The Story of Jamaican Cigars: From Post War to Hurricanes to the Comeback

Jamaican cigars are one of those strange blind spots in the cigar world. Whereas everyone knows about Cuba, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic and even Honduras; Jamaica quietly sits in the footnotes of history. Despite the fact that at one point it was hugely important to British cigar smokers.

Post War

Following the end of the Second World War, Britian was under enormous financial pressure and the government did not want to bleed hard currency from outside of the Commonwealth. Trade with Cuba was curtailed, so money and attention was shifted to within the countries that were under British colonial rule.

The UK pushed the development of cigar tobacco cultivation in Jamaica to curb spending. The island quickly built a reputation for producing premium tobacco. The Jamaican leaf wasn't as dense as its Cuban cousin, but it had a smooth, aromatic personality that fitted perfectly with British tastes. Brands like Royal Jamaica (founded in 1935 in Kingston) grew into serious players, especially after the US embargo on Cuba. Another giant born on the island was Macanudo, before it became the mass market juggernaut it is today; Macanudo was a Jamaican made brand produced in Kingston.

Now about Winston Churchill. He has always been associated with Cuban cigars such as Romeo y Julieta, La Aroma de Cuba etc. but it's not often told that during the post WW2 years, Churchill would be seen privately smoking a Jamaican cigar as it fitted in with the "buy Commonwealth" idea that was being encouraged across Britain at that time.

Hurricanes

In September 1988 Hurricane Gilbert wrecked havoc into Jamaica with the loss of life reaching over 300. The devastation also included the agricultural industry and the tobacco industry was hit particularly hard. The entire sector was effectively wiped out and it has never fully recovered to pre-Gilbert levels.

Royal Jamaica's factory and farms were effectively destroyed, whilst Macanudo production which had already grown beyond it's original Jamaican roots to the Dominican Republic to cope with growing demand was basically wiped out.

By year 2000, the Jamaican facility was closed and Macanudo was made entirely in the Dominican Republic. Later limited editions were released to pay hommage to the Jamaican origins, but the day to day cigars were no longer Jamaican in any agricultural sense.

The Comeback

Jamaica now has a niche premium cigar scene that is slowly growing in capacity and recognition. The most visible brands are Crowne Jamaica and Barrington House. Both of these brands produce cigars that are rich, smooth and aromatic.

These cigars typically sit in the mild to medium band with flavours that lean towards creamy, woody, herbal and slightly sweet notes.

Legendary master cigar blender Jimmy Chang left Cuba in the 1960's and moved to Jamaica. There he instilled the techniques and traditions of luxury cigar making to the local Jamaicans. These traits have trickled down through the decades and are now an integral part of this growing boutique industry.

So if you're interested to experience a fundamantal part of cigar and Caribbean history; one which helped shaped how Britian smoked post WW2 and survived one of the most devastating hurricanes on record, then a Jamaican cigar deserves your consideration. This is not a novelty, these are premium mild to medium cigars that rival anything the established order can deliver.