If you’re a cigar enthusiast who spends time online, chances are you’ve come across Kirby Allison. If you’re at the very beginning of your cigar journey, maybe not. An American entrepreneur and style influencer, he has built a reputation through documentaries and online content focused on men’s fashion, lifestyle, and craftsmanship. With over 844,000 YouTube subscribers and a recent documentary, The Magic of the Behike, episode 2 reaching more than 1 million views in just 14 days this week, he has become a leading voice in menswear, shoe care, and premium cigars. While some estimate his net worth at around $10 million—well based on what the internet says, who knows if that’s true—what truly defines him is his dedication to “quality, craftsmanship, and tradition.”
This post explores Kirby’s journey, his collaborations in the cigar world, and my personal encounter with him earlier this year.
Early life and education
Kirby Allison was born in 1983 in Texas, USA. The middle child of three, he was active in school life and was even named “Mustang of the Year” at Westfield High School.
He went on to study at The University of Texas at Austin, earning a BBA in Business Honors and Finance alongside a BA in Economics. As a member of the prestigious Tejas social club, he laid the foundations for his future in both business and style.
The entrepreneurial leap
After university, Allison began his career as a financial analyst at FTI Consulting in Dallas. But a small side project would soon change the course of his life. His idea? A luxury wooden suit hanger, designed for discerning menswear enthusiasts.
What started as a niche venture gained national attention in November 2007, when The Wall Street Journal published a full-page review naming his hangers the “Best Overall.” The recognition was part of a turning point, allowing Allison to leave his consulting job and pursue his company—The Hanger Project—full time.
The company quickly established itself as the first luxury wooden hanger collection marketed directly to consumers. From there, Allison expanded into garment care and shoe care accessories, notably becoming the first U.S. retailer of Saphir Médaille d’Or polish, and eventually its largest global distributor.
Building a global presence
Headquartered in Dallas, Allison’s business continued to grow, but it was his digital storytelling that brought him international recognition.
In 2015, he launched his YouTube channel, which today has over 1,300 videos. His content ranges from practical tutorials on shoe shining, tailoring, and garment care, to cinematic mini-documentaries that celebrate craftsmanship, luxury, and tradition.
His very first upload—“Cleaning Dirty Ostrich Boots”—went live on June 19, 2015. Very different from what we see today!
In 2020, Allison rebranded The Hanger Project under his own name, Kirby Allison, signaling the company’s evolution from a single-product venture to a full lifestyle brand. Now offering a wide array of luxury accessories, the brand reflects not only the products but also Allison himself—an authority on elegance, refinement, and timeless style.
Entering the world of cigars
Kirby’s passion for craftsmanship eventually led him to discover premium cigars. According to Cigar Keep, he smoked his first cigar in college—a Padron Anniversario 1964—and loved the experience. “I’ve always enjoyed the nostalgia of smoking,” he stated.
Over time, he has developed a fondness for Cuban cigars. During a Q&A, he revealed that his favourite cigar brand is Bolivar. He mentioned, “Absolutely, my go-to cigars are the Royal Coronas, which are a nice medium to full-bodied cigar and provide a really good 30 to 45 minutes of smoking time.” He also highly enjoys the Belicosos Finos format.
Kirby’s cigar documentaries are now regarded as some of the most polished in the industry, enhancing the way cigars are presented online.
Some of his most popular collaborations with Davidoff of London include:
How to Properly Light a Cigar at Davidoff of London — 3.8M views
How to Smoke a Cigar at Davidoff of London — 3.5M views
These early videos remind me of the late Nic Wing, “the original Kirby?”. Nic was a cigar journalist from the UK who produced exceptional video content for the UK Cigar Scene, but sadly he is no longer with us. (RIP Nic)
By 2023, his work earned him a nomination as a finalist for the Cuban Habanos Communication Award — a rare honour for an American in Cuba’s cigar world.
