Gen Z and the Cigar Market

[Ski18]

As a Gen Z cigar smoker, do cigar companies consider the impact of trying to get the next generation of cigar aficionados? Let me know your thoughts. 

[X-Man]

I heard this from a well established local merchant in Shanghai, saying the new release Habanos blends, all smoke well now, as Gen Z lacks the patience to wait and age them. Not sure if there’s any truth behind this though.

However, from my own experience, I noticed the Punch Short de Punch, LGC Turquinos, HDM E3, RG Lonsdale Corona all perform nicely when young. I don’t think that this is a coincidence.

[Çnote]

7 hours ago, Ski18 said:

As a Gen Z cigar smoker, do cigar companies consider the impact of trying to get the next generation of cigar aficionados? Let me know your thoughts. 

Absolutely, but not in a way that you're going to like.

- shinier bands

- fewer cigars per box @ $< per cigar

- bigger rg

- bigger releases, so diluting quality 

- more trigger words in brands (looking at you Fuente)

- shorter shelf life between rebrands/reblends/repackaging

[El Presidente]

8 hours ago, Ski18 said:

As a Gen Z cigar smoker, do cigar companies consider the impact of trying to get the next generation of cigar aficionados? Let me know your thoughts. 

Q. Gen Z....Do you have mucho money

A. Yes

A. Habanos Loves you. All cigar companies Love you. 

 

Q. Gen Z...Do you have mucho money. 

A . No 

A. Piss Off. 

 

You only need to look at the work that is going into the cigar influencer marketing channel in Europe/USA/Asia/Africa/ME. Gen Z is very much considered. 

[ThePolskiOgorki]

Not sure what you mean by "impact". Do you mean are they thinking about Gen Z in their marketing strategies? If so, and we're talking Habanos SA, they don't care about the current or future generations, at least not as a whole. To echo @El Presidente, they only care if you got the coin and are willing to pay it. As far as other companies (non Cubans) are concerned I think they are paying a lot of attention to Gen Z and whoever is coming after given the amount of competition.      

[zacca]

13 hours ago, X-Man said:

I heard this from a well established local merchant in Shanghai, saying the new release Habanos blends, all smoke well now, as Gen Z lacks the patience to wait and age them. Not sure if there’s any truth behind this though.

However, from my own experience, I noticed the Punch Short de Punch, LGC Turquinos, HDM E3, RG Lonsdale Corona all perform nicely when young. I don’t think that this is a coincidence.

As a market segment, Gen Z can’t afford Cubans in any type of meaningful volume. They are absolutely not catering to them and refining blends to smoke better younger because of their perceived ADD.

[El Presidente]

1 hour ago, zacca said:

As a market segment, Gen Z can’t afford Cubans in any type of meaningful volume. They are absolutely not catering to them and refining blends to smoke better younger because of their perceived ADD.

 The oldest Gen Z is 28 today. There are always plenty of these (men and women) at Habanos events in London/Middle East and Asia. It would be madness for Habanos (and others) not to seed this generation. To my mind, they certainly are. 

[zacca]

7 hours ago, El Presidente said:

 The oldest Gen Z is 28 today. There are always plenty of these (men and women) at Habanos events in London/Middle East and Asia. It would be madness for Habanos (and others) not to seed this generation. To my mind, they certainly are. 

I’m not saying they’re ignoring them entirely as a segment, I’m saying they are not making blanket assumptions about them being impatient and changing blends to make them smoke better younger as a result. Cuba can barely keep their lights on and roll consistent product. 

[TheCigarSoldier]

I think at a certain point if Habanos continues to increase prices at the rate they have then they will inevitably price out Gen Z and others after them. Simply because the barrier to entry into the hobby has gone up so drastically. I think the New World space is more primed to cater to Gen Z from an affordability standpoint. But even habanos has gotten into  New lines, bigger cigars, trendy stuff less less steeped in tradition than in the decades prior. But like you said Rob, if you have money, all cigar companies love you.

[BrightonCorgi]

Habanos striving to be a luxury and aspirational product is the marketing. This is multi-generational in its target.  

Younger "ambassadors" are the more direct focus.

[El Presidente]

5 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

Habanos striving to be a luxury and aspirational product is the marketing. This is multi-generational in its target.  

Younger "ambassadors" are the more direct focus.

I don't think may people realise how many scions there are. Dropping 30/40/50K on cigars or champagne in a session is not abnormal. 

[dopECM]

7 hours ago, El Presidente said:

I don't think many people realise how many scions there are. Dropping 30/40/50K on cigars or champagne in a session is not abnormal. 

It should be. 😅

[Hoosh]

Yeah, so there’s this hard truth with Gen Z…

https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2025/10/17/why-gen-z-is-dating-for-free-food/86715170007/

“Image” they want to portray vs reality. I’m certain Habanos isn’t staking their future on the folks that are trying to convince each other to buy dinner, let alone cigars. 😆

[SCgarman]

My daughter is Gen Z (19). She has no interest in smoking, drinking alcohol, Swiss watches or any watch for that matter, and is priced out of the US housing market, a new car/truck, and so on and so on. Do you think this generation is going to have an interest in cigars that are not legal (US) and average $600-800/box? While I can't realistically place my daughter into a hypothetical situation concerning cigars, my conclusion is no effing way. This generation is radically different that previous generations. Besides Cuba is teetering on the brink of collapse in every way, shape and form. Selling cigars at the moment is the least of their worries. 

