Hiya!
I’m a simple man with a “pull-up-your-bootstraps” job. I’ve been doing that type of work for well over a decade. Nothing flashy, just honest work plus a deep appreciation for life’s little pleasures…
I first caught the scent of a good cigar at a Kentucky Derby party. The aroma was rich, warm, and inviting. But back then, I thought cigars were a luxury and something reserved for tuxedos, highball glasses, and exclusive lounges.
Definitely not for someone like me.
A few years passed, and curiosity got the better of me. I started reading about cigars, the craft, the industry, the culture, and the long, winding history of tobacco. I discovered how this humble leaf had influenced societies, laws, palates, even wars. From Churchill’s letters clouded in smoke, tobacco’s influence stretches far and wide. Its journey along the Silk Road shows that almost everyone has shared a moment or two with tobacco. This includes kings, queens, sultans, czars, poets, and pirates. It’s been a quiet companion during some of mankind’s greatest moments, whether folks like to admit that (or not).
Discovering tobacco’s histories and mysteries, well. That’s when the spark really caught.
I started visiting small cigar shops. I’d strike up conversations with everyone from suit-and-tie businessmen to gentleman farmers unwinding after a day in the fields. We laughed, smoked, shared stories. And I learned something important: you don’t have to make a fortune to enjoy a fine cigar. You need a little time. You also need a few bucks and a comfy chair. The cigar community welcomes you. It doesn’t matter where you’re from or the job(s) you do.
Now, as I approach my 30s, I’ve decided to share what I’ve learned—and what I’m still learning—through this blog. I focus on affordable tobacco (never cigarettes), the welcoming shops that sell it, and the stories behind the smoke. I celebrate the working-class aficionado. I seek out the nearly forgotten tales. I also search for the collectibles that serve as proof of tobacco’s curious role in our shared history.
So, pull up a chair beside my online duck pond. Let’s ignite our curiosity, swap stories, and compare notes. One cigar at a time.
My best,
Quack Pack Tabac 