April 13, 2025 • 4 mins
America's Cigar Press has announced the upcoming release of "America's Cigar Story: The History, Politics, and Legacy of Cigars from 1762 to the Modern Era," a comprehensive book by Sebastian Saviano. This work will explore over 250 years of American cigar history, examining its connections to business, labor, politics, and culture. The book covers topics such as the evolution of cigar culture, the impact of the Cuban Embargo, and the influence of cigars on political history. Featuring illustrations and insights into famous cigar smokers, the book aims to appeal to a wide audience and will be available in March 2025.
#luxury #cigars
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#luxury #cigars
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/luxury-chamber-of-commerce--5450891/support.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the deep Dive. Today. We're looking into a
really interesting new book.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Yeah, which one's that.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
It's called America's Cigar Story, The History, politics, and Legacy
of Cigars from seventeen sixty two to the Modern Era,
the Magnum Opah's History Edition. It's by Sebastian Saviano.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Ah, right, I've heard about that one. Sounds pretty comprehensive.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
It is. It covers like over two hundred and fifty years.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Wow, So it's not just you know, about the cigars
themselves then exactly.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
That's what's fascinating ties cigars into American business, politics, labor,
even pop culture.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Huh. So it's kind of using cigars as a lens
to view broader American history.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
That's the idea, really unique perspective, I think.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Okay, interesting, So two hundred and fifty years. Where does
Saviano kick things off?
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Well, he goes way back back to the seventeen hundreds
colonial times.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Really cigars were around them apparently, so.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
And they even show up during the Civil War. It
sets the stage for just how long they've been part
of the picture.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Right, so long history and then I assume manufacturing started
to pick up.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Yeah, definitely, the book talks about these key manufacturing centers.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Emerging whereabouts, mainly.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Places like New York, Pennsylvania, and Florida too.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Okay, so real industrial hubs.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Yeah, and not just factories. They were like community centers
too often with a big immigrant influence shaping thing intense.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Then you have the Cuban embargo. That must have been
a huge deal for the end.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Oh, absolutely a massive turning point.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
How so exactly? I mean, obviously the loss of Cuban tobacco,
but well.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Yes, But what's interesting is how it also pushed innovation elsewhere.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Ah, right, so other regions had to step up exactly.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
People started experimenting with different tobacco seeds, new techniques. It
really changed the flavor landscape for American smokers.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
That's a fascinating angle. And you mentioned politics earlier, the
whole smoke filled room in it.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Is that just a cliche or no?
Speaker 2 (01:53):
No? According to the book, there's real weight to it. Okay,
Saviano digs into that connection. Those informal meetings, deals being
made over cigars. They apparently had a tangible impact on
political decisions.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
So it wasn't just background smoke, it seems not, But.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
It wasn't all powerful men in back rooms either.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Right, what about the actual workers, the people rolling the cigars?
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Yeah, and that's a really crucial part of the story
that often gets overlooked. The book highlights the labor movements
within the industry. You had immigrant and black cigar rollers
really fighting for better conditions.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
Wow, okay, so they were pioneers and labor rights in
a way.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
In many ways, Yes, it adds this whole social justice
dimension to the history of cigars.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
So tracing this long history, where does that leave us? Now?
Does the book cover the modern scene?
Speaker 2 (02:41):
It does. Yeah, it touches on the sort of modern
premium cigar renaissance.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
What does that look like.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Well, there's a big focus now on craftsmanship, specific tobacco, blends, terroir,
you know, a much more discerning consumer.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Base like the wine world.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Almost kind of Yeah, it's a continuation of that long tradition,
but with a modern emphasis on quality and artistry.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
It sounds like the book has lots of these interesting details.
Anything else that stood out, Well.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
The illustrations are great, those old vintage cigar ads. They
really bring the history to life.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Oh cool, And.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
I like the little sections called what did they Smoke?
It gives you these snippets about famous historical figures and
their cigar habits.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
Ah, that's fun. It makes it more personal.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Yeah, it connects the big picture to individual lives. You know,
it's pretty engaging.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
So if we boil it all down for our listeners, Ye,
what's the main thing to take away from this deep
dive into America's cigar story?
Speaker 2 (03:35):
I think the key thing is realizing that cigars aren't
just a product. They're really woven into the fabric of
American history.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Right.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
They reflect and sometimes even influence these huge shifts in business, politics,
labor culture over centuries. It's quite a unique perspective.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
It really makes you think, doesn't it about other everyday things? Oh? So,
like what other seemingly simple idea might have these incredibly rich,
complex histories hiding behind them, stories that tell us more
about society.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
That's a great point, maybe something for listeners to chew on.
Think about those niche products, things we might take for granted,
Could they also hold these kinds of stories, these unique
views on how things have changed. What else is out there?
