Some cigar stories begin on a porch; this one begins on a rooftop. During a swing through the South, I linked up with Rob from our Ash Hole Cigar Club Mississippi Chapter. The moment I stepped into a three-level lounge in Jackson, I was greeted with a big Mississippi hug, and we went straight to the top floor to choose our cigars.
We settled in with Rob’s friendsMatt, Steve, and one gentleman whose name I didn’t catch and the next ninety minutes rolled by like a perfect draw: laughter, elevated voices, warm conversation, and the common language of the leaf. We traded stories about cigar smoking in football stadiums, lessons from raising cattle, and why the best herfs are the ones where you forget to check your phone.
“It’s not about titles, paychecks, or politics. It’s about being human first—trust, family, and the shared love of cigars.”
My own journey started years before: watching my grandfather light a Titan Phillies on his couch, trying (and failing) at pipe tobacco, and finally discovering premium cigars in my early twenties, likely a Romeo y Julieta for that first milestone. Since 2005, the cigar lifestyle has been the thread that ties experiences together, introducing newcomers, building friendships with brothers and sisters of the leaf, and learning the small rituals that define cigar culture.
In 2022, I joined the Mississippi Chapter. The intake was simple fill out the online form, talk with chapter leadership, and show up with respect. Shoutout to our President Brian “Big Hank” Harrison and VP Jaxx steady hands who keep the flame. I’ve been proud to represent our chapter at Jackson Smokefest, Dallas Smokefest, and the PCA convention, connecting with the wider cigar community.
What makes Ash Hole special is how borderless it feels. Whether you’re on a rooftop in Jackson or halfway around the world, once you’re in, you’re family. With the revamped website, it’s easier than ever to find chapters, join a herf, and plug into the cigar social club experience.
If you’re new to the leaf or leveling up your palate, come sit with us. We talk pairings (coffee, whiskey, rum), etiquette, humidors, cutters, and the art of slowing down. No gatekeeping, just good people and better conversations.
