More
- Classifieds
- Cars
- Deals
- Real Estate
- Rentals
- Photos
- Blogs

In the News

Closer Inspection: History in smoke

The contents within the walls of W. Curtis Draper’s downtown location (699 15th St. NW, 202-638-2555, wcurtisdraper .com) are as varied as the clientele. In addition to offering hard-to-find wares, the 125-year-old shop has glass shelves packed with decades of tobacco ephemera. — Kris Coronado

5 Seconds

00:00

00:00

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14

“I don’t think people realize that in this day of automation ... there’s still a real craftsmanship and artistry that goes into something of this quality and magnitude,” says Matt Krimm, co-owner of the cigar shop.

Benjamin C Tankersley / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

A hand-carved pipe made of meerschaum (a white mineral) takes on an amber hue after years of use.

A hand-carved pipe made of meerschaum (a white mineral) takes on an amber hue after years of use.

Benjamin C. Tankersley / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

These La Flor Dominicana cigars are rolled in the Salomon style, “a traditional Cuban size. ... They’re very hard to roll because of the shape, so you need a very highly skilled roller,” Krimm says. Cigars are generally rolled in teams of two, Krimm says. “You have the buncher, who does all the interior blend. Then [the cigars] get put into a press, and you have the second roller who applies the wrapper on the outside.”

These La Flor Dominicana cigars are rolled in the Salomon style, “a traditional Cuban size. ... They’re very hard to roll because of the shape, so you need a very highly skilled roller,” Krimm says. Cigars are generally rolled in teams of two, Krimm says. “You have the buncher, who does all the interior blend. Then [the cigars] get put into a press, and you have the second roller who applies the wrapper on the outside.”

Benjamin C. Tankersley / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Krimm estimates this and the previous pipe to be about 60 years old. Meerschaum “smokes amazingly well” because it’s porous and dissipates heat, he says. But “if you’re smoking it inside and you go outside and it’s really cold, it’ll crack.”

Krimm estimates this and the previous pipe to be about 60 years old. Meerschaum “smokes amazingly well” because it’s porous and dissipates heat, he says. But “if you’re smoking it inside and you go outside and it’s really cold, it’ll crack.”

Benjamin C. Tankersley / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Employee Jeannie Martinson of Frederick saves cigar wrappers to create novelty items such as these bracelets and lighter ($65 each) that are sold in the store.

Employee Jeannie Martinson of Frederick saves cigar wrappers to create novelty items such as these bracelets and lighter ($65 each) that are sold in the store.

Benjamin C. Tankersley / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

This is the fifth Stars & Stripes humidor ($3,300) that Draper has carried. The shop has sold four of the 250 mahogany boxes created by French luxury woodworking company ElieBleu.

This is the fifth Stars & Stripes humidor ($3,300) that Draper has carried. The shop has sold four of the 250 mahogany boxes created by French luxury woodworking company ElieBleu.

Benjamin C. Tankersley / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

The box’s humidification elements are soaked in distilled water, then placed inside the humidor to keep cigars at an ideal humidity level, between 69 and 72 percent, says Krimm. Vents allow users to adjust levels so the cigars are properly preserved.

The box’s humidification elements are soaked in distilled water, then placed inside the humidor to keep cigars at an ideal humidity level, between 69 and 72 percent, says Krimm. Vents allow users to adjust levels so the cigars are properly preserved.

Benjamin C. Tankersley / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

This cigar cutter, lighter and cuff links are a bronze set designed by French jeweler Philippe Tournaire and inspired by the Catacombs of Paris.

This cigar cutter, lighter and cuff links are a bronze set designed by French jeweler Philippe Tournaire and inspired by the Catacombs of Paris.

Benjamin C. Tankersley / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Krimm wants to dispel the notion that a cigar shop is an exclusive men’s-only club. If anything, he says, a cigar shop connects strangers: “We have bike messengers every day, big-name lobbyists ... and everybody in between.”

Krimm wants to dispel the notion that a cigar shop is an exclusive men’s-only club. If anything, he says, a cigar shop connects strangers: “We have bike messengers every day, big-name lobbyists ... and everybody in between.”

Benjamin C. Tankersley / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Draper sells 30 types of loose tobacco, including golden slices ($9 for two ounces), left, made from Virginia tobacco varieties. Before smoking it, you have to rub it so it breaks into small pieces. Cuban coffee-flavored tobacco ($6 for two ounces), right, is blended in-house and is a crowd favorite.

Draper sells 30 types of loose tobacco, including golden slices ($9 for two ounces), left, made from Virginia tobacco varieties. Before smoking it, you have to rub it so it breaks into small pieces. Cuban coffee-flavored tobacco ($6 for two ounces), right, is blended in-house and is a crowd favorite.

Benjamin C. Tankersley / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

La Aurora, the oldest cigar manufacturer in the Dominican Republic, made a line of cigars for Draper that was an “an all-Dominican blend. It’s Dominican binder, filler and wrapper,” Krimm says.

La Aurora, the oldest cigar manufacturer in the Dominican Republic, made a line of cigars for Draper that was an “an all-Dominican blend. It’s Dominican binder, filler and wrapper,” Krimm says.

Benjamin C. Tankersley / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Christmas Cheer Pipe Tobacco ($19 for 3.5 ounces), hand-blended by McClelland Tobacco Co., is composed of different blends and vintages of Virginia tobacco flake each year.

Christmas Cheer Pipe Tobacco ($19 for 3.5 ounces), hand-blended by McClelland Tobacco Co., is composed of different blends and vintages of Virginia tobacco flake each year.

