StogieGuys.com will be taking a few days off for the holidays so we can relax, recharge, and have a few cigars. Our hiatus will conclude on January 3, 2007 when we will resume posting daily content.

But before our little break begins, we figured a quick look at the first year of StogieGuys.com was in order. Here are a few of our favorite posts from 2006:

- On May 15 we officially launched www.StogieGuys.com with this article.

- On May 16 we introduced our readers to La Rosa Cubana, which makes handmade cigars in the heart of New York City.

- On May 25 we told you about our experience smoking cigars with best selling author P.J. O’Rourke.

- On June 1, in one of many Stogie Tips, we described the proper way to cut a cigar.

- On June 5 we documented the first of many casualties of the Washington, DC smoking ban.

- On June 15 we told the sad story of how anti-smoking zealots managed to take the cigar our of Winston Churchill’s mouth.

- On June 30 we described how, despite thousands of empty seats, the Washington Nationals rebuffed our proposal (backed by JR Cigars) for a Cigar Night at RFK Stadium.

- On July 5 we gave you some tips for smoking cigars on the golf course.

- On July 14 we introduced the first of our many weekly Friday Samplers.

- On August 10 we reviewed our first Cuban cigar, the Cohiba Siglo V.

- On August 23 we gave some suggestions for selecting a drink to enjoy with your cigar.

- On September 7 we announced a contest to win two tickets to Cigar Artisans 2006. The winner, George Edmonson, later joined StogieGuys.com as the Tampa Bureau Chief.

- On September 20 we filed an exclusive report on what cigars the New York Mets chose to celebrate their National League East Title.

- On September 26 we gave some suggestions to cigar producers for displaying names and other vital information with their cigars.

- On October 2 George Edmonson filed his report on Cigar Artisans 2006.

- On October 5 we told you about some crazy guys that run marathons while smoking cigars.

- On October 11 we gave some advice on how to avoid the pitfalls that came from the mid-90s cigar boom.

- On October 26 we told you about the sad news that nearly half of Americans support tobacco prohibition.

- On Halloween we gave you some suggestions for cigar-friendly costumes.

- On Election Night we provided live results for the many anti-smoking initiatives on ballots around the country. The next day we wrapped up the results.

- On November 21 we explained that trying to restrict the freedom to smoke isn’t a liberal or conservative thing…It’s an anti-smoking thing.

- On November 28 we gave some tips for giving the gift of cigars.

- On December 4 we told you about the Stogie Guys’ adventures in Ybor City.

- On December 11 we gave just the third perfect five out of five rating to the Padrón Serie 1926 No. 6.

- On December 18 we unveiled the new look of the StogieGuys.com website.

- On December 21 we told you what we really want for Christmas this year.

Looking back, it certainly has been quite a year. We look forward to providing you with more news, reviews, commentary, and tips in 2007.

-The Stogie Guys

Tags: cigars