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If you’ve spent any time shopping for cigars online, you’ve landed on JR Cigar at some point. The site is hard to miss – massive selection, aggressive discounts, and a name that comes up on almost every “where to buy cigars online” list going back decades.
But JR Cigar is more than a website. It’s one of the oldest and most storied names in American cigar retail, with a history that starts in a tiny Manhattan storefront and a founder who reshaped how cigars are sold in this country.
Here’s what it is, what makes it worth knowing, and what to watch for before you buy.
What Is JR Cigar?
800-JR Cigar, Inc., more commonly known as JR Cigar or JRCigars.com, is one of the largest wholesalers and retailers of cigars, cigar-related products, and pipe tobacco in the United States. The company originated as a cigar shop in Manhattan but now chiefly operates through online and catalog sales, while maintaining retail outlets in North Carolina, New Jersey, Washington DC, and Detroit.
In simpler terms – it’s a full-service cigar retailer that carries thousands of premium brands, runs its own private label lines, and has been doing this since before most of its current customers were born.
The History – From a Manhattan Storefront to One of America’s Biggest Cigar Retailers
The JR Cigar story is worth knowing because it tells you something about what the brand actually is.
The story of JR Cigar begins on March 10, 1970, when Lew Rothman opened the doors to his new retail store on Sixth Avenue and 46th Street in New York City. Rothman saw the success that local grocery stores had with selling cigars and decided to open his own store that specialized in cigars. Named after his father, Jack Rothman, JR Cigar became a destination for consumers seeking out different cigar brands. The first sale Rothman made was for a 10-pack of Tijuana Smalls Aromatic cigars, a tipped cigar that sold for 29 cents a pack.
The sign on the window read “World’s Largest Cigar Store.” At the time it was almost certainly not true. It became true eventually.
If there are legends in cigar retailing, Rothman probably stands above all else – Zino Davidoff and Nat Sherman included. He is responsible for a plethora of cigar retailing innovations, including inventing the concept of selling bundle cigars, something that has become a staple at JR.
By 1987, business was booming and JR Cigar was beginning to outgrow its home offices in New York. Due to increasing taxes, JR Cigar relocated its warehouse to Selma, North Carolina in 1991.
In 1997, 800-JR Cigar, Inc. went public on the NASDAQ, and in 2003, Altadis S.A. – now Imperial Brands – purchased a controlling stake. The company has changed hands since, but the JR name and operation have continued under the same brand identity that Rothman built over five decades.
What JR Cigar Actually Sells
The selection is genuinely large. Here’s how it breaks down.
Premium Brand Cigars
The core of the site is what you’d expect from any major retailer – Romeo y Julieta, Montecristo, Arturo Fuente, Rocky Patel, Oliva, Padron, Drew Estate, and hundreds more. Most major production brands are represented, often at discounted prices compared to MSRP.
JR Alternative Cigars – The Original Value Play
This is the product that built JR’s reputation with everyday smokers and it’s worth understanding properly.
JR Alternative Cigars are the most innovative concept to ever grace the premium cigar market. They’re not seconds, but rather value-priced bundle cigars made with the exact same or similar tobaccos used on some of the best, most popular, and well-known premium cigar brands on the market. By skipping the fancy packaging and costly advertising, budget-conscious cigar shoppers get to enjoy the same or very similar taste found on just about every premium blend out there, for pennies on the dollar.
JR Alternatives were first introduced in the early 1980s and since then they have changed the nature of the premium cigar industry. The original JR Alternative brand focuses on the industry’s most popular Dominican-made brands like Montecristo, Partagas, Macanudo, Don Diego, and many more. JR Honduran/Nicaraguan Alternatives offer versions of popular brands like CAO, Rocky Patel, Perdomo, and Hoyo de Monterrey.
The honest verdict on JR Alternatives: they’re a solid value for high-volume smokers who want a daily stick without paying box prices on a named brand. Consistency has been a known issue over the years – what’s good in one bundle isn’t always good in the next – but at the price point, they’ve earned their place in the market.
JR’s Own Private Blends
Beyond the Alternatives, JR has developed its own house blends and collaborative releases. The Crafted By series features collaborations with the industry’s finest manufacturers, including Crafted by JR Crowned Heads and Crafted by JR Aganorsa, with one blend scoring an impressive 93 rating.
The JR Revival – a 70s-themed limited release in a 6 x 52 Toro – is their most recent house brand generating attention, available exclusively through JR’s site in runs of 300 boxes.
Accessories, Humidors, and Gear
JR carries the full accessory range – cutters, lighters, humidors, cases, and cigar storage options. Not the primary reason most people visit the site, but a useful add-on when you’re already placing an order.
JR Cigar’s Blending Room and Long Ash Podcast
One thing that separates JR from a pure retail play is its editorial content. The Blending Room section of the site publishes cigar reviews, buying guides, and industry news. The Long Ash Podcast covers cigars and culture in a conversational format. Neither is the deepest resource in the industry, but both show genuine investment in the cigar community beyond just moving product.