Benjamin C. Tankersley / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

The now-defunct Philadelphia Chewing Gum Corp. in Havertown, Pa., made bubble gum cigars during campaigns for presidential candidates including Bill Clinton and, in 1968, Richard Nixon.

The now-defunct Philadelphia Chewing Gum Corp. in Havertown, Pa., made bubble gum cigars during campaigns for presidential candidates including Bill Clinton and, in 1968, Richard Nixon.

Benjamin C. Tankersley / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

The Avo Uvezian cigar line was launched by the jazz pianist, composer and cigar aficionado in 1988.

The Avo Uvezian cigar line was launched by the jazz pianist, composer and cigar aficionado in 1988.

Benjamin C. Tankersley / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

FEATURED PHOTO GALLERIES

epa03714567 A Thai Buddhist family take an offering of lotus flowers to pay respects to a giant Buddha surrounded by more than 1,000 smaller Buddha statues at a Buddhism Park, on Vesak or Visakha Bucha day, in Nakhon Nayok, north of Bangkok, Thailand, 24 May 2013. Buddhist devotees throughout the world offer blessings at temples to mark one of the holiest days in Buddhism, commemorating the birth, enlightenment and the death of Buddha. EPA/BARBARA WALTON

Photos of the day

Buddhist Wesak festival, prisoners-of-war reunion, bridge collapse, world’s largest Lego model and more.

A portion of the Interstate 5 bridge is submerged after it collapsed into the Skagit River dumping vehicles and people into the water in Mount Vernon, Wash., Thursday, May 23, 2013 according to the Washington State Patrol. (AP Photo/Skagit Valley Herald, Frank Varga)

I-5 bridge collapse in Washington state dumps vehicles, passengers into river

No fatalities reported; collapse over Skagit River shuts down main route between Seattle and Canada.

SILVER SPRING MD: MAY 18
from left to right, Bodybuilders Jorge Villatoro, Sidney Bumbrey, Eric Holmes and Ron Coleman show off their most muscular poses for the judges at the 2013 Musclemania - Capital Tournament of Champions Contest held at the Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center in Silver Spring, Maryland on May 18, 2013.
(Photo by Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

Flexing their muscles

Dozens of bodybuilders came out to Silver Spring to compete in the 2013 Musclemania Capital Tournament of Champions.

A police forensics officer investigates a crime scene where one man was killed in Woolwich, southeast London May 22, 2013. British Prime Minister David Cameron has called a meeting of his government's emergency Cobra security committee after the killing of a man in south London, his office said on Wednesday. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth (BRITAIN - Tags: CRIME LAW POLITICS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

Terrorism cited in London cleaver attack

Two assailants hacked to death a British soldier on a busy southeast London neighborhood street Wednesday afternoon before delivering an apparent...

MOORE, OK - MAY 22: A street of tornado destructed homes is reflected on a puddle of water on May 22, 2013 in Moore, Ok. (Photo by Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)

Assessing tornado damage in Oklahoma

Amid great destruction, residents of the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore begin to assess the severity of the twister that hit Monday.

WASHINGTON DC: MAY 22
Contestant Travis Rumans, 31 dances with his beloved glow sticks for talent at Penn Social in Washington, DC on May 22, 2013. The contestants help raise over $15,000 for the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
The Mr. DC pageant is a fundraising event to benefit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
The qualifications for the Mr. District of Columbia finalists is that they must live, work and attend school in the District of Columbia between the ages of 21-30 who are unmarried, intelligent, and dapper in a suit.
(Photo by Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

Mr. D.C. Pageant contestants compete for charity

Contestants in the Mr. D.C. Pageant, a fundraising event, helped raise more than $15,000 for the Children’s National Medical Center.

epa03714543 US actress Carmen Electra arrives for the Life Ball gala, at the airport Schwechat, in Vienna, Austria, 24 May 2013. The 21th Life Ball, an annual fundraising charity event for HIV and Aids projects, takes place at the Vienna City-Hall on 25 May 2013. EPA/HERBERT NEUBAUER

Eye on entertainment

Carmen Electra, Barbara Eden, Sharon Stone, Goldie Hawn, Jaden Smith and more.

A Burrowing owl tries to perch on a protective rope in a public park in Cooper City, Fla. Monday, May 20, 2013 as rain falls. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

Fun and fascinating creatures around the world.

Back to Previous Gallery

Discussion Policy | FAQ | About Discussions

Loading...

Comments

Add your comment

Read what others are saying About Badges

SuperFan Badge

SuperFan badge holders consistently post smart, timely comments about Washington area sports and teams.

More about badges | Request a badge

Culture Connoisseur Badge

Culture Connoisseurs consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on the arts, lifestyle and entertainment.

More about badges | Request a badge

Fact Checker Badge

Fact Checkers contribute questions, information and facts to The Fact Checker.

More about badges | Request a badge

Washingtologist Badge

Washingtologists consistently post thought-provoking, timely comments on events, communities, and trends in the Washington area.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Writer Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post editor, reporter or producer.

Post Forum Badge

Post Forum members consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Weather Watcher Badge

Weather Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on climates and forecasts.

More about badges | Request a badge

World Watcher Badge

World Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Contributor Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post contributor. Post contributors aren’t staff, but may write articles or columns. In some cases, contributors are sources or experts quoted in a story.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Recommended

Washington Post reporters or editors recommend this comment or reader post.

You must be logged in to report a comment.

Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.

All comments are posted in the All Comments tab.

More about badges

Get a badge

To pause and restart automatic updates, click "Live" or "Paused". If paused, you'll be notified of the number of additional comments that have come in.

Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.