Recent collaborations include those with Hunters & Frankau. One standout project is his two-part documentary titled “The Legacy of Trinidad,” which was released in June 2024 to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the Trinidad brand. This series provided unprecedented insight into the brand’s history.
Most recently, he collaborated with Dominique London to produce documentaries and event coverage, including the opening of the Monte Carlo Casino Cigar Lounge during The Magic of Monaco.
Over the years, he has also taken over as the face of Cigar Keep, where you can participate in his regular online cigar herfs, typically held on Thursday’s. For more information, visit cigar-keep.com.
Every rise to the top attracts criticism, and for Kirby, much of it—particularly online—centres on his polished public persona, which some view as inauthentic or elitist. At the same time, he has a devoted following that values his expertise in luxury menswear and garment care.
An evening with Kirby Allison at Fumar
Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of joining Kirby Allison for a cigar sampling at Fumar, a charming cigar shop and lounge in Shepherd Market, London, which recently celebrated its first year anniversary. I was a guest of Urs Stephan Alder (of Switzerland), a Cigar Keeps Ambassador who has been following my journey on this blog 🙏🙏🙏.
This was my second encounter with Kirby; I previously met him at a Super Trunk Show in London, where I witnessed my first-ever shoeshine competition — as niche and geeky as our slow-smoking competitions, haha!
Watching Kirby and his film crew at work was fascinating; it’s as if he is a modern-day Spielberg, far surpassing what most content creators produce.
At the Fumar event, I couldn’t help feeling a bit out of my depth. A guy from Essex, now living in London, rubbing shoulders with Kirby and Urs Stephan Alder — I definitely felt like a commoner among royalty! 🙂 However, the evening quickly turned into something pretty spectacular. The owner of the shop, Eisa Rasti, showcased the stunning Trinidad Fundadores 55th Anniversary ST Dupont Humidor (Vintage 10) — a genuine work of art that I couldn’t even imagine smoking through. I was also intrigued to see every cigar wrapped in cellophane; was that a nod to their vintage status or just a precaution for storage?
We then moved into the sampling lounge for cigars.
While enjoying our cigars, we were joined by Kirby’s wife, Bianca, who mentioned she had never sampled a cigar before — I couldn’t believe it!
A few other attendees were present, too, which made the evening even more special. I decided to go for a La Gloria Cubana Turqinos and a Montecristo Wide Edmundo.
Kirby and Urs spoke passionately about their love for cigars, with Kirby sharing insights about his humidor setup back home in Texas and how he carefully manages ventilation to prevent cigar aromas from infiltrating the family. To top it all off, we received an incredible gift from a wonderful guy from Cigar Lands: a Romeo y Julieta No. 1 cigar from the 1970s! I’ve yet to smoke it.
Reflecting on that evening, I realise it’s experiences like this that I’ll always remember. Moments like these remind me how fortunate I am to be part of this vibrant community, all thanks to starting this blog.
Final thoughts
If you haven’t explored Kirby Allison’s videos yet, you’re missing out. From his expert shoeshine tutorials to in-depth cigar documentaries, his content is among the most polished and informative in the industry.
When I first met him very briefly at the Super Trunk Show, it wasn’t entirely clear whether cigars were his personal passion or more of a business venture. By the second meeting, however, I was more convinced that he’s genuinely as geeky as we are – his enthusiasm for humidity control and proper cigar storage shows he’s clearly learning a lot on his own cigar journey.
Kirby’s future is full of possibilities—could a Netflix deal be on the horizon, a Habanos Award at the 2026 Festival, or perhaps even a signature Kirby Allison cigar? Only time will tell. In the meantime, explore his impressive back catalogue of masterful video productions…
Watch his documentary ‘The Magic of the Behike’
Read and watch more about Kirby Allison:
Official website
Kirby’s YouTube Channel
Kirby’s Instagram
Cigar Keep
If you’re in London, don’t miss visiting Fumar – you can read my review of the venue here: A visit to new London cigar sampling lounge Fumar
Leave a Reply to JamblCancel reply