Despite smoking bans taking effect locally, John
Hay Cigars still provides homegrown smoke for people across the world.
The company, owned by David and Lauren Patrick of
West Caln, traces its roots back to 1882 when W.W. Stewart started the
company in Newmanstown, Lebanon County.
The cigars are named after statesman John Hay,
assistant private secretary to Abraham Lincoln and ambassador to Great
Britain from 1898 to 1905.
Hay, after receiving and enjoying cigars from
Stewart, gave permission for a line to be named after him.
The cigars were manufactured in Reading into the
1930s (1950s), but succumbed to “more fashionable cigarettes,” according to the
company’s Web site.
In the early 1990s, Stewart’s great-grandson
Craig Stewart restarted the company. Then, in 2004, he retired and sold
it to the Patricks. Lauren is Craig Stewart’s sister-in-law.
The Patricks blew on the ember and business is
smoking. “We fly around the country to cigar get togethers ... we try to
get the cigars to the people,” Lauren said.
The company boasts an international audience,
too. “We have clients in France, the U.K. and Canada,” Lauren said. “We
even ship them to New Zealand. We have a client there named Sir John Hay
... but he’s no relation.”
Locally, John Hay Cigars holds cigar parties at
the Octoraro Hotel & Tavern in Oxford, and will soon be hosting them at
Harry’s in Sadsbury, during ARCA (Automobile Racing Club of America)
stock car races.
This year, John Hay Cigars is sponsoring Bobby
Gerhart’s number 5 car, which won a race at Daytona on Feb. 11 for a
record-setting fifth year in a row (3rd year in a row, 5th win
overall).
In addition to the race car, John Hay Cigars
sponsors the Reading Royal’s ice hockey team. Last season, the Patricks
were approached by the hockey team to sponsor a guy’s night out event.
And this season decided to become full sponsors. “It’s a lot of work,”
Lauren said, “but it’s also a lot of fun.”
But before the cigars are lit, the tobacco has to
be grown.
John Hay Cigars offers two product lines: the
Pennsylvania Series and the Ambassador Series.
The Pennsylvania series utilizes tobacco grown in
Lancaster and York counties and is available in a variety of flavors (as
well as natural and maduro).
The cigars are rolled one-at-a-time by hand-fed machines in McSherrystown, Adams County. The McSherrystown factory produces more
than 1,000 cigars during a two- to three-week period. Then they have to
age. “My basement has become a humidor,” David said.
The Ambassador series is produced in the
Dominican Republic, using Cuban seeds. “Most people won’t touch cigars
unless they’re imported,” David said. So, that’s why they began the new
line. And since recently introducing that line, more than 6,000 have
been imported and sold.
Throughout the year and the country, the Patricks
will set up booths to sell their cigars. One of the events he enjoys the
most is Sippin’ By The River. Sippin’ By The River is held on Festival
Pier in Philadelphia, and features fine wines and beers, gourmet food
and live entertainment and cigars. The event benefits the Crohn’s and
Colitis Foundation of America. “Doing the shows is what it’s all about,”
said David.
But one of David’s favorite anecdotes is of when
an Amish man walked up to their booth and started looking over their
cigars. After milling about, he asked where the tobacco originated.
Lancaster County, David said. The Amish man asked how much they were.
When David said they were $12 for a five pack, the Amish man said that
was too expensive and he could just roll his own. So, David gave him one
on the house.
Business has tripled for the Patricks each year
from 2004 to the present. Lauren cut her hours working for Lincoln
Financial back to part time and David, who designs hospital pharmacies
for Lionville Systems, is hoping to do the same. “If this year goes as
planned,” he said, “the cigar company will become our full-time jobs.”
Mark Patton, an Oxford resident likes smoking
John Hay Cigars while playing poker at the Octoraro Hotel & Tavern. “I
started smoking on my 40th birthday,” he said. He said he likes the idea
that the cigars are locally grown and the company locally owned.
“Vanilla is my favorite flavor,” Patton said, “I totally enjoy it.”
To contact staff writer Justin McAneny, send an
e-mail to justinm@dailylocal.com.
