Today, we’re exploring cigar bands — the stogie equivalent of wine labels. Some are stripped back and basic. Some are ornate and outlandish. Some cigars even forgo them. But all are unique.
Cigar bands, usually wrapped around the top third of a cigar, often mean more than you might first imagine. From the colorful and evocative to the prestigious and amusing, let’s learn more about the not-always-humble cigar band.
What is the purpose of cigar bands?
The primary purpose of a cigar band is to help brands distinguish themselves from others. While cigars are grouped generically on characteristics such as size or wrapper shade, a band enables you to pinpoint a cigar to a specific manufacturer.
They are very much a canvas for expression, with the likes of San Cristobal and La Aroma De Cuba renowned for their artistic cigar bands.
Boneshaker uses distinctive skull artistry on its cigar bands to effectively symbolize its smokes and target smokers. All its cigars have a black band with a white skull above the brand name. The dark, almost spine-chilling look is designed to reflect Boneshaker’s super-strong offerings aimed at experienced smokers.
Can a cigar have multiple bands?
A cigar can have multiple bands, but it’s uncommon. A single cigar band near the head gives enough space for the manufacturer to showcase the brand or variation through beautiful visuals and intricate fonts. However, some cigarmakers add a secondary cigar band near the foot of the cigar.
A secondary cigar band or colorful ribbon can have many benefits. First, it commands attention on a store shelf and stands out compared to cigars with single bands.
An additional cigar band can also give the consumer more information about the cigar. It may disclose the country of origin, year of release, wrapper varietal, or whether the cigar’s an anniversary or limited edition smoke. For example, the secondary band on the Perdomo Habano Bourbon Barrel-Aged Connecticut communicates the wrapper type.
If you glance too quickly at the Padron 1926 Series No. 48 Maduro, you might miss the secondary band underneath the primary Padron band. It’s printed with a serial number to deter counterfeiters. Adding these types of bands and details to a cigar enables manufacturers to easily verify a cigar’s authenticity, particularly for coveted sticks.
There’s also a practical aspect to a secondary cigar band: protecting the wrapper leaf at the cigar’s foot. The foot of the cigar is open on traditional, Parejos-shaped cigars. If it’s not stored correctly, the foot of the cigar can easily get damaged, which affects the burn and draw. An extra band or ribbon prevents tears on the foot’s wrapper.
History of cigar bands
The origins of cigar bands are widely disputed, but their creation is overwhelmingly credited to Dutchman Gustave Bock.
In the 1830s, Bock’s factory marked every cigar he exported to Europe from Cuba with a band bearing his signature. This helped his cigars stand out in a crowded market while also preventing counterfeits.
Bock’s ingenuity paid off, as it gave his smokes a heightened sense of quality. Others in the industry soon followed suit by putting a band around the body of their cigars.
It’s speculated that Russian royal Catherine the Great wrapped her cigars in silk bands to protect her fingers from nicotine odor and staining. The late 19th century English gentry was also purported to hold their cigars by the band to avoid discoloring their white dining gloves.
While cigar bands have a storied history, modern-day cigar manufacturers have undoubtedly seized bands’ potential as an ornamental and marketing tool.
Tips for reading a cigar band
Cigar bands adorn nearly every cigar you’ll come across. But there are also those who go the extra mile and communicate additional information about your stogie.
Here are some of the different terms you may read on your cigar band.
- Year of release – The year the cigar was first made available to consumers.
- Country of origin – The country where the cigar is made. However, just because a cigar is made in Honduras doesn’t mean it will necessarily use Honduran tobacco.
- Wrapper varietal – The wrapper is the cigar’s outer leaf. Each wrapper variety has a different color, characteristic, harvesting and curing method, and flavor profile. Some of the main types of wrapper leaf are Connecticut Shade, Habano, Maduro, and Oscuro.
- Limited edition – This is a one-time production of a cigar where a capped production number is set.
- Anniversary – Cigar brands often release special smokes to celebrate a landmark occasion. The Rocky Patel Fifteenth Anniversary Toro commemorates its manufacturer turning 15, with the secondary band inscribed with the words “fifteenth anniversary.”
Should you remove the cigar band before smoking?
Smoking with or without the cigar band is a personal preference in most cases. However, depending on where you’re smoking and the location of the band, it may be necessary to remove it.
For instance, in Britain, it is seen as arrogant to smoke with the band, especially if you’re puffing on an expensive cigar. So, if visiting the UK, follow local etiquette and remove the band to avoid any accusations of showing off.
