The Debated Origins of the Cigar Band

In today’s world of cigars, you’d be hard-pressed to find a cigar that didn’t come with its own distinctive band. Today, the band denotes the brand. Cohiba cigars, for instance,  can be identified by vibrant yellow, paired with black and white squares on the band.

However, cigars historically didn’t always come with bands, and it is still debated today exactly how they came about. Below are three legends about how the cigar band became established. Which story do you believe is correct?

Catherine the Great

The first tale of the cigar band’s origins harks back to 18^th century, where Catherine the Great allegedly requested her cigars be wrapped in some way in order to stop them leaving stains on her fingers. It is believed that she asked for her smokes to be wrapped in silk, though whether this idea would have found its way outside of the royal court is questionable. It is quite likely that if she did ask, it would have been taken care of by someone in her own court. Therefore, it would have had little impact on the cigar industry.

19^th Century English Aristocrats

The next debated origin of the cigar comes from 19^th century England. Aristocrats liked to look the part while they were out on the town – imagine a smart top hat and a crisp tailored suit. The only thing that prevented them from looking the epitome of high society, however, was the stains that appeared on their bright white gloves from holding cigars. Cigar bands are therefore believed by some to have been created in order to avoid this fashion faux pas. Whether the Cuban cigar makers were aware that this was a problem for British gentlemen, however, is the question on our lips.

German Swindlers

Of all of the legends of where the cigar band first came from, this tale from 19^th century Germany is perhaps the most believable.  At this time, Germany was the world’s biggest cigar supplier. Cuban cigars, however, were still recognised as of a higher standard. Though they were more expensive, they were much more in demand than their German counterparts. Some German manufacturers therefore began to brand their lower-quality cigars under Cuban names in order to sell more, to the dismay of the Cubans. Gustave Bock, a cigar maker who emigrated to Cuba from Europe, therefore decided to place a paper ring decorated with his signature around his cigars to mark Cuban authenticity.

Which of these origin stories do you think is closest to the truth, or have you heard of an alternative beginning for cigar bands? Let us know in the comments below, or get in touch via our social media channels!