Marvin R. Shanken, founder and publisher of Cigar Aficionado and one of the most powerful voices in cigar media, has died. He was 83 years old.
M. Shanken Communications was founded by Marvin Shanken. In addition to Cigar Aficionado, his publications include Wine Spectator and Whiskey Advocate. Shanken acquired Wine Spectator in 1979 when he purchased a struggling newspaper that was being given away for free at wine shops. He transformed it into a major global publication. Whiskey Advocate followed after he acquired Food Arts and Malt Advocate in 2011.
He built Cigar Aficionado in 1992 from the ground up. While many thought his idea of a publication centered on cigars was crazy, he turned it into a vehicle for transforming cigar-making. Many attribute the cigar boom that followed Cigar Aficionado‘s launch to the publication.
“With Cigar Aficionado, Marvin presented premium cigars as luxury products for the first time. He pioneered the modern system of tasting and rating cigars. He put premium cigars in the same class as fine wines and spirits. In doing so, Marvin single-handedly launched a Cigar Boom,” said J.C. Newman Cigar Company in a statement on social media.
“I started reading Cigar Aficionado before I was probably even legally old enough to do so. Cigar Aficionado was EVERYTHING. It was the Bible. There was no internet, no social media, no instant access to information. We lived for every new edition. The stories, the photography, the ratings, the ads, the history, the people. It was our window into the incredible world of handmade cigars,” said Nicholas Melillo, owner of Foundation Cigars, in a social media post.
One of Shanken’s biggest contributions was bridging the worlds of cigars and lifestyle through covers and interviews with some of the biggest celebrities. His interview subjects have included Michael Jordan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Alex Rodriguez, Robert De Niro, and Francis Ford Coppola. Notably, he also interviewed Fidel Castro in 1994. Since its inception, Shanken’s publication has consistently focused on the Cuban cigar market. This has been a controversial topic, but he has remained steadfast in his commitment to reporting on it.
In 1993, Shanken was also among the first to create large-scale cigar events with Cigar Aficionado’s Big Smoke events. These were large gatherings of cigar enthusiasts, giving them opportunities to meet people in the cigar industry and attend educational seminars.
Shanken was also widely recognized for his philanthropic efforts. His renowned A Night to Remember events have made a significant impact, raising an impressive $30 million for prostate cancer research. He also teamed up with star PGA golfer Ernie Els to establish the Els for Autism Foundation, which has raised $20 million to build the Els Center of Excellence.
“One of the greatest lessons Marvin taught me was that success was not simply measured by what we achieve, but by what we choose to give back. His life was an example of that. Through his generosity and commitment to causes such as prostate cancer awareness and helping children in need, he demonstrated that true success carries a responsibility to make a difference in the lives of others,” commented Carlito Fuente in a press release.
Cigar Aficionado published a full write-up of Marvin Shanken’s life and accomplishments after his passing.
According to a report by the New York Times, Shanken passed away of glioblastoma,
Photo Credit: M. Shanken Communications – www.cigaraficionado.com; Licensed by CC BY 4.0