Additionally, if your cigar has a secondary band on the foot, it must be removed before lighting. Otherwise, you risk burning it, and your cigar will taste like burnt paper.
Ironically, the easiest way to remove the band is to smoke your cigar first for a few minutes. You risk damaging the wrapper if you try to take the band off before you begin drawing because cigar bands are stuck together with a gum adhesive. The heat of the smoke will soften the glue and loosen the band from the wrapper, making it less adhesive. When slipping off the band, undo it at the seam so the wrapper stays fully intact.
Regardless of the reason, some believe taking the band off improves the stick’s feel. Remember, smoking a cigar is an individual experience. Try removing the paper band and see if you feel a greater connection to your smoke.
Cigars with memorable cigar bands
Ashton Symmetry Belicoso
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuador Habano
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic / Nicaragua
Length: 5.25
Ring: 52
Strength: Full
Smoke Time: 95 minutes
The glitzy and glamorous band of the Ashton Symmetry Belicoso has a touch of elegance, with blues, reds, and gold all in glorious harmony. This medium-bodied, full-flavored smoke uses aged Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers to deliver warm notes of coffee, earth, leather, and vanilla.
The blend was first put together in 2014 and is the first Ashton-branded cigar to feature Nicaraguan tobacco. It finished 8th in Cigar Aficionados’ Top 25 cigars in 2015 list.
Cohiba Connecticut Toro
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuador Connecticut
Binder: Mexican San Andres
Filler: Brazil / Dominican Republic
Length: 6.5
Ring: 52
Strength: Mellow - Medium
Smoke Time: 60-80 minutes
Dressed in a silky hay-hued Connecticut Shade wrapper and adorned with a rich-looking band, the Cohiba Connecticut Toro looks as luxurious as its name. The band has a white background housing a gold diamond-shaped pattern and is trimmed with holographic gold foil. The iconic Cohiba “red dot” logo sits proudly in a black strip in the center of the band.
Its wonderfully flavored Brazilian Mata Fina and prized strains of Dominican tobacco dance beneath a zesty Mexican San Andres binder. An excellent choice for a special occasion, it burns with refreshing notes of almonds, cedar, cream, wood, and sweet tobacco.
La Aroma de Cuba Pasion Robusto
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Length: 5.5
Ring: 50
Strength: Medium - Full
Smoke Time: 45-50 minutes
The La Aroma de Cuba Pasion Robusto is a two cigar band stick. Both bands have seafoam green, gold, and white color schemes, which contrast beautifully with the cinnamon-tinted wrapper.
However, the upper band shines brightest with the brand’s signature Cuban-style female portrait. Various gold and white adornments accompany the curved brand text in gold. Either side of the woman sits a tobacco farm.
This potent and flavorful smoke gives off an aroma of sweet spices and tobacco before unleashing a mesmerizing medium- to full-bodied medley of cedar, roasted cashews, and spice.
Creating a cigar band collection display
As cigar bands became more colorful and prevalent, collecting cigar bands became popular. The American Cigar Company distributed a catalog that enabled consumers to “earn” prizes in exchange for redeeming cigar brands’ bands. For example, trading in 1,200 cigar bands would net you a football.
Even though collecting cigar bands is more popular in Europe than in America, it can still be fun to get into cigar band collecting, known as “vitolphilia.” The hobby spawned the term “vitola,” which refers to a cigar’s shape and size.
While cigar bands don’t take up more space than a stamp collection, there are a few ways to elevate their display.
Ashtrays and glassware
Ashtrays are an essential cigar accessory for safely disposing of your ash. Why not laminate it with your favorite cigar bands? Don’t ignore your glassware, either. A pint or wine glass with your cigar bands embedded in the finish can provide a fun talking point.
Cigar journal
Enjoying cigars together with friends and family creates memories. Collecting cigar bands and using them to create a journal is a simple way to remember the cigars that lit up ordinary days and special occasions. Looking at a specific cigar band will remind you who you were with and what you were doing.
Jewelry
It’s second nature for smokers to wrap a cigar band over their fingers once they’ve removed it. Rather than toss it out, why not see if you can craft it into something eye-catching and wearable?
The ornate nature of cigar bands makes them a viable alternative for rings and jewelry. Try coating your bands with acrylic or resin and conforming them to the desired shape as they dry.
An iconic symbol of cigar culture and history
Even though bands are eye-catching and an integral part of cigar culture, we always advocate choosing your cigars based on taste rather than a band’s allure.
The next time you buy a premium, handmade stogie, though, take a close look at its cigar band. A lot of thought went into creating it and making it stand out from the crowd, so never take them (or your cigars) for granted.