A Bermuda businessman has taken on Cuba with a range of Bermuda hand-rolled cigars.

Now Grant Kennedy — who learned the painstaking art of cigar rolling from an expert who worked at the world-famous Romeo y Julieta factory in Cuba — has launched a range of five cigars, all with defiantly Bermudian names like 1609 and Longtail under the Bermuda Cigar Company banner.

Mr Kennedy — one of the men behind the successful Bermuda Jam Factory — said he had always enjoyed a cigar and thought about producing them himself, but put the plan on the back burner while he and his business partner built the jam company.

But he added: “I took a trip last year and learned from a Cuban woman who was a master cigar roller — I learned a lot about Cuba, the culture and the people and how to roll a good cigar.”

Mr Kennedy said he returned home and practised his skills every day until he was confident he could turn out cigars to Cuban standards before launching the new venture.

He said: “I showed the cigars to the woman who taught me and launched the company.”

Mr Kennedy said he could roll around 50 or 60 cigars a day to around 98 per cent accuracy, compared to 100 a day to the same level of accuracy in a Cuban cigar-makers.

He explained: “It’s a time-consuming and labour-intensive procedure — it’s almost like painting the same picture over and over again but it is very rewarding.

“I’ve never done anything artistic in my life, so it’s good to do something rewarding with my hands. It’s also a good time to reflect on things. I’ve always been on the go.”

The Bermuda Cigar Company range-topper is the 1609, named after the date of the first settlement of the Island.

The firm also produces the Longtail, a mild cigar with a Connecticut wrapper, a light, delicate outer leaf, the Bermudez, which uses a distinctive pink wrapper from Nicaragua, which gives a mild and spicy smoke, the Barracuda, a medium smoke “notes of coffee and chocolate” and the Wild Hog, which uses tobacco sourced from Cameroon in Africa for a stronger leaf and said to be an ideal after-dinner cigar.

The cigars, which can be bought by the box or in a special five pack containing one of each type, are available at Churchill’s in York Street, St George’s, Chatham House on Hamilton’s Front Street, as well as at the Craft Market and Island Outfitters at Dockyard.

Mr Kennedy said: “I figured they would do well, but I’m absolutely amazed they’re doing so well.

“Locals love everything local and visitors have latched on to them as well.”

Mr Kennedy said that — due to the US trade embargo on Cuba — US tourists who bought Cuban cigars in Bermuda risked them being confiscated when they return to America, while others prefer not to take the chance.

He added: “The Bermuda Cigar Company is a great chance to take something that’s specific to Bermuda back to the States and also a really good cigar.”

Mr Kennedy said he also sold his cigars at the summer Harbour Nights and was available for private rollings at weddings and corporate functions, where guests can see a fresh cigar prepared in front of them and pick up some cigar lore as well.

He added: “It’s a new beginning and a whole new adventure for me.”

The cigars sell at $20 each and a five pack with one of each is available for $85 and Churchill’s is currently running a special offer on a box of 25 cigars for $375.

For more information, contact Mr Kennedy at grant@bermudacigarcompany.com.