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Macon, Georgia, is known for its rich musical heritage, particularly Soul Music and Southern Rock, as well as its stunning architecture and vibrant cultural scene.  It’s also famous as the Cherry Blossom “Capitol of the World due to its extensive display of Yoshino cherry trees…ok, area blah blah blah covered.  My good friend (aka, my brother), Mr. Oliver Price, mentioned that he’d gone to a really nice cigar spot in Macon (que my skeptical mind), and that we should check it out.  Living in the Metro Atlanta area can give you a false sense of “we’re the shit,” and the rest of Georgia is somehow less connected (calling bullshit on that one), soooo not true, come to find out.  We took the ride to downtown Macon and reached our destination in under an hour from Locust Grove (Oliver’s house).  Churchills on Cherry…the upstairs cigar bar and lounge that you didn’t see coming.

This spot is pretty damn amazing. From street level, you climb the stairs to the main floor, still not really knowing what to expect until you cross the threshold at the top, where you’re greeted with a view of the humidor, leather chairs, and sumptuous hardwood flooring.  You turn to the left and get visually assaulted by a uniquely gorgeous and expansive, well-stocked bar that rises up to what seems to be 20-plus-foot ceilings.  The large televisions and smart lighting, along with intricate art pieces, complement each other in a way that makes complete sense.  The staff greeted us with smiles, southern professionalism, and a warm tone.  It was really refreshing if you know what I mean.

I certainly expected drinks, but wasn’t really sure about having any food…atleast not anything to special, again, bad assumption on my part.  We ordered. two dishes, a Surf and Turf special along with Shrimp and Grits (that’s how we do it down here), our drinks came first, a couple of “Old Fashions” that went down real easy on a hot summer Georgia night.  Then the food arrived, pipping-hot and visually pleasing.  The portion size was generous and I’m happy to report…the food was on-point, really good.

It was a Friday night and the owner had live music scheduled, jazz tunes were belted out by a saxophone player accompanied by a pianist.  If you’re anything like me, this night would’ve checked all the boxes for most aficionados.  Did I mention how big this place is ?  Levels, spots, corner seating hang-outs, couches and fireplaces, cool-ass sections for private party space that’s been tastefully pimped-out.  Again, boxes checked.

And just when you think there’s nothing else to talk about…there’s more shit to talk about.  One of my favorite and relaxing things to do is, smoking my cigars outdoors.  Churchills on Cherry has an awesome outdoor seating area.  Tables, couches, fireplace and television on a large deck over looking private parking.  String-lighting and friendly people, it was all there.  In Macon GA.  I’m serious.

So I guess a question might be, who put this thing together, who’s the mad genius with such a diabolical plan, what are his super powers and will he ever use them for evil purposes…ok,ok, I’m sorry.  His name is Bruce, and he opened Churchills on Cherry about two and a half years ago.  He run’s it with his son Nick, and a really cool staff.  Bruce has a moving and storage company (Ciceros) with many of his customers being US military.  He’s traveled the country, and during that time he visited lot’s of different cigar-bars, taking mental notes, collecting ideas, talking to owners, in his mind, building Churchills on Cherry.  Taking the best of what he saw and learned, what worked and what didn’t, food and beverage, comfort, ventilation, etc.  This is one of those times when you actually see what happens when vision meets execution, where planning is even handed and you get to witness someone’s master piece unfold.  Hanging out with Bruce on the back deck, meeting some of his friends, and watching how his customers showed him reverence and respect, makes it easy to see why this place is working.

I know it’s not ATL…it’s Macon, I know Hartsfield Jackson airport ain’t that close, but the people I met were friendly and sincere, Bruce, and his staff were welcoming and attentive, and “god dammit” I’ going back.  There, I said it.

So my friends, thanks for checking out the blog, and get your ass down to Churchills on Cherry.

As always, find your favorite spot, sit back, light up, and stay smoky my brothers and sisters of the leaf.

