Dortzbach Cigars began in January of 2021 during the heart of the Covid pandemic, when hanging out at a cigar lounge was nearly impossible and the need for human connection was critical. I was sitting around a firepit smoking cigars with my brother one evening reflecting on the fact that I’d never smoked a cigar that was rolled right in front of me, fresh off the board.

How cool would it be if you could walk into the neighborhood cigar shop and watch a torcedor in action, then light up a stick that he or she made right there? I thought, “how hard could it be anyway?”

It might be a common experience in Miami, but I had been smoking cigars for over 15 years and never saw one being made. I didn’t know much about the process and was determined to learn more, so I found a tobacco wholesaler, ordered two pounds of whole leaf tobacco, and a week later started rolling out my first stogies.

As it turns out, rolling cigars is pretty hard.

Actually, it’s really hard, and there is a reason why premium cigar makers train their torcedors for 3-10 years before letting them put a label on it. My first cigar looked like a wad of compost leaves pulled from the rake pile, but I was determined to make a least one smokable cigar so I persisted. After a week of practicing late into the night, I finally made one that was relatively smokable.

It was a terrible cigar but I made it, and my ego swelled with pride.

Wanting to learn more about the whole process, from seed to smoke, I spent months practicing until I finally had a cigar so good that I smoked it to a nub. Spring time came and I started growing tobacco in my community garden. Knowing nothing, I lost over half of my crop to worms and rot, but the rest I managed to salvage and started experimenting with it. The leaves are aging, and some day I’ll roll them up but the whole endeavor is about learning to appreciate the process.

It has given me a deep appreciation for this ancient tradition and the meticulous craft involved in making a cigar.

I’ve always admired people who make their living as torcedors, crafting a product that creates an identity, builds a community, and brings joy others, but now I appreciate them in a whole new way. A cigar isn’t a consumable product to be snubbed out: it is a labor of care touched by more than a hundred hands before being consumed.

Every cigar should be smoked with respect for those who made it.

Whether you are new to cigar culture or a well-aged aficionado, there’s always more to learn and love about cigars. So light up a stick, roll up your sleeves, lay out your board, and join me for a unique cigar experience!