What Casual Smokers Should Know Before Buying
JR Cigar has a lot going for it on paper – huge selection, long history, competitive pricing. But it’s also a company that has gone through significant ownership changes and has a mixed customer service reputation in recent years.
The honest picture looks like this:
What works well – the selection is genuinely broad, the JR Alternative line offers real value for smokers who want volume without breaking the budget, and premium brand pricing is often competitive. The site runs regular sales and discount codes that bring prices down further.
What to watch for – customer reviews in recent years have flagged issues with promotional pricing that feels misleading, stock availability on popular brands, and customer service responsiveness. Long-term customers who bought from JR in the 90s and early 2000s consistently note that the experience has changed since the ownership transitions. If you have a problem with an order, managing expectations around resolution is worth doing upfront.
Our recommendation: JR Cigar is a solid destination for buying well-known premium brands at competitive prices, and the JR Alternative line is worth trying if you’ve never explored bundle cigars. Just check stock before you get your heart set on something specific, and read the promotional fine print carefully.
For other ways to find quality cigars at value prices, our breakdown of Cigar Monster covers Famous Smoke Shop’s daily deal platform – a different but complementary approach to stretching your cigar budget. If you’re still working out your preferences, our best cigars for beginners guide covers the brands worth knowing first. And once your order arrives, our how to cut a cigar guide covers everything from there.
Our Verdict
JR Cigar is a legitimate institution in American cigar retail with more than 50 years of history behind it. The selection is strong, the JR Alternative line is a genuine innovation that still delivers value, and the private blend collaborations show the brand hasn’t stopped caring about the product side.
The experience isn’t what it was under Lew Rothman. But as a place to browse, compare prices on premium brands, and stock up on budget-friendly bundle cigars – it still belongs on your radar.
Frequently Asked Questions About JR Cigar
What is JR Cigar?
JR Cigar is one of the largest online cigar retailers in the United States. Founded in 1970 by Lew Rothman in Manhattan, it operates primarily through its website JRCigars.com and carries thousands of premium cigar brands alongside its own private label lines, most notably the JR Alternative bundle cigars.
Who founded JR Cigar?
In 1971, Lew Rothman, a young man who had spent his entire youth working in his father’s various convenience and cigar shops in Brooklyn, finally decided to spread his wings by opening his very own small cigar store in Manhattan. He named the business after his father, Jack Rothman, and built it from a tiny storefront into one of the country’s most recognized cigar retailers.
What are JR Alternative cigars?
JR Alternative cigars have been JR’s best seller and most solid value for over 40 years. Crafted with the extra tobacco from top premium brands at the most renowned factories, these long filler smokes are just as good as any handmade but lighter on your pockets due to the economical bundle packaging. They are not seconds or damaged cigars – they’re premium tobacco in no-frills packaging.
Are JR Alternative cigars any good?
For the price – yes. They use premium long-filler tobaccos from established factories and offer alternatives to well-known Dominican, Nicaraguan, and Honduran blends at a fraction of the box price. Consistency can vary between orders, which is the most common complaint from experienced buyers. For daily smoking or exploring new flavor profiles without the financial commitment, they’re worth trying.
Who owns JR Cigar now?
The Spanish company Altadis S.A. acquired a 51% controlling interest in the company in 2003. Altadis was later acquired by Imperial Brands, which subsequently sold JR Cigar and its other premium cigar properties. The current ownership structure is separate from the Rothman family era.
Is JR Cigar a good place to buy cigars online?
For selection and pricing on major premium brands, JR Cigar is competitive. The JR Alternative line provides genuine value for budget-conscious smokers. Customer service has drawn mixed reviews in recent years, particularly around promotional pricing and order issues. It’s worth cross-checking prices with other retailers and reading current reviews before placing a large order. For comparison, Famous Smoke Shop and their Cigar Monster deals platform are solid alternatives worth having open at the same time.
Does JR Cigar have retail stores?
Yes. The company maintains retail outlets in North Carolina, two in New Jersey, as well as locations in Washington DC and Detroit. The North Carolina location in particular is a known destination for serious cigar buyers given the size of its humidor.
What brands does JR Cigar carry?
JR Cigar carries most major premium brands including Romeo y Julieta, Montecristo, Arturo Fuente, Rocky Patel, Oliva, Padron, Drew Estate, Alec Bradley, Perdomo, CAO, and hundreds more – alongside its own JR Alternative line and house blend collaborations with manufacturers like Crowned Heads and Aganorsa.
What is the Long Ash Podcast?
The Long Ash Podcast is JR Cigar’s in-house audio show covering cigars, industry news, and cigar culture. It’s produced through the JR Blending Room content section alongside written reviews and buying guides. It’s a decent entry point for casual smokers looking to learn more about the industry without diving into dense technical content.