For more culture coverage, explore our cigar lifestyle blog

There are tobacconist’s, aficionado’s, shop owners, cigar reps, and the like.  People who pretend to be in the know, and flat-out  wanna be cigar ballers (if this is you bite me)…and then there’s Sanj.  Sanj Patel is a fucking tobacco Jedi, he’s forgotten more about the leaf than most of us can ever hope to attain, it’s just that simple.  He’s respected and known throughout the industry by many of the top cigar dogs both domestically and internationally.  This business is what he’s poured his energy into for the majority of his time on this planet.  I recently had the pleasure of spending a Saturday with him and his crew…it was enlightening, colorful, and needless to say impressive.

Sanj’s shop is located in Bloomfield, New Jersey, 419 Broad St to be exact, he’s owned and been at this location for 33 years and four remodel’s (all the work done by him by the way), a fixture in the neighborhood.  To become a member takes a lot more than your hard earned dollars.  What the hell do I mean ?  well check this out, if you’re not recommended by a current member, you can just take your wide ass and money (you know who you are) some place else.  Sanj is hell-bent on maintaining a certain type of membership, honesty and integrity fucking matter, being rude to female members is the kinda bullshit that will get you messed-up.  If this seems extreme to you…good, lames are not welcome :-).  Listen, members have 24 hour access using their key-fob to gain entry, along with a locker and special pricing on inventory, you might even run into a celebrity every now and then as they have been known to frequent his establishment.  They’re open 6 day’s a week, Monday through Saturday, he reserves Sunday for god and family.

You can find many of the well known cigar brands to purchase at this cigar location: Davidoff, E.P Carrillo, Fuente, etc, but in my humble opinion the real juicy stuff, are the cigars that carry his name, SP1014’s (Sanj Patel, October 14th, his dob), different sizes and flavor profiles are available.  There is for example the SP1014 Red, created by Sanj and master blender Chico Rivas of the Dominican Republic.  The site where you can purchase these beauties (shouldismokethis.com)

describes the blend as a Dominican Corojo puro…all of these cigars are draw-tested and weighed for the optimal smoking experience, Sanj will tell you that all cigars are supposed to be made this way.  Unfortunately everyone didn’t get that memo.  There is the SP1014 Silver, Black, Love N Passion, and even more.  No shame in this BOTL’s game (brother of the leaf).

If you spend anytime with Sanj, you’ll soon realize that relationships are very important to him, many of the cigar shops and businesses in the tri-state area have his thumbprint and or influence all over them.  He’s helped, trained, supported, and even supplied many of these establishments with product, molding their cigar sensibilities with a customer forward focus, no bullshit.  Also, don’t think you can just run into any smoke shop and grab his cigars…yes, they’re pretty damn exclusive, you can find them in maybe 50 shops, why you might ask (I did) , because your cigar and customer values need to be in line with his, and if you don’t like it he could give a rat’s ass, not one flying fuck, and if you persist you might even get called a “Cee U Next Tuesday”.  He may not be everyone’s cup of tea, an acquired taste but loved by his crew for being original and genuine.

To say that he’s had an interesting life would be an understatement, a one time professional race car driver, a husband and father, a dutiful son, his father’s ring is proudly displayed on his finger while wearing a charm of his mother’s around his neck.  He dabble’s in the mixing and creation of fragrances, and prides himself on being sensitive and aware of different spices.  He’s created and collaborated on cigars for many celebrities, no name dropping but believe me, the list is impressive. Art and style have a place in his life along with some spicy language, if you’re thin-skinned, easily offended by 4-letter words, don’t want the truth sometimes tossed your way like a water ballon you need not apply (beat it kid).  Mother-fucked in one breath, but willing to buy you dinner everyday of the week…the mussels and red sauce were OTC (that’s off the chain for you sheltered people), just trying to paint this picture for you.

Something that most people probably don’t know about Mr. Patel, is that he holds charity work in high esteem.  He gives throughout the year without hesitation, donates about 1200 cigars a year to fundraisers, participates in the funding of education in other parts of the world, even advocates for the homeless at his local McDonalds to be allowed to sit and eat (up yours Burger King).

Look, my day with Sanj Patel, was very different than what I might have imagined, I originally thought we’ed sit around the shop, I’d ask questions for a few hours, see some shop regulars, head back to my hotel and eventually back to Hotlanta (Atlanta dumb-asses) , but I got much more than that.  I attended two events with him and crew (shout-out to Inno, Dimples, and crew), where he donated cigars and proceeds to different charities, met some of the cast members from the Soprano’s that happened to be friends with Sanj, and was treated like one of the family.  I was given different cigars to try and some cigar knowledge tidbits along the way.