[El Presidente]

The world is bigger than your suburb 

HSA is not interested in your daughter or most of us here. Think the  "authoritarian Capitol elite" from the Hunger games. Mind you it didn't end well for them 

More than enough Gen Z with family/tech wealth to power HSA/Hermes/LVHM etc into the future. 

[CaptainQuintero]

There's more cigarette smokers amongst Gen Z that I see, than pretty much any other generation. I reckon there'll be more than enough who filter across to cigars 

[M777]

Most Gen Z’s around these parts don’t partake in drinking alcohol, dining out, and tobacco in general. Can’t say I’ve seen many cigar smokers under 30 in many years.

Here’s a list of what many (not all) do indulge in from conversations with friends, acquaintances, and my personal observations: 

• Fast food delivered to their home 
• Staying in and watching Netflix 
• Anything Coffee related 
• Anything THC related 
• Vaping 
• TikTok 
• Video games 

[SCgarman]

On 10/19/2025 at 6:31 PM, M777 said:

Most Gen Z’s around these parts don’t partake in drinking alcohol, dining out, and tobacco in general. Can’t say I’ve seen many cigar smokers under 30 in many years.

Here’s a list of what many (not all) do indulge in from conversations with friends, acquaintances, and my personal observations: 

• Fast food delivered to their home 
• Staying in and watching Netflix 
• Anything Coffee related 
• Anything THC related 
• Vaping 
• TikTok 
• Video games

And many of them are still living with their parents because they are priced out of the housing market. Here in Myrtle Beach there is a new 110 unit apartment building behind my house that is newly built and not even 25% occupied. The average apartment in there is 2,000-2500/month, crazy pricing and more money than many home mortgage payments in the area. 

[MrFolgers]

On 10/15/2025 at 11:43 PM, X-Man said:

I heard this from a well established local merchant in Shanghai, saying the new release Habanos blends, all smoke well now, as Gen Z lacks the patience to wait and age them. Not sure if there’s any truth behind this though.

Huh? so HSA woke up one day and said, "alright lads, make the cigars less pluggy and ammonia-laced; the smallest demographic of cigar buyers demands perfection NOW"? If Gen Z, I'd assume mostly wealther/influencer types, are smoking Habanos, they probably care less about the smoking experience and more about the status it brings. Just my 2 cents.

[JDoughty]

21 hours ago, MrFolgers said:

Huh? so HSA woke up one day and said, "alright lads, make the cigars less pluggy and ammonia-laced; the smallest demographic of cigar buyers demands perfection NOW"? 

Don't we all just wish. I don't see it getting any better soon, though. Hoping it won't get worse but not optimistic under current conditions.

[chasy]

I’m sure they do. It’s well understood that young consumers are nearly always highly coveted. Less so for their budget and more for their lifetime value. Eg: it’s understood that they have less disposable money than older generations, but they can have longer time to be a customer.

Given that, I’m sure Habanos is finding ways to target the Gen Z’ers. It feels to me that this is largely accomplished via social media and a slew of influencers. I don’t think Habanos has seeded the Jasmin’s of the world, but I do think Habanos quickly recognizes that he (and others) have traction and authority with younger buyers and make a point to court these influencers. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Jasmin is at all the high end, invite only Habanos events / product releases. I’m sure he is getting a fair amount of merch on the house.

[JDoughty]

15 hours ago, chasy said:

 I don’t think Habanos has seeded the Jasmin’s of the world, but I do think Habanos quickly recognizes that he (and others) have traction and authority with younger buyers and make a point to court these influencers. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Jasmin is at all the high end, invite only Habanos events / product releases. I’m sure he is getting a fair amount of merch on the house.

That guy is more annoying than a zit on a hemorrhoid. He's done more to alienate potential new smokers who don't think it's particularly cool to act and dress like a complete assclown if they want to enjoy cigars. Not to mention doing his best to make sure that half the human race feels disrespected and unwelcome in cigar spaces. 😡

[El Presidente]

15 hours ago, JDoughty said:

That guy is more annoying than a zit on a hemorrhoid. He's done more to alienate potential new smokers who don't think it's particularly cool to act and dress like a complete assclown if they want to enjoy cigars. Not to mention doing his best to make sure that half the human race feels disrespected and unwelcome in cigar spaces. 😡

Flipside. 

He is much loved in the circles he navigates. From those who know and met him, I have never heard anything that is not complimentary of Jasim. 

Now his engagement style is not my style and that is a positive for him and me . The cigar world is a broad church and we should find room for all who enjoy our hobby. From the eccentrics on both side of the aisle and all in between. Just my 2 cents. 

[JDoughty]

15 hours ago, El Presidente said:

Flipside. 

He is much loved in the circles he navigates. From those who know and met him, I have never heard anything that is not complimentary of Jasim. 

Now his engagement style is not my style and that is a positive for him and me . The cigar world is a broad church and we should find room for all who enjoy our hobby. From the eccentrics on both side of the aisle and all in between. Just my 2 cents. 

Tell HIM that. He is currently doing his best to make sure that half the human race feels unwelcome and disrespected in cigar spaces. That is not okay. He can act and dress any way he wants to, he's a grown adult, but anyone who struts around in fancier costumes than the average drag queen when he isn't showboating naked in a bathtub absolutely does not get to complain that women who smoke cigars are only doing it for attention. 🙄 The old adage about pots and kettles definitely applies here. 

[Ford2112]

15 hours ago, JDoughty said:

That guy is more annoying than a zit on a hemorrhoid.

That made me laugh out loud.