Topper Cigars

Topper Cigar Co. is the oldest continuously-operated family-owned cigar company in the United States, representing over 130 years of American tobacco history. Founded in 1894 by B.P. Topper in McSherrystown, Pennsylvania, the brand has survived wars, embargoes, industry consolidation, and changing consumer tastes while remaining in the hands of the Topper family through five generations.

For decades, Topper believed the company was founded in 1896 until current owner Chris Topper discovered a letter penned by his great-grandfather in 1921 featuring vintage Topper Cigar letterhead that read "Established 1894." Further research in historical documents confirmed the family moved to McSherrystown in 1893 to learn the art of cigar making. At the time, McSherrystown had 1,800 people and 20 cigar factories, making it a cigar mecca of its era.

Originally, Topper cigars were hand-rolled with Cuban long-fillers and Connecticut Broadleaf wrappers in the Pennsylvania factory. By the time the Cuban embargo hit in the early 1960s, the factory was down to about 20 rollers with an average age around 70. That lack of labor force, combined with the shortage of Cuban filler, led to the eventual closing of the Pennsylvania factory, and production switched to machine-made cigars in Connecticut.

In 2024, Topper celebrated its 130th anniversary by launching Topper 1894, a new regular production line hand-rolled at De Los Reyes Cigars in the Dominican Republic. The blend honors the brand's roots by flipping traditional components: instead of Cuban long-fillers with Connecticut Broadleaf wrappers, Topper 1894 uses U.S.-grown Habano-seed tobacco from Sugar Valley, Pennsylvania for the wrappers and Dominican-grown Broadleaf seed for the fillers. This modern twist showcases Pennsylvania-grown tobacco in a premium format.

The Topper 1894 delivers medium to medium-full body with notes of earth, leather, cedar, and a natural sweetness. Available in modern sizes with bigger ring gauges and traditional hand-rolled shapes, the line appeals to today's premium cigar smokers while honoring over a century of family tradition. Topper remains a testament to American cigar history and family persistence.