The Story of the First and Only 100% American Cigar

Hand rolling cigars has been a part of American history since the beginning of our country's independence. This tradition can be traced back to the 1700’s when Lt. Col. Israel Putnam first introduced cuban seeds and cigars to what is now Connecticut. (Alexander, J. B. A (2023, February 10). A history of cigars in the United States.) From there the cigar industry took off into factories in the surrounding states, and continued to grow into what it is now. After 300 years of successfully rolling and selling cigars it is a surprise that there is still no cigar that is 100% American grown and rolled. At least there wasn’t until now introducing “The American”. The American is made by the J.C. Newman Cigar Company and is the first and only 100% American cigar! 

J.C. Newman first got its start back in 1895 in Cleveland, Ohio, but is most known for its El Reloj factory which opened in 1910 in Tampa, Florida. The El Reloj factory is the oldest working cigar factory in America which is fitting since J.C. Newman “is the oldest family-owned premium cigar maker in the United States” (Our family: Newman Family history, 2023) Their long history as pillars in the American Cigar Industry make them exceptionally qualified to create the first 100% American Cigar. The American is symbolic of the first ever cigar rolled in their El Reloj factory also named the American, however now over a century later this name holds a different meaning. 

The American is not only 100% American grown and rolled, it is also completely traceable. J.C. Newman prides itself on transparency when it comes to the creation of this new cigar line. The wrapper is sun grown in Clermont, Florida; the binder is Connecticut Broadleaf grown in South Windsor, Connecticut. The filler is a combination of Pennsylvania Type 41 tobacco grown in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut Havana tobacco grown in South Windsor, Connecticut. (The American cigar: Cigars rolled in America, 2024) All of these components come together to create the completely unique medium bodied one of a kind “American Cigar”

Come try this patriotic cigar; available now in store only at Tobacco Haven!

Alexander, J. B. A. (2023, February 10). A history of cigars in the United States. Holt’s Clubhouse. https://www.holts.com/clubhouse/cigar-culture/history-of-cigars-in-us 

The American cigar: Cigars rolled in America. J.C. Newman. (2024, December 18). https://www.jcnewman.com/company/the-american-cigar/ 

Our family: Newman Family history: J.C. Newman Cigar Co.. J.C. Newman. (2023, December 20). https://www.jcnewman.com/company/our-family/