JC Newman Cigar Brands

Steeped in family history - and while you know the names like Cuesta Rey, Brick House and Quorum - or you're buying Diamond Crown cigars, all of these smokes have a history that dates back to a one-man cigar factory: Julius Caeser Newman, who rolled his first cigars in his family's barn in 1895.

J.C. Newman Cigars History

Newman, a new immigrant to America from Hungary, became a rolling apprentice in his teens. But the job market was not a friendly one - and Julius decided that if he was going to make it, he'd have to start his own company and do it on his own. With $50 worth of tobacco, he was able to fulfill a 500 cigar order placed by a local grocer; those "Akron, Bedford and Cleveland," or ABC cigars, would pave the way for Newman to grow his venture into two Ohio factories with over 700 employees.

But JC Newman knew his company's future success was to the south...specifically, Tampa. Because of Tampa's proximity to Cuba (it was easier to source Cuban tobacco for Newman cigars), as well as the town's reputation as America's premium cigar mecca, J.C. Newman Cigars left Ohio for the "Fine Cigar Capital of the World" in 1954. The success was short-lived: when the Cuban Embargo was enacted in 1961, it became impossible for Newman to source Cuban cigar tobacco. So the Newman family improvised, and became the first premium cigar maker to use Cameroon tobacco in America.

As demand grew for their cigars, and beyond the premiums, they were manufacturing in Tampa, the Newmans knew that they'd have to rely on a partner to help them produce premium hand made Dominican cigars - and found one in the Fuente family. Cuesta Rey was the Newman's first premium cigar, debuting before the Second World War. It was made by Fuente on a handshake, which also formed the Newman-Fuente company - which allowed the Fuentes access to a sales force and distribution in JC Newman Cigars.

As the smoke signals of newer cigar smokers indicated, more and more of them were moving towards the taste, body and strength of Nicaraguan tobacco. The company seized on the production opportunities and crops in Nicaragua - but as the Fuentes already had enough on their plate, weren't available to help their partners out. So the Newman family took it upon themselves to open their own factory in Nicaragua, where today they produce Brick House. Brick House cigars are not at all mild - but a great everyday smoke, and consistently voted Best Value premium cigar. The Brick House Maduro version offers even more flavors and more kick.

El Baton cigars are Newman's only Nicaraguan puro, a full-bodied smoke that shows off the signature strength of Nicaraguan tobacco at it's finest. But it's their Perla del Mar cigars that show off this potent tobacco's milder side...billed as mild-medium, the Perla del Mar offers some out of character flavors that might surprise the more full-bodied smokers among us, who may have left Connecticut wrapper cigars behind.

With JC Newman cigars, consistency is key - they only sell a handful of brands and prefer to keep it that way, focusing on a better smoke. Theirs is a portfolio worth exploring: find the JC Newman cigars that fit you best, and buy JC Newman cigars online for less at Famous Smoke Shop!