Embodying the Spirit of Big Sky Country
The ultra-premium Cattle Baron cigar line from Brian Mussard, a Montana rancher, was created to the very highest standards and to his personal preferences in collaboration with Phil Zanghi of Debonaire Cigars and at the Augusto Reyes Cigars factory in the Dominican Republic. His reasoning: if they didn’t sell, at least he’d be left with some of the finest cigars to enjoy himself.
By E. Edward Hoyt
Rancher Brian Mussard began his path in the beef industry at age 10, borrowing $400 to buy his first cow. From then on, he understood that being “average” simply wasn’t enough to generate the income needed to service debt and grow a business—let alone to thrive.
“We had to borrow money for everything,” Mussard recalls, “and an ‘average’ result won’t pay it back. You’ve got to be the best to pay the interest.” Today, Mussard and his wife—together with their large family—own and operate Reminisce Angus Ranch in Dillon, Montana, and he also leverages his 40 years of livestock experience to manage ranches for other owners.
“I started out on my own in the cattle business,” Mussard says. “My parents couldn’t give me money. When we graduated, they said, ‘Go get a job or go to college—and by the way, you’re paying for your own place; living with us is over.’ When they said ‘sink or swim,’ we took it seriously, because they weren’t kidding.”
Mussard maintains that if he’d been born on a big ranch with deep pockets to bankroll his business, he would have missed a key ingredient that drove him to achieve.
“If I hadn’t had to figure it all out myself—if it had all just been handed to me—I wouldn’t have learned to be the best in the beef industry,” he says. “I wouldn’t have learned what ‘the best’ truly is. And I’m grateful for that. We had to learn to compete with any other business.”
Those lessons from the ranch—combined with Mussard’s perfectionist streak—led to two more ventures: developing a gluten-free craft vodka brand, and later launching a line of premium boutique cigars. And just as with his first childhood loan and the accolades he earned in the beef industry for breeding some of the world’s finest Angus bulls, Mussard treats these projects with utter seriousness, applying the same uncompromising standards.
“When we do something—anything we take on—unless you’ve got money to burn, it has to be the best, or it’s not going to work,” he reiterates.
A devotee of fine spirits but, for dietary reasons, limited to the very small field of pure potato vodkas that are naturally gluten-free, Mussard set out in 2014 to fill a market gap and create an exceptional, top-tier potato vodka. He turned to a like-minded friend—a 28-year veteran distiller at Distilled Resources in Idaho—declaring, “I want the best vodka on the planet.” His friend cautioned it would cost him, but that didn’t deter Mussard; his reputation was on the line.
The same mindset came into play a few years later when Mussard decided to create a premium cigar.
“We produce the best beef on the planet,” Mussard states. “I don’t want anyone saying, ‘Yeah, they make good vodka, but their cigars are cheap.’ Or, ‘Yeah, they’ve got a great cigar, but the vodka or the beef is just so-so.’”
Without the budget for pricey advertising—but fully confident in the quality of his handcrafted, small-batch product—Mussard relied on a “quiet” strategy to promote his Gorgeous Vodka, leaning on blind tastings and entering competitive international events. The result: a wave of recognition (five gold medals) and slow, steady placement on retail shelves.
Bottom line
From the pastures of Montana to the rolling tables of the Dominican Republic, Brian Mussard’s Cattle Baron cigars reflect a no-compromise philosophy: build the very best or don’t bother. Partnering with Phil Zanghi and crafted at Augusto Reyes, the line channels the same pursuit of excellence that defined Mussard’s ranching and spirits ventures—aimed squarely at discerning adult cigar enthusiasts.
Disclaimer: For adult consumers of tobacco products, age 21+ only. This article is provided for informational and editorial purposes and does not constitute an offer to sell in jurisdictions where prohibited. Ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations when purchasing tobacco products. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