As I stated earlier, Sanj isn’t afraid to express his opinion, values, politics, what you may have fucked-up…all on the table.  If you have a genuine interest in cigars and have questions, it’s not out of the ordinary for him to spend an hour or more with a perfect stranger imparting some tobacco wisdom.  If you read this blog you’ll notice that I generally don’t hawk cigars; but I think you’ll find something you like in the SP1014 line (buy some cigars you cheap prick), consistent quality isn’t common.

As usual, it’s been a blast sharing this read with you…grab one of your favorite sticks, maybe a preferred libation and a comfortable location, this one’s for you.

 

Stay smoky my friends !

 

Winter is here and ready to suck all of the cigar codling humidity right out of your tougher than nails, fancy-ass humidor.  Can’t you just hear the greedy laughs from the lip balm boys, ready to make a killing off your crusty winter lips (filthy animals !), dry as a bone…”yeah baby, yeah!”  If you’re not careful, that steady 70% humidity reading you keep bragging about to all your friends will drop faster than your ample beer-belly.

 

You can really do some serious damage to your precious sticks by ignoring that box….dry cracked un-cooperative cigars will take over your humidor if you’re not careful.  So here’s some nuggets of wisdom for you to chew on.

RULE #1: GET IN AND GET OUT

This aint your old dusty-ass lint collecting clothes dryer, or your sisters decrepit easy bake oven .  Like your father used to yell “hey, stop lettin all my damn heat out”, you get the picture. The less time you rummage around, the less humidity escapes your humidor.  By spending as little time as possible with the lid open, your humidifying device and Spanish cedar lining of your humidor aren’t going to dry out as fast as they would.

RULE #2: RECHARGE

Make sure you recharge your humidification devices regularly. It is common knowledge that you should check your humidification device at least every 2 months to see if you should recharge it or not. If it seems dry, add distilled water to your humidification device, and voilà, you’re set for another few months. Foam humidifiers need to be recharged about every 2-3 months while crystal humidifiers need maintenance every 6 months or longer. If you notice your device isn’t holding humidity as long as it used to, perhaps it’s time to consider a replacement humidifier.

But if you’re in the same sinking ship I left myself in this winter by NOT following my own rule, you’re going to need a little assistance. I got my humidor to the point where the Spanish cedar expelled all the humidity it once retained. Now my humidor is as dry as the Gobi Desert. The solution: I recharged with two Boveda seasoning packs. If you take this route, remember that these packs are 83% humidity and are meant to season an empty humidor. Because I’m not taking my cigars out, I’m introducing the second pack 2 days after the first pack. This way the humidity is introduced gradually to rehydrate my cigars and the Spanish cedar lining. Soon enough, I’ll be in working order.

RULE #3: CHECK YOUR EQUIPMENT

Basically, you need to ensure the seal on your humidor is tight as can be. Again, the lack of humidity during the winter is devastating, so even the tiniest breach can rip out humidity like that old less than clingy bandaid you’ve been sporting. Once the humidity starts to leave your humidor, the wood contracts a little bit and the seal is compromised.

 

Proper humidor care and taking preventative measures to keep your large investment of cigars safe is key during the winter months. Without knowing how to properly maintain your cigars during a radical shift in the atmosphere, you put each stogie you stash at risk of being destroyed or irreparably dried out. Make sure you follow my 3 easy rules this winter season.  Remember…”the north never forgets”, so keep it humid campers, and find that special place to smoke that special stick.

 

Originally published November 21, 2019 · Updated September 2026

Can you bring cigars on a plane?

Yes. If you’re flying within the United States, TSA allows cigars in both your carry-on and checked baggage.

But for cigar smokers, that’s the easy part.

The rules get more interesting when you start adding cigar cutters, lighters, torch lighters and international travel. And getting your cigars through airport security doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll arrive at your destination in the condition you intended.

So before you pack your favorite sticks for the next trip, here’s what you need to know.

