Ah, the fine premium cigar. There truly is nothing to compare to the experience of a fine cigar, a glass of really good cognac, and an evening in the shade. It is a peaceful experience to say the least.

However, have you ever looked at your high-profile smoke and wondered what the events were that led to the making of it? Most true cigar aficionados have at one point or another.

The chain of events that led to the production of the cigar that you now hold in your hand is a long one, spanning back over 500 years. It all began when a brave explorer by the name of Christopher Columbus decided to throw caution to the wind and risk it all to prove that there was more to the world than everyone knew at the time. In 1492, he found success, along with a little something in the new world called tobacco.

Ironically, Luis De Torres of a Spanish Envoy to America decided to take some back to his home for personal use. After spotted lighting it, he was arrested for witchcraft and sentenced to a decade in prison.

The presence of tobacco popped up again as Cortez stumbled upon a tribe of Aztec natives that are smoking tobacco. Through Cortez, the tobacco makes its way throughout Spain. From there, the pipe-smoked substance began to grow in fame and use. By the mid 1500’s, tobacco had made its’ way all the way to France where the first seeds were planted and cultivated by a monk by the name of Andre Thevet.

From there, tobacco made its’ way to the distant lands of Portugal, Russia, Turkey, and Italy. The Portuguese, via a trade route, introduce it to the Japanese. Onward it spreads to Morocco, Egypt, and even to the Philippines. Finally, in the early 1600’s, it makes a full historical circle as documents reveal that the husband of Pocahontas, John Rolfe, brings tobacco to the state of Virginia.

By the early 1600’s, Cuba has built a solid name for fine tobacco growth and becomes the major supplier for the majority of the known world.

In the mid 1700’s, the infamous Catherine the great creates the cigar band as a concept. It seems that Catherine would smoke cigars so often that her fingers would take on a brownish colored stain. Therefore, to avoid this, she had a band designed so she could hold her cigars without the irritating stain.

From there, it is only a matter of time until the major brands began to establish themselves. Cohiba, H. Upmann, Partagas, El Rey del Mundo, Sancho Pancza, Romeo y Julieta, Hoyo de Monterrey, Montecristo and the rest of the premium cigars that you and I enjoy today become very notable over the next century.

That brings us to the here and now. Today, we can sit back and enjoy our fine cigars knowing that they have a history that dates all the way back to Christopher Columbus. So when you enjoy that next high-profile smoke, blow a plume and say, “Here’s to you Chris!”.

Have you ever wondered where cigars were first produced? It is widely believed that cigars were first produced in Spain. But before cigars became all the rage in Europe, tobacco was needed to make them. Tobacco is indigenous to the Americas, where native peoples have produced it for hundreds of years. It is believed that the Maya of Yucatan peninsula in Mexico and parts of Central America cultivated tobacco, and even smoked it! Tobacco use spread to other tribes, both north and south. It is believed that its first use in the United States was probably among the tribe along the Mississippi. It wasn’t until Christopher Columbus sailed his famous voyage to the Americas in 1492 that the rest of the world came to know tobacco.

It is said that Columbus was not impressed by tobacco or its use among native peoples, but many sailors grew found of the strange plant. Soon it quickly caught on in Spain and Portugal. From there, it spread to France, where the French ambassador Jean Nicot lent his name to the scientific name for tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). The origins of the word tobacco itself are still suspect, although many believe it is simply a corruption of the word Tobago, which is the name of a Caribbean island. Still others believe it comes from the word Tabasco, a region (and now state) in Mexico.

The first tobacco plantation in the United States was established in Virginia in 1612. More tobacco plantations followed in Maryland soon after. Although tobacco became a popular crop, it was only smoked in pipes. The cigar was not introduced to the United States until the late 18th century. Israel Putnam, an army general who had served in the Revolutionary War, is credited with introducing the cigar to the United States. He had traveled to Cuba after the Revolutionary War and returned with a box of Cuban cigars. Their popularity quickly spread, and soon enough cigar factories were established in the area of Harford, Connecticut, where General Putnam resided.

In Europe, cigar production and consumption did not achieve widespread popularity until after the Peninsula War in the early 19th century. British and French veterans returned to their homelands after years of serving in Spain with their tobacco pipes in tow. Among the rich and fashionable, the favored method of taking tobacco was the cigar. Cigar smoking remains a habit associated with the rich and discriminating of upper society.

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I bought my initial Palio cutter a couple of several years back. In that time, it speedily started to be my favorite cigar cutter. Truthfully, the Palio cutter started to be my favorite cigar cutter the very first day that I utilized it. I had been utilizing the cheap cigar cutters that cigar shops provide you with should you purchase a bunch of cigars. They did a decent work, but they would boring extremely swiftly, or fall apart before it obtained dull. As an alternative in the cutter giving me a clean minimize, the uninteresting blade truly split the wrapper.

Following throwing aside a $8 cigar, I made a decision to have a very good high quality cigar cutter. I went into a local shop and spent $20 on a brand new cutter. I figured for $20, I will be acquiring some thing good. Truth is it was not much better than the affordable cutter that had ruined my cigar. So I started out seeking on the web cigar forums for some opinions. The name “Palio Cutter” kept having pointed out over and over again as getting the finest cutter. So I took the plunge and bought a Palio cutter. I was not disappointed.

The Palio cutter offers an incredible minimize. The blades are sharp and match tight, but operate smoothly. A good tight fit with no sloppiness towards the construction. It really is a solid and excellent item that you can just really feel. It carries a very sleek and precise cutting operation. It also carries a sleek appear to it, and also the ergonomics are perfect. It is the most comfy cigar cutter your hands will actually feel. In addition , it comes in the great leather situation to retain you cigar cutter seeking like new.

Besides my original black Palio cutter, I’ve also purchased additional for myself, and as gifts. While they all function exactly the same, and give exactly the same fantastic lower, my new preferred palio cutter could be the carbon fiber accomplish Palio cutter. It looks like it belongs in the spaceship with that magnificent carbon fiber carry out. I have also bought the Burl finish Palio cutter for my dad. He says it may be the ideal looking and best performing cigar cutter actually.

There is no better way to end a day then going to your humidor, perusing your fine selection of cigars and selecting the cigar that fits your mood best. You sit back and start relaxing in your comfort chair; you clip the tip, set flame to it and start your evening of calm and relaxation. To you, a good cigar is better than a fine wine.

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Our website is a wealth of information, however, if you have any questions you can always call and talk to one of our award winning customer service representatives, Monday thru Saturday that can answer any questions you may have. We know that sitting at a computer enjoying a cigar is not something you would normally do, so why not scan through our 64 page full color catalog instead.

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