Cigar World Deep Dive: American Tobacco

Within the cigar industry, America is often viewed as a consumer of premium cigars instead of a producer. But that simply doesn’t tell the whole story. Cigar makers regularly utilize tobacco grown in the United States, and some of the biggest manufacturers still operate factories in America. Here, we’ll explore every aspect of American cigar tobacco and share a few of our favorite “USA cigars” to add to your collection. 

Where Does American Tobacco Come From? 

Tobacco is a surprisingly resilient plant, and farmers can grow it from New England to the Florida Keys. For our purposes, we’ll focus primarily on tobacco made for cigars (not cigarettes or pipe tobacco), and that means starting in Connecticut. Specifically, the Connecticut River Valley still produces two types of tobacco — Connecticut Shade and Connecticut Broadleaf- which adorn many premium cigars. 

Connecticut Broadleaf is a dark, oily leaf typically used as a wrapper for Maduros or Oscuros. Connecticut Shade, on the other hand, comes from a more delicate strain of tobacco grown — as its name suggests — in the shade to protect it from the sun. This technique was developed in the early 20th century, and for decades, Connecticut Shade-wrapped cigars dominated the American market. Macanudo Café is a classic example of this cigar style. 

(Side note: You’ll likely see cigars with “Ecuadorian (sic Ecuadoran) Connecticut Shade” wrappers. Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade is the product of Connecticut Shade seeds grown in Ecuador — a country with such dense cloud coverage it possesses a “natural shade.” Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade tastes similar to genuine Connecticut Shade, but it is usually spicier due to the volcanic soil found in Ecuador.)

Though Connecticut is still the most recognized place in America to find premium cigar tobacco, growers also cultivate tobacco in states like Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and Florida. 

 What Does American Tobacco Taste Like? 

The short answer is that it depends on the location and how the tobacco was grown and cured. Connecticut Shade tobacco is one of the more mellow wrapper varieties, and it typically offers tasting notes of cream, vanilla, cedar, and nuts. “Modern” takes on Connecticut Shade tobacco may have more robust or spicy flavor profiles.  

Connecticut Broadleaf, conversely, is one of the darkest leaves used in cigar production, and it delivers notes like leather, minerals, sweetness, and earth. 

Pennsylvania Broadleaf, the “other” American broadleaf, has a similar flavor range to Connecticut Broadleaf — with subtle differences depending on factors like curing and aging. 

The History of American Tobacco

The United States has a long and complicated history with tobacco. Indeed, there may not even *be* the United States as we know it today without American tobacco. That’s probably an exaggeration, but the fact remains that tobacco was one of the first and most important cash crops developed by English settlers during the American colonial period. Native Americans grew and smoked tobacco for centuries before European settlers arrived. 

A seminal moment in the story of American cigar tobacco occurred in 1900 when farmers began to cover delicate Sumatra-seed tobacco with cloth. This protected the thin leaves and led to the hugely successful Connecticut Shade tobacco variety. Since then, Connecticut Shade has proved to be one of the most popular wrappers in the premium cigar category. While American-made cigars and cigars with American tobacco may be rarer than they used to be, you can still find excellent cigars with American roots. 

Check out a few of our favorites here!

Macanudo Café

This is *the* quintessential Connecticut Shade-wrapped cigar. World famous for decades, Macanudo Café is a must-try for anyone breaking into the cigar category. 

CAO America

Want a taste of both Connecticut Shade and Connecticut Broadleaf at the same time? Then, give CAO America a spin for your next smoke session. This 92-rated barber pole cigar offers a harmonious mix of Connecticut tobacco you won’t find anywhere else. 

Cohiba Serie M

If Connecticut is the center of American tobacco cultivation, then Florida — specifically Miami — is the beating heart of American tobacco manufacturing. The Cohiba Serie M doesn’t feature any American tobacco (it’s made with mostly Nicaraguan tobacco), but it was made at the celebrated El Titan de Bronze factory in Miami, and it’s a fantastic example of American cigar craftsmanship. 

J.C. Newman The American

J.C. Newman’s aptly named “The American” is a 100% American cigar in every sense of the word. First, J.C. Newman is America’s oldest family-owned premium cigar maker. Second, The American was produced at the El Reloj factory in Florida. And third, every single tobacco in The American is from the USA. Interestingly, it features a Florida Sun Grown wrapper — a real rarity — along with Pennsylvania tobacco in the filler. 

Drew Estate Kentucky Fire Cured

“Fire-curing” is a process more associated with snuff tobacco, but that didn’t stop Drew Estate from developing a cigar with Kentucky and Virginia fire-cured tobacco leaves in the blend. Though it has a Mexican San Andrés wrapper, this is certainly a unique entry into the collection of American cigars. 

What’s your favorite American cigar? Sign up for Cigar World and let us know with a comment!