Celebrities and cigars: a mutual passion

Synonymous with luxury and sophistication, cigars have long been associated with some of the world's most illustrious figures. Between their fingers, it takes on multiple symbolic meanings and exerts a power of fascination over ordinary mortals. Whether an object of celebration for Michael Jordan, an instrument of emancipation for Georges Sand or a simple hedonistic pleasure in the mouth of Winston Churchill, the cigar evokes a certain prestige and leaves its mark on the imaginary world surrounding the concept of social success.

Georges Sand

A monument of French literature, Georges Sand (1804-1876) is also famous for her fight for women's emancipation. A true anti-conformist, she smoked cigars and wore pants at a time when these two attributes were considered the sole prerogative of men. But in addition to her desire to shake up prejudice, Georges Sand smoked primarily for pleasure. She wrote that "cigars numb sorrow and fill lonely hours with a million pleasant images".

Sigmund Freud

The leading theorist of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) was also a passionate cigar smoker. A lover of Soberanos and Trabuccos, he smoked up to 20 cigars a day, and considered this pleasure to be an indispensable stimulant to his thinking: "I consider that I owe to cigars a great increase in my capacity for work and a better mastery of myself". We also know that "floating attention", considered by Freud to be the essential listening mode of any good psychoanalyst, was closely linked to cigar smoking. In this way, he matched the length of his sessions to the time he spent sipping his vitolas.

Winston Churchill

If there's one historical figure whose name is inextricably linked with cigars, it's Sir Winston Churchill. A leading figure in the Second World War and twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Winston Churchill (1874-1965) is as famous for his political role as for his devouring passion for cigars. A smoker since the age of 20, he consumed around ten cigars a day, and was particularly fond of the Julieta No. 2 from Romeo Y Julietawhich now bears his name. His passion for habanos earned him the famous phrase "Cuba will always be on my lips".

J.F. Kennedy

President of the United States from 1960 to 1963, J.F. Kennedy (1917-1963) regularly displayed himself with a cigar in his mouth. According to Pierre Salinger, White House spokesman from 1961 to 1964, JFK contacted him on the eve of the signing of the decree imposing the embargo on Cuba, asking him to procure "a large number of Cuban cigars". The president wanted to stock up on 1,000 Petit Upmanns before the ban took effect. Insider trading for some, a real masterstroke for others, this anecdote testifies to the risks he was prepared to take to satisfy his passion for Cuban cigars.

Fidel Castro

Leader of the Marxist guerrilla movement that overthrew the Batista government in 1958, then President of the Cuban Council of State from 1976 to 2008, Fidel Castro (1926-2016) is one of the leading figures in the Cuban cigar industry. In 1962, he ordered the nationalization of cigar factories and placed them under the control of the Cubatabaco tobacco company. Transformed into a symbol of the struggle against imperialism, the cigar became under his government a national pride and an inseparable element of Cuban culture. Fidel Castro was also responsible for the creation of the brands Cohiba and Trinidad and the building of the famous El Laguito production plant.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Famous for his role in the Terminator saga and for his numerous "Mr. Universe" and "Mr. Olympia" medals, Arnold Schwarzenegger (1947-) is also one of Hollywood's greatest cigar ambassadors. Named "Cigar Smoker of the Year 2014" at the "Spectator Cigar Awards" ceremony, he has converted many celebrities to this art of living and is regularly seen with a cigar in his mouth. In an interview with Cigar Aficionado magazine in October 2021, he declared his particular appreciation for Partagás Serie D No. 4. and Fuente Fuente OpusX.

Michael Jordan

Considered the best basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan (1963-) is one of the few top sportsmen to have never hidden his passion for cigars. Often photographed with a habano in his mouth following a Chicago Bulls victory, he also enjoyed a cigar before each of his home games. In an interview with Cigar Aficionado magazine in 2005, he declared that he had started smoking a Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona before his games to lower his anxiety. What began as a way to relax later became a veritable ritual, which he continued right up to the end of his career. Today, Michael Jordan still describes himself as an "avid Cuban cigar smoker" and says he particularly enjoys Partagas Lusitanias.

Madonna

A pop music and style icon, Madonna (1958-) has built her career around a sultry, anti-conformist image. A feminist at heart, she plays with codes and shatters stereotypes surrounding the concept of masculinity. In 1994, she was seen smoking a Hermosos 4 Añejados fromHoyo de Monterrey during a particularly controversial segment on David Letterman's Late Show. For Richard Klein, professor of French at Cornell University, Madonna's posture was intended to send the message that, just like men, women too can take pleasure in public. In so doing, she portrayed a free, powerful and brazen woman, transforming the cigar into an instrument of contemporary feminism.

While cigars are considered by many to be an outward sign of wealth, they are first and foremost a pleasure that enhances the smoker's senses and well-being. Even among celebrities, cigars are appreciated first and foremost for their aromas and meditative qualities, before becoming a symbolic object used for utilitarian purposes. Nevertheless, in their hands, cigars take on a transcendent dimension, inviting us to daydream.

Photo credits :

Winston Churchill: Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

John F. Kennedy : Courtesy of CSU Archives / Everett Collection