Speaker 1 (04:19):
Definitely food for thought. So if this conversation is piqued
your interest, check out the book. It's America's Cigar Story,
The History, politics, and Legacy of cigars from seventeen sixty
two to the modern era of the Magnum Opus History
Edition by Sebastian Saviano.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
And it's available now YEP.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Find it on Amazon dot com and major booksellers. You
can also get more info at www. Dot Theamericancigar Press
dot com American Cigar.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Story great sounds like go worthwhile read definitely well.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Thanks for taking this deep dive with us today.
Welcome to the deep Dive. Today. We're looking into a
really interesting new book.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Yeah, which one's that.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
It's called America's Cigar Story, The History, politics, and Legacy
of Cigars from seventeen sixty two to the Modern Era,
the Magnum Opah's History Edition. It's by Sebastian Saviano.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Ah, right, I've heard about that one. Sounds pretty comprehensive.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
It is. It covers like over two hundred and fifty years.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Wow, So it's not just you know, about the cigars
themselves then exactly.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
That's what's fascinating ties cigars into American business, politics, labor,
even pop culture.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Huh. So it's kind of using cigars as a lens
to view broader American history.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
That's the idea, really unique perspective, I think.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Okay, interesting, So two hundred and fifty years. Where does
Saviano kick things off?
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Well, he goes way back back to the seventeen hundreds
colonial times.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Really cigars were around them apparently, so.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
And they even show up during the Civil War. It
sets the stage for just how long they've been part
of the picture.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Right, so long history and then I assume manufacturing started
to pick up.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Yeah, definitely, the book talks about these key manufacturing centers.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Emerging whereabouts, mainly.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Places like New York, Pennsylvania, and Florida too.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Okay, so real industrial hubs.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Yeah, and not just factories. They were like community centers
too often with a big immigrant influence shaping thing intense.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Then you have the Cuban embargo. That must have been
a huge deal for the end.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Oh, absolutely a massive turning point.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
How so exactly? I mean, obviously the loss of Cuban tobacco,
but well.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Yes, But what's interesting is how it also pushed innovation elsewhere.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Ah, right, so other regions had to step up exactly.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
People started experimenting with different tobacco seeds, new techniques. It
really changed the flavor landscape for American smokers.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
That's a fascinating angle. And you mentioned politics earlier, the
whole smoke filled room in it.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Is that just a cliche or no?
Speaker 2 (01:53):
No? According to the book, there's real weight to it. Okay,
Saviano digs into that connection. Those informal meetings, deals being
made over cigars. They apparently had a tangible impact on
political decisions.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
So it wasn't just background smoke, it seems not, But.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
It wasn't all powerful men in back rooms either.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Right, what about the actual workers, the people rolling the cigars?
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Yeah, and that's a really crucial part of the story
that often gets overlooked. The book highlights the labor movements
within the industry. You had immigrant and black cigar rollers
really fighting for better conditions.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
Wow, okay, so they were pioneers and labor rights in
a way.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
In many ways, Yes, it adds this whole social justice
dimension to the history of cigars.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
So tracing this long history, where does that leave us? Now?
Does the book cover the modern scene?
Speaker 2 (02:41):
It does. Yeah, it touches on the sort of modern
premium cigar renaissance.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
What does that look like.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Well, there's a big focus now on craftsmanship, specific tobacco, blends, terroir,
you know, a much more discerning consumer.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Base like the wine world.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Almost kind of Yeah, it's a continuation of that long tradition,
but with a modern emphasis on quality and artistry.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
It sounds like the book has lots of these interesting details.
Anything else that stood out, Well.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
The illustrations are great, those old vintage cigar ads. They
really bring the history to life.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Oh cool, And.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
I like the little sections called what did they Smoke?
It gives you these snippets about famous historical figures and
their cigar habits.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
Ah, that's fun. It makes it more personal.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Yeah, it connects the big picture to individual lives. You know,
it's pretty engaging.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
So if we boil it all down for our listeners, Ye,
what's the main thing to take away from this deep
dive into America's cigar story?
Speaker 2 (03:35):
I think the key thing is realizing that cigars aren't
just a product. They're really woven into the fabric of
American history.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Right.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
They reflect and sometimes even influence these huge shifts in business, politics,
labor culture over centuries. It's quite a unique perspective.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
It really makes you think, doesn't it about other everyday things? Oh? So,
like what other seemingly simple idea might have these incredibly rich,
complex histories hiding behind them, stories that tell us more
about society.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
That's a great point, maybe something for listeners to chew on.
Think about those niche products, things we might take for granted,
Could they also hold these kinds of stories, these unique
views on how things have changed. What else is out there?
Speaker 1 (04:19):
Definitely food for thought. So if this conversation is piqued
your interest, check out the book. It's America's Cigar Story,
The History, politics, and Legacy of cigars from seventeen sixty
two to the modern era of the Magnum Opus History
Edition by Sebastian Saviano.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
And it's available now YEP.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Find it on Amazon dot com and major booksellers. You
can also get more info at www. Dot Theamericancigar Press
dot com American Cigar.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Story great sounds like go worthwhile read definitely well.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Thanks for taking this deep dive with us today.
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