Can You Bring Cigars in Your Carry-On?

Yes.

According to the Transportation Security Administration, cigars are permitted in both carry-on and checked baggage.

There is no TSA requirement that your cigars go into checked luggage simply because they’re tobacco.

In fact, for a cigar you actually care about, I’d rather have it with me.

Baggage gets thrown around. Temperatures change. Bags get delayed. Things get crushed.

Your cigar doesn’t know it’s on vacation.

A small travel humidor or protective cigar case inside your carry-on gives you much more control over what happens to it.

Should You Put Cigars in Checked Luggage?

You can.

But can and should are two different questions.

TSA permits cigars in checked baggage, but premium cigars are relatively fragile. A suitcase packed beneath other luggage isn’t exactly a climate-controlled humidor.

If you’re traveling with cigars you would be disappointed to lose, damage or dry out, keeping them in your carry-on is usually the more sensible choice.

Use a rigid travel humidor or protective case, and consider an appropriate humidity pack for longer trips.

Getting the cigar through the airport is TSA’s problem.

Getting it there in smokeable condition is ours.

Can You Bring a Cigar Cutter on a Plane?

Usually, yes—but this one deserves some caution.

TSA currently says cigar cutters are generally permitted in carry-on baggage. However, TSA also recommends packing them in checked baggage, and the final decision at the security checkpoint rests with the TSA officer.

That’s an important distinction.

Your familiar guillotine cutter may normally make it through security without a problem, but “generally permitted” isn’t the same thing as a guarantee.

If you own an expensive cutter that you absolutely don’t want to surrender at a checkpoint, the conservative choice is to pack it safely in your checked luggage or leave it home and use another cutter at your destination.

Can You Bring a Cigar Lighter on a Plane?

This is where cigar travelers can get themselves into trouble.

Not all lighters are treated the same.

Under current Federal Aviation Administration PackSafe guidance, one ordinary fueled lighter using absorbed liquid or butane—such as certain disposable or Zippo-type lighters—is generally permitted in your carry-on or on your person, subject to the applicable rules.

But your favorite cigar torch is another story.

Can You Bring a Torch Lighter on a Plane?

No—not in your pocket or ordinary luggage.

The FAA identifies torch lighters—also called blue-flame or jet-flame lighters—as prohibited in the aircraft cabin and in ordinary checked baggage.

That’s particularly important for cigar smokers because torch lighters are exactly what many of us routinely carry.

Don’t assume that because an ordinary lighter is allowed, your triple-flame cigar torch is allowed too.

It isn’t.

There are specialized DOT-approved lighter containers and exceptions that can apply in checked baggage, but for the average traveler the simplest rule is this:

Leave the torch lighter at home.

Buy or borrow an appropriate lighter when you arrive.

What About Butane and Lighter Refills?

Leave those home too.

The FAA prohibits containers of lighter gas or lighter fluid refills in passenger carry-on and checked baggage.

So don’t throw a can of butane into your suitcase thinking you’ll refill the lighter when you land.

Your destination almost certainly has an easier solution.

Domestic Travel and International Travel Are Not the Same Thing

This is where another important distinction comes into play.

TSA rules and U.S. Customs rules are not the same thing.

TSA is concerned with aviation security and what can pass through a U.S. airport checkpoint.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection becomes relevant when you’re returning to the United States with products acquired abroad.

For returning U.S. resident travelers who qualify for the applicable personal exemption, CBP currently provides for up to 100 cigars within the tobacco portion of that exemption. Different circumstances can affect exemptions, duties and admissibility, so international travelers should check current CBP rules before returning home.

And then there’s Cuba.

Can You Bring Cuban Cigars Back to the United States?

Under current U.S. rules, no.

This is one of the cigar world’s most persistent travel misconceptions.

Current U.S. Customs and Border Protection guidance on Cuban goods says travelers may not bring Cuban-origin alcohol or tobacco products into the United States as accompanied baggage for personal use.

And buying the cigar somewhere other than Cuba doesn’t create a loophole.

You might legally purchase and smoke a Cuban cigar while you’re in another country, subject to the laws where you are traveling, but that does not mean you can put the remaining cigars in your suitcase and bring them home to the United States.

