Cigar presentation and why it matters

How many cigars have you bought because the band caught your attention? Presentation is the first impression of anything, and cigars are no different. Presentation is what grabs your interest, and puts the cigar in your hand. Bands and boxes serve their own purpose in the industry, and take time and work to put together properly. They give the first impression, a peak into the personality of the cigar and the company, and the initial interest of the cigar smoker.

First impressions can determine your whole direction of your choices. If you make the wrong first impression at an interview, you may not get the job. If you get a bad first impression at a restaurant, you're less likely to go back. If a cigar gives you a great first impression, you're more likely to smoke it again and enjoy it even more. While to presentation is not the most important part of the cigar, it is important. People associate quality with appearance. Meaning, if a cigars presentation doesn't look premium, you may be less likely to try it. The same goes for if the presentation is not eye catching enough. If the presentation is too bland, it may not grab your attention enough to try it.

Look at the band like a label. Labels influence our decisions every day. If you go to a music store and find an album you haven't listen to, the vinyl's presentation is what will determine if you buy it or not. If a bourbon's label catches your eye, you're more likely to try it. This ideas stays true for craft beer, watches, pretty much anything that can be purchased.

Brands like Arturo Fuente and Padron have used the same style of bands for decades because they work, and they act as a visual representation of the pedigree behind the brands. The same can be said for everyday brands. People buy Bounty paper towels and Kleenex tissues because the names are trusted in their field. People will steer themselves towards brands they know, because the presentation acts as a symbol of their quality.

Bands and boxes have more uses than just presentation. The bands act as a way to separate one brands cigars from another. In some cases, they can also be used to show how a cigar, particularly Cuban cigars, are legitimate or not. The boxes, while a great representation of a cigar's style and personality, also protects the cigars. During shipping and loading, the boxes are a case for the cigars. They keep them from getting damaged and, if their cedar lined, can help regulate the humidity of the cigars while they're being shipped.

Cigar boxes also present their own impressions on the cigar smoker. While they may not be as important for presentation as bands are when the cigar are on the shelf, the boxes serve their own purpose. When opening a box, your other senses get engaged. You open the box, and smell the cedar and the initial scent of the tobacco. You see the symmetry of the cigars evenly placed inside, and get the first cigar out. After all that you finally get to enjoy the flavors and aromas of the cigar.

A cigar's presentation doesn't just end with the bands and the boxes. Cigar coffins give a presentation of premium tobacco and quality craftsmanship. They also elude to a cigar that's more special than others. For example, the Dunbarton Unicorns are packages in their own coffins, along with some specialty Padrons, and the Cohiba Spectre. The Spectre is a unique example, because the box and coffins tie perfectly into the style and motif that the name eludes to. The box itself is ultra-premium, using unique designs, and the coffins fit perfectly in this the style without being gaudy. Other examples of unique and eye catching presentations are those of Selected Tobacco. Nelson Alfonso puts so much work and attention to detail, the boxes themselves are just as valuable as the cigars. Some of his boxes include premium leather and 14 karat gold, giving the ultra-premium look that matches the quality of the cigars inside.

Cigar bands fall into four categories. Traditional, Minimalist, Traditional Rebirth, and Edgy. Traditional bands are what ornate but subdued. They usually have some kind of crest or focal point in the center like a name or a letter. The text on these bands usually consist of more normal fonts and even presentations. There may be some ornate accents, and it doesn't come off as too flashy. Brands that use a traditional band style are Arturo Fuente, La Gloria Cubana, Hoyo de Monterrey, and Montecristo.

Minimalist bands are simple. There's no ornate accents or wild designs. Typically, minimalist designs use just a word or a simple logo as the focal point of the presentation. Minimalist styles can use different fonts, but don't usually deviate from simple ideals. Brands that use a minimalist style are Padron, Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust, LFD, Liga Privada, and United Cigars.

Traditional Rebirth bands have similar accents as Traditional bands, but with a modern edge. Traditional Rebirth bands typically modernize some of the traditional accents, and add some additional, but not gaudy, flair. Traditional Rebirth styles use more modern fonts, which compliment the more traditional motif of the overall appearance. Brands that use Traditional Rebirth styles are Rocky Patel, AJ Fernandez, Perdomo, Crowned Heads, Espinosa, and Drew Estate. Brands like Espinosa and Drew Estate do have some edgy aspects to them, but they would fall under the Traditional Rebirth style. There is a traditional foundation to their bands, which are enhanced by some modern ideas.

The final style is Edgy. These are bands that are completely outside of the normal styles of Traditional, and too detailed to be Minimalist. Edgy cigar bands use more unique fonts, giving a more personal and one-of-a-kind presentation. These bands usually have some unique designs that are outside of what people would consider to be "traditional cigar art". Brands that use an Edgy style are Apostate, Black Label Trading, Dissident, Blackbird, and Family X Loyalty. Apostate's style has an esoteric tone, eluding to a more ritualistic style. Black Label Trading and Dissident use styles that are comparable to Metal and Punk, respectively. Black Label Trading uses a lot of black, skulls, and images usually seen on metal albums. Dissident uses a more punk motif, including blacks, reds, and whites, with different graphics being featured. Blackbird has a more unique band, where the dame of the cigar is parallel with the cigars body, and birds embossed in the background of the cigar.

While presentation is important and can be used to enhance the cigar experience, there are examples of presentation hindering the overall idea. Brands that pay more attention to how the band looks and how the overall line is presented, but don't follow up with a great blend or quality tobacco, usually lack in returning customers. There are other brands that hinder the battle the cigar industry has had against the FDA. In recent years, the FDA has been worried that the cigar industry has been trying sell to those who are underage. While the industry fights this, some brands have hindered the fight by using presentations like children's characters or cartoon mascots.

In some countries in Europe, cigars are not able to have uniquely defining bands on them. When they are shipped into these countries, the carefully articulated bands are replaced with a plain white band with plain text, giving the name of the company and the name of the cigar. This is detrimental to the industry oversees. If you walk into a humidor in Europe looking for a new cigar, it can be hard to find as all the cigars look the same. It also hinders the smokers ability to separate their cigars in their personal humidors.

All in all, presentation is an important aspect of the cigar industry. It provides an insight into the personality of the brand. The bands and boxes act as an initial selling point for the cigars, as many cigar smokers shop with their eyes first. The next time you go to your local brick and mortar, take a minute to actually look at the art on the bands, and appreciate the work that went into them.

For more information, listen to the latest episode of the Great Cigars Podcast: Cigar Presentation and Why It Matters.