There is a certain way to hold a cigar that just says “This is the life!’ It’s not the typical image of a big guy wearing a suit, clenching a stogie between his teeth and puffing out nuclear clouds of smoke. It’s a more refined and nuanced way of relaxing and oozing self confidence with the placement of the cigar between index and middle finger with the thumb as a slight anchor. Adding about a 70 degree angle at the elbow puts you perfect cigar smoking form.
Here are a few outtakes from my photo essay on cigar making in Miami which was published in Cigar Aficionado magazine. Enjoy.
Professor Juan Turro, saxophone, flute and kazoo player in the band Suenalo enjoys a cigar during a night stroll in Wynwood arts district.
At the Wynwood Cigar Factory art lives amongst the rollers, who produce close to 1,000 cigars per day.
A blade used to cut cigar leaves at the El Titan Cigars factory and shop on Calle Ocho, Little Havana.
Maria Sierra once rolled Cohiba Behikes in Cuba. At age 18 she was taught how to roll cigars by Fidel Castro’s personal cigar roller Eduardo Rivera.
The hands of Maria a Category 9 roller, who made cigars at the prestigious El Laguito Factory in the Miramar section of Havana for 32 years. She is considered an elite roller.
As always the proof is in the puffing.