super-villains like Doctor Doom with his partners in the Fantastic Four, the Thing can usually be seen relaxing with a good cigar.  The rock monster that is Ben Grimm is definitely one of Stan Lee’s greatest creations.  Skip the (largely forgettable)films with Michael Chiklis and hold out as a reboot of the series is almost sure to be on its way.

2.  Hellboy—The Dark Horse comic demon has been one of the most acclaimed characters of the last decade, even featuring in two hit movies starring Ron Perlman as the paranormal investigator from Hell.  Not only is Hellboy known for his cigars, but Pearlman himself is also a connoisseur of fine cigars in real life.

1.  Wolverine—Perhaps one of the most iconic characters of all time, Wolverine has been featured in thousands of issues of comics, three X-Men movies, and now his own spin-off film series, all the while with a cigar comfortably nestled in the corner of his mouth.  His cigars have almost become as famous as his adamantium claws, and they even help actor Hugh Jackman take on an aura of toughness in the films.

Cigars and comic book characters have a long history and there is no way that any list could be definitive.  What’s your favorite comic book/cigar connection?

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