Before an international cigar trip, always check the current rules rather than relying on what someone remembers from five or ten years ago.

These regulations have changed before.

How Should You Pack Cigars for Air Travel?

Airport security is only part of the equation.

Premium cigars don’t particularly enjoy being crushed, overheated, frozen or left for days without appropriate humidity.

For a short trip, a protective cigar case may be enough. For a longer trip—or when you’re carrying several cigars—a rigid travel humidor with a reliable seal is a much better solution.

A few practical rules:

• Protect the cigars from being crushed.
• Keep premium cigars in your carry-on when practical.
• Use an appropriate humidity pack for longer travel.
• Don’t overpack a travel humidor.
• Keep the case accessible in case airport security wants to inspect it.
• Check the rules again before international travel.

And if you’ve purchased cigars during an international trip, keep receipts and be prepared to declare what you’re bringing back.

The Cigar Smoker’s Airport Checklist

So here’s the simple version before you zip the suitcase:

Cigars? Yes—carry-on or checked baggage.

Cigar cutter? Generally permitted in carry-on, but TSA recommends checked baggage and the checkpoint officer has final discretion.

Ordinary lighter? Certain types are permitted under FAA rules.

Torch/jet-flame cigar lighter? Leave it home unless you’re specifically complying with an authorized checked-baggage exception.

Can of butane? No.

Cuban cigars coming back into the United States? No under current U.S. rules.

Your favorite cigars? Protect them like you actually want to smoke them when you arrive.

And Yes, I Learned Part of This the Hard Way

When I first wrote this article back in 2019, holiday travel season had arrived and I had one very important question:

CAN WE STUFF OUR CARRY-ONS WITH CIGARS, DAMMIT?

The answer was yes.

But I also offered another piece of advice from personal experience: don’t casually throw your favorite powerful torch lighter into the carry-on and expect the TSA officer to share your enthusiasm for it.

As Paulie might have put it in Goodfellas:

Just don’t do it.

Years later, that’s still pretty good advice.

The rules surrounding the cigar itself are simple. It’s all the stuff we cigar smokers carry with the cigar that requires a little planning.

Do that before you leave home, and your biggest problem at the destination can be deciding where you’re going to sit down and enjoy it.

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Continue Exploring the Cigar Lifestyle

Travel has always been part of cigar culture. Explore the destinations, people, food, spirits and traditions surrounding the cigar in ThinkCigar’s Smoke, Sip & Savor.

For more stories about the culture and history surrounding cigars, visit the ThinkCigar Cigar Lifestyle Hub.

And when the destination is closer to home, build your own experience with the Free ThinkCigar Weekend Ritual Guide.

Travel and security regulations can change. Always verify current TSA, FAA, airline and U.S. Customs requirements before traveling.

ThinkCigar Media
It’s a Lifestyle.
The world behind the cigar.

 

 

A remnant of a cigar lifestyle connecting two worlds

 

The wonderful world of cigars and the cigar lifestyle in general constantly provides enjoyment, camaraderie, and a connection to a rich history…each and every stone I turn rewards me with a limitless wealth of information.  Cigar truth.

News to me was the fact that some aficionados collect cigar labels from the period of “When Key West was Cuban” 1860s, 70s and 80s, waves of Cuban immigrants crossed the Florida Straights searching for political freedom and economic possibilities.  It worked, they would begin to start their own businesses and win political office, stitching Cuban culture into the fabric of this South Florida city, Key West.

This is some pretty cool stuff and just another example of how our beloved cigar lifestyle, hits us over-the-head with more great shizzle (thank you Snoop dogg).  Recently (2017) there was a historic find…check this out:

News flash…it’s not Cuba !

 

We smoke, we buy sell and trade our favorite sticks, we’re in love with everything cigar (at least I am), and here in the US, always chasing the “White Wale”, El Capitan…the Cuban cigar.  The romantic thoughts and images, friends and family members bringing a few back from their cruises and trips abroad; chests puffed-up and poked-out as they present them to you, the holy grail of cigars, spoils of their great crusade.

