admin
In 2021 we are seeing the beginnings of a Florida renaissance. Just as in the heady days of 1959 when the sunshine state was flush with Cuban emigres fleeing from Castro adding to the already large Hispanic population, it is today that these industrious people with vibrant cultures and deep histories are forging the path forward by honoring their past. That’s right, like a stronger echo of the 90s era cigar boom, hand-rolled cigars in the Cuban tradition with Nicaraguan and Dominican broadleaf are streaming steadily out of Tampa Bay area shops owned by the children and grandchildren of those intrepid people who fled to freedom.
Michael Cincunegui, the owner of Long Ash Cigars in Ybor City has one of those stories to tell. Cincunegui is a fourth-generation Floridian and traces his descent back to Spain and Cuba. When speaking to a local ABC affiliate about the cigar tradition he told reporters,
“I mean, it’s a huge sense of pride, no doubt for sure. And I think everybody should be proud of their heritage, no matter what that is, you know, it’s, it’s who you are,” Cincunegui said. “It’s where you come from, where your family comes from.”
“I remember people, my family, usually uncles and aunts or grandfathers and older people that used to smoke cigars, and I would smell it, and it reminds you of that generation to me at least,” Cincunegui said. “And, most people I speak to in here have that same feeling even if they don’t smoke themselves. They remember somebody in the family that was smoking to bring them back and bring those memories back to back to life for them.”
Built On A Centuries Long Past Of Rolling Cigars
Long Ash Cigars, located on 7th Avenue in Ybor City outside Tampa Bay, FL crafts their in-demand hand-rolled cigars on a salvaged cigar roller that is over a century old using skills passed down through generations of professional cigar rollers.Back in the roaring 20s, Ybor City shops were cranking out a million cigars a day, a hundred years later Long Ash with their small staff of rollers is able to knock out a few hundred a shift.
“There are different sizes, shapes, and sizes,” Cincunegui said. “Anything more intricate it’s harder to do; it takes someone that’s probably been doing a little bit longer. And you know, in Cuba, they always — my rollers speak to me about different levels of not like a certification but different skill set levels. And anything more intricate takes more time, takes more skill. It’s usually someone that’s been doing a little bit longer.”
In addition to operating as a cigar-roller, Long Ash functions as a Cigar Lounge as well, with run and authentic Cuban Cafe at the, either black and strong or cafe con leche. Dark wood finishes and sumptuous leather loungers ring the room leading to a walk-in glass-enclosed humidor.
“The fact that I’m doing cigars and it’s close to that kind of Cuban side of my family is a stroke of luck in a way because it wasn’t like planned or anything,” Cincunegui said. “But, I feel like it’s it was supposed to happen. This is where I’m supposed to end up.”
Long Ash Cigars is just the first of a few Tampa Bay Area Cigar makers we’re going to explore as Cigar City, Florida makes its resurgence, bringing hand-rolled tobacco products back into American prominence and teaching a new generation to slow down and enjoy the finer things.
5 Comments