The Ted's Cigars Story

- excerpted from Sophisticated Living Magazine

After taking a long, relaxed draw from the cigar that bears his name, Ted Jackson launches into an eloquent soliloquy on the nuances of a fine cigar. Just before the moment one might think he is making the experience out to be too self-important, he finishes by saying, "It's just a cigar." Such a simple statement is simultaneously close to and far from the truth, as the humble product cradled in his fingers belies the years spent leading up to this moment of leisure in the relentless pursuit of a cigar that meets his exacting standards.

Jackson's foray into cigar production began in 1996 when he was approached by Maker’s Mark to create a cigar for their "Roaring 20s" Derby party. In response, Jackson created a unique premium cigar actually flavored with Maker's Mark Bourbon. After a great deal of trial and error, Jackson found that the ideal way to add subtle bourbon flavor, without affecting the cigar's integrity, was through the tedious and time consuming secret process of aromatic seasoning. A similar amount of R&D went into the unique packaging, in which each cigar is hermetically encased in a glass tube and finished off with a signature Maker’s Mark wax drip. The cigars are made by a partner company in the Dominican Republic, with the flavoring and packaging done at Jackson's Louisville, KY-based headquarters. The blending of fine bourbon with a premium cigar in a unique package has not gone unnoticed, as millions of these cigars are now sold worldwide.

One of the ancillary benefits of the endeavor was that Jackson learned the intimate details of the challenges and opportunities inherent in the Dominican cigar industry. "Spending six to eight weeks there on an annual basis really allows me to see and experience another culture," said Jackson. While working in partnership with the Dominican-based cigar manufacturer and their master cigar blender Juan Sanchez, Jackson's development of the Maker's Mark blend led him down the separate path of creating a premium small batch blend for his personal use. He tried dozens of different combinations before settling on a unique blend of Brazilian, Nicaraguan and Dominican tobacco. Little did he realize then how popular this cigar, which he created for himself, would prove to be.

Today, the "ted's" cigar is available to the public and sold in hundreds of retail outlets across the United States and around the world. These premium cigars are available in two distinct blends and three sizes with either a Connecticut shade or a Maduro wrapper. While demand continues to grow, you will not see any flashy advertisements for "ted's", no suave man using a $10,000 lighter while a sultry woman lounges on a Chesterfield sofa in the background. The tagline, "simply fine cigars," pretty much sums up a "ted’s" cigar elemental appeal. "The social element of enjoying a good cigar is a great equalizer," said Jackson, who attributes his cigars' broad fan base to a down-to-earth approach – one that can be traced to a group of friends sitting around the fire taking a well deserved break after a hard day at work and play.