The history of our infatuation with these rolled delights is rooted much closer to our American soil than one might think…most know very well of the pre-embargo availability of Cuban cigars; but how many of us are truly aware that the cigar capitol of the world is (or was) in the United States of America.  Confused ?  I bet you are, you see boys and girls from Key West, to Tampa FL by way of Cuba is how this thing unfolds.  In the 1830s, commercial cigar rolling began in Florida, by Cuban immigrants.

New York cigar manufacturer Samuel Seidenberg (a German immigrant himself), established the first “clear Cuban” cigar factory in Key West in 1867.  Using Cuban laborers to roll Cuban tobacco Mr. Seidenberg, pioneered the idea of making authentic Cuban cigars in America, while avoiding the high tariff levied against products from Havana, as well as the trade restrictions imposed by Spain.

There was a strong natural connection between cigar workers in Key West and Havana, and by the early 1890s, 50,000-100,000 people traveled back and forth annually.

(Havana cigar shop Key West FL, )

 

Cuban cigar makers create a new Florida city

 

Vicente Martinez Ybor, one of the most significant figures in the history of cigar making in Florida, established a cigar factory in Key West in 1869. Ybor had run a very successful cigar manufacturing business in Cuba, but he fled the country after colonial authorities discovered his connections with revolutionaries.

In 1885, he moved his cigar making operation from Key West to Tampa. Steamships could bring tobacco leaves from Cuba for the cigar factories, and Henry Plant’s new railroad connected the small town of Tampa to the rest of the country. The area around the cigar factories grew and became known as Ybor City.

Immigrants came not just from Cuba, but from Italy, Spain, and throughout Eastern Europe and Latin America in search of work. At its height in the 1880s, there were more than 100 factories in Key West. By 1910, there were 150 factories in the Tampa area employing more than 10,000 workers. Of the 50,000 residents of Tampa, 14,000 were Cuban, 7,500 were Spanish, and 1,500 were Italian.  (informational facts from Florida Memory)

There is so much more rich and incredible history that belongs to this phenomena:

• Mutual Aid Societies
• Social Clubs
• Paulina Pedroso
• Jose Marti
• The Spanish-American war and Cuban independence

 

The complete history is available for anyone so inclined to pursue, so I won’t try to capture it here in it’s entirety; but I gotta tell you, as a cigar guy I find this interesting as hell.  By 1900 Ybor city was considered the cigar capitol of the world…not Cuba, but a carved out spot in hot-ass Tampa Florida.  It was thriving.

For more than 50 years Ybor city shined with approximately 150 cigar factories employing and supporting many workers and families, a small buzzing community built for and around the production of fine cigars had come together in a very meaningful way.  Our country had fallen in love with the craftsmanship of fine hand rolled cigars, an art form passed down through families…fathers to sons, mothers to daughters, enjoyed by many a cigar fan during that time.

Innovation !

We the people often times look to push through our accepted norms…this time in a way that would have an unforeseen affect on premium cigars.  In 1917, a cigar rolling machine was invented that could roll 4,000 sticks per day, and by 1928 more than 50 % of cigars were made by machines.  Ybor city began to slowly decline.

Our appetite for advanced machinery had placed it’s filthy hands around the neck of our home-grown Cuban cigar bonanza while we slept.  Mother F***er !  But some things refuse to die; while Ybor city, hasn’t reached it’s previously glory, it has surely refused to disappear.

I have to say that upon learning the real history of the Cuban cigar connection to Ybor city, really fascinated me…but in all of my cigar conversations with friends and foe, I never hear of this rich history.  While I’m not of Cuban decent (I was born in Bradenton FL), I’m extremely proud of these facts that link the people, the struggle, the tobacco, the art and passion that made this all possible.

There are many other stories that I will write about in the future that were born in Ybor city; but for now I hope this has educated and entertained the reader.  Glad to spend this time you, it’s Friday and a good cigar awaits your arrival; don’t disappoint and enjoy your smoke.

ThinkCigar…It’s a lifestyle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Originally published April 19, 2019 · Updated September 2026

What is a stogie?

Today, stogie is an informal American word for a cigar. Historically, however, the word referred more specifically to a long, relatively inexpensive cigar—the kind associated with working men and, most famously, the drivers of Pennsylvania’s great Conestoga wagons.

