Today, centuries after the birth of the cigar industry, the business has changed a great deal, while the cigar has changed relatively little since the 1600s.  Much of the entrepreneurial spirit that first transformed rustic leaves into aromatic delicacy exists, and even thrives today.  In fact, we are currently living in the “Golden Age of Cigar Making”.  There has never been so much creativity, variety, quality, and innovation in the luxury tobacco industry:  thanks, in part, to the exodus of Cuban cigar makers/farmers/rollers and over forty years of pioneering work in the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Honduras, Mexico, and beyond.  Also, we owe thanks to publications like Cigar Aficionado for revolutionizing the perceptions of luxury tobacco; and organizations like the IPCPR (our exclusive organizational partner) for supporting professional Tobacconists.  Ultimately, the confluence of these forces allows us to live in a very special period of time which may be the pinnacle of achievement, or just the beginning.

Still, many factors continue to threaten consumers, professionals, and the world of luxury tobacco.  By studying history in Tobacco College we learned that taxation and persecution have always been intertwined with the story of tobacco.  Currently, we see more anti-tobacco zealotry, legislation, and anti-smoking laws than ever before.  Ironically, the professionals that represent this industry, Tobacconists, are in danger of extinction.  The economic pressures Tobacconists face from mail order, the internet, discount chains, and increasing anti-smoking laws and regulations are onerous.  While we live in a privileged time with regard to product quality, it is more critical now, than ever, to educate and protect those professionals, Tobacconists, who teach, share, and preserve the rich traditions of the luxury tobacco industry.

So, the "Golden Age of Cigar Making" comes with its own set of historical challenges; both social and economic.  Another trend to note, in the last quarter century, is the consolidation of the premium cigar industry (as well as cigarette, snuff, pipe tobaccos, and machine-made cigars) into a handful of very large multi-national corporations.  Mass-production can threaten the individual creativity and passion needed to create extraordinary cigars, pipes, and pipe tobaccos.  As you will soon learn, no great cigar or pipe maker could be purely motivated by profits or production quotas.   By nature, cigar and pipe making is risky, unpredictable, and both capital and labor intensive: the type of endeavor only a zealot could pursue.  Great cigar/pipe makers are motivated by one uncompromising ambition: the desire to create the best cigar/pipe possible. 

This is the history of tobacco, the cigar industry, and its culture, in brief.  Among other ambitions, Tobacconist University® is an attempt to honor the farmers, craftsmen (and craftswomen), artists, entrepreneurs, and visionaries who turn an acrid leaf into exquisite splendor.  We hope that through education your appreciation of the people and products they create will be enhanced.  As you will continue to learn, without these men and women to carry on their knowledge and oral history, there would be no luxury tobacco.  This unique industry, with its blend of Arts and Science, exists because of traditions and knowledge that must be passed on from generation to generation.  Our humble University exists to support this continuity and preserve priceless knowledge.