Jamaican Cigars - An Industry Reborn

Back in the 1960’s, after the U.S. embargo of Cuban goods, there was a time that Jamaica was rising to preeminence in the cigar industry. Several factors hampered Jamaica’s rise – the increasing cost of labor began to squeeze margins and drive the once great manufacturers out of business, and a series of hurricanes helped to decimate the industry. The Caribbean cigar industry began its move from Jamaica to the Dominican Republic and the Jamaican cigars were all but forgotten by all but the most discriminating connoisseur. Even cigars that carried the “Jamaican” name were no longer manufactured in this once great cigar powerhouse.

For those familiar with the transition from Cuban to Jamaican cigars, the Cuban ex-pat Jimmy Chang holds an almost cult-like status. Jimmy Chang, the man who was the blender for the Cuban Montecristo cigar prior to the revolution in Cuba, came to Jamaica and ran the vaunted Combined Tobacco Company of Jamaica bringing his years of experience as one of Cuba’s top master blenders.

By the 1990’s, the Combined Tobacco Company was a shell of its former glory. The entire Jamaican tobacco industry was in a state of near collapse. It was at this point that Barrington Adams, a native of Jamaica and cigar aficionado, who had found success in New York as a real estate entrepreneur came upon the scene.

Mr. Adams returned to Jamaica to find that Jimmy Chang had been disabled by a severe stroke and that the employees of Combined Tobacco had not been paid for over six months. Mr. Adams then took over the reigns of the company, changing the name to Barrington House Premium Jamaican Cigars, with the determination to restore the Jamaican cigar industry to its former glory and to give back to the land which always retained a special place in his heart.

Mr. Adams reinvests 100% of the income that derived from Jamaican cigar sales back into the company – for him, this remains a labor of love. The company was able to retain the services of George Campbell, a master blender who was an apprentice of Jimmy Chang.

Today, Barrington House is the only producer of Jamaican premium cigars. While other companies may label their cigars “Jamaican” or “Jamaica”, only Barrington House manufactures premium cigars in Jamaica using prime Jamaican tobacco.

Mr. Adams told us that “Tobacco has been grown in Jamaica for hundreds of years. The Arawak Indians were growing it long before the European settlers arrived.” By utilizing the tobacco grown and perfected through centuries of experience, Barrington House can concentrate their efforts on quality control and high production values.

Barrington House offers several lines of premium cigars, from those that use Jamaican leaf as filler to the popular Jamaican puros. The fine art and tradition employed by Barrington House uses such fine blends as those used in the original blend of the Jimmy Chang’s Jamaican Macanudo (please note that Barrington House cigars is not associated with Macanudo which is now a trademark that is owned by General Cigar)

Barrington House has brought back the finest traditions of the Jamaican cigar industry, long know for the fine and mild tobaccos that provide a quality smoking experience. Whether you prefer Jamaican filler or a Jamaican puro, Barrinton House is sure to please.

Barrington House has also added the Harvill, a fine flavored cigars and international best-seller which is manufactured in a variety of flavors including: Natural, Rum, Vanilla, and Passion Rum.

The full line of Barrington House cigars can be seen on their corporate sites: JamaicanCigars.com and BarringtonHouseCigars.com as well as on the Official Online Distributor of Barrington House cigars: CigarJamaica.com.

Stop by and enjoy a Barrington House Premium Jamaica Cigar today!