Merriam-Webster defines stogie as both an inexpensive cigar and, more broadly, simply a cigar.

But that’s only the definition.

The story behind the word is much better.

Before There Were Stogies, There Were Conestoga Wagons

Long before somebody casually said, “Let’s go smoke a stogie,” Conestoga wagons were moving freight across early America.

These weren’t the little covered wagons Hollywood taught generations of Americans to associate with westward migration. Conestoga wagons were massive freight haulers developed in Pennsylvania and built to carry heavy loads over difficult roads.

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History describes the Conestoga wagoner as a tough and colorful figure who spent weeks on the road hauling freight between American towns and cities.

And those wagoners had a habit.

They smoked cigars.

Specifically, the Smithsonian describes them smoking long, thin cigars nicknamed “stogies.”

That’s where cigar history and American road history collide.

Why Were Cigars Called Stogies?

The accepted etymology connects stogie to Conestoga, the Pennsylvania place name that also became associated with the famous wagon.

The Online Etymology Dictionary traces stogie/stogy as a cigar term to the 19th century and connects the name with the inexpensive cigars associated with Conestoga wagon drivers.

Even the shoes are part of the story.

Merriam-Webster still lists another meaning of stogie: a stout, coarse shoe or brogan.

Think about that for a moment.

A wagon.
A work shoe.
A cigar.

All connected to one Pennsylvania name.

The men hauling freight across rough American roads helped leave behind a word cigar smokers still use generations later.

Stogie or Stogy: Which Spelling Is Correct?

Both are correct.

Stogie is the spelling most cigar smokers will recognize today, while stogy survives as an accepted variant.

Merriam-Webster lists stogy as a variant of stogie.

So if you’ve wondered whether it’s stogie or stogy, neither one is a mistake.

But around a modern cigar lounge, stogie is the spelling you’re much more likely to see.

Is a Stogie Different From a Cigar?

Historically, yes—at least somewhat.

The older meaning generally describes a stogie as long, thin, inexpensive and sometimes roughly made. Over time, however, the word broadened and became an informal term for cigars in general.

That distinction matters.

A stogie was not originally another formal cigar shape like a robusto, toro or Churchill. It was a colloquial name associated with a particular kind of inexpensive cigar and the people who smoked them.

Language, however, has a way of escaping its original boundaries.

Today somebody can pull out a perfectly good premium cigar and say:

“I’m going outside for a stogie.”

Nobody expects a Conestoga wagon to arrive.

The word has become part of American cigar slang.

Does “Stogie” Mean a Cheap Cigar?

Technically, the historical meaning carries that implication.

In ordinary conversation today? Not necessarily.

That’s one reason definitions of the word can seem contradictory. Some dictionaries preserve the traditional meaning of an inexpensive cigar, while modern usage frequently treats stogie as simply another word for cigar.

Cigar Aficionado’s glossary similarly explains the word’s association with inexpensive or roughly made cigars while recognizing its broader use as cigar slang.

So calling your favorite premium cigar a stogie isn’t necessarily insulting it.

You’re using a piece of cigar language whose meaning has broadened over time.

From Wagon Drivers to Pop Culture

That may help explain why stogie has survived while countless other pieces of 19th-century slang disappeared.

There’s something wonderfully unpretentious about the word.

Think about the cigar-smoking characters and personalities burned into popular culture: Winston Churchill, George Burns, Groucho Marx, and countless movie gangsters, businessmen, politicians, soldiers, fathers and uncles.

But the stogie belongs just as comfortably to the construction worker sitting on the back of a truck after work.

That’s part of the beauty of cigar culture.

The cigar has occupied presidential offices and factory loading docks. It has appeared at weddings, poker tables, military celebrations, neighborhood barbecues and quiet backyard evenings.

The word stogie somehow fits all of them.

The Conversation That Sent Me Looking for the Answer

My own curiosity about the word goes back to a trip to Providence, Rhode Island.

I was sitting in a smoke shop talking cigars with my longtime friend and serious cigar aficionado Karl Pease. As he often does, Karl started dropping cigar knowledge faster than I could reasonably remember it.

Eventually the conversation turned to the word stogie.

Where did it come from?

Why do we call cigars that?

And why do some people spell it stogy?

That conversation sent me looking for the history.

When I originally wrote this article in 2019, I knew there was a Conestoga connection. Years later, revisiting the story with better historical sources makes the connection even more interesting.

Because the answer isn’t really about a dictionary definition.

It’s about people.

A Cigar Word That Traveled Across America

Picture the scene.

A Conestoga wagon moving along an early American road. Horses pulling tons of freight. A wagoner traveling beside them or perched on the wagon.

And somewhere in that picture is a long cigar.

The railroads eventually pushed the great freight wagons into history as America’s transportation system changed.

The wagon disappeared from everyday American life.

The word didn’t.

More than a century later, cigar smokers who have never seen a working Conestoga wagon still know exactly what someone means when he says:

“I’ve got a stogie.”

That’s cigar culture.

Words, rituals and stories survive long after the world that created them has changed.

And sometimes something as simple as a cigar nickname can lead you backward through American history.

That’s why at ThinkCigar, the cigar itself is often only the beginning of the story.

It’s a Lifestyle.

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Continue Exploring the Cigar Lifestyle

Cigars have always been about more than tobacco. Explore the culture, people, travel, food, history and rituals surrounding them in the ThinkCigar Cigar Lifestyle Hub.

Or slow things down and build your own experience with the Free ThinkCigar Weekend Ritual Guide.

For travel, food, spirits and the culture surrounding the cigar, visit Smoke, Sip & Savor.

ThinkCigar Media
It’s a Lifestyle.
The world behind the cigar.

Habanos cigar lounge Atlanta, GA (Castleberry Hill)

In one of Atlanta’s hot and creative areas you’ll find one of it’s anchors…Habanos cigar lounge, located in the Castleberry Hill neighborhood.

Google describes the area “Castleberry Hill is an industrial area turned trendy, with residential lofts and indie art galleries in old warehouses. The neighborhood is also a popular filming location, and walking tours take in sites like The Gulch, a derelict space often used in major TV shows and movies. The casual, eclectic dining scene encompasses everything from Southern soul food and hearty Mexican to creative sushi”

Habanos cigar lounge is classic and industrial just like the neighborhood that it reps; exposed brick and ceilings of extreme height, hardwood planks under your feet and a beautiful bar that’s long and encompassing, texture, check, atmosphere, check, sensations and libations, double check…you want it they got it !

Dona Mathews, and her husband Michael Paul, along with business partner Karl Booker are the owners of Habanos cigar lounge.  They have been open since November 2016 and have worked their way into most cigar conversations here in the ATL.  I first visited this spot about a year and a half ago for the first time and liked it right away, Micheal made my wife and I feel right at home, and ditto for the friends I would bring on following visits.

Most recently, I had the opportunity to spend some time at the shop with Dona…not only is she part owner, budding tobacconist and equal manager; but she’s also the resident marketer.  The social media presence the lounge enjoys is a direct result of her hard work, she gets it done in a male dominated industry.  Also the heavily influenced Bombay decor is something she is really proud of.

The cigar smoking here is given the respect it deserves, the staff is trained to clip and light your cigar, and the leather couches call for you to sit and enjoy.  There’s room for a decent amount of people, and when busy, you can still communicate with friends without yelling.  The humidor while not super expansive, still offers-up some pretty nice sticks…on my most recent visit i tried one of their house cigars, it was a medium-bodied Nicaraguan creation that could hold it’s own with most $10.00 sticks, well done !  As a cigar smoker I’m usually most interested in the cigar variety and smoking environment available; but this place enjoys a well deserved reputation for it’s drinks, libations, cocktails, lot’s of people walk in and place their drink order first, and then their favorite stick (i’m the exact opposite…lol).  All things considered, this place is really what’s missing from most up-and-coming trendy areas…it’s not overdone, it’s not pretentious, it’s not lacking in the many ways one might think when considering a spot like this, it checks the boxes and crosses the T’s.

So the next time you venture up or down from the burbs’ check out Habanos cigar lounge…look up Michael and Dona, grab a stick and have one of their hot drink concoctions ; and maybe bring Michael a “Rocky Patel Vintage 1999” , I hear it’s one of his favorites.

Happy smoking