Stogie Guys Friday Sampler LVII

In our ongoing effort to make StogieGuys.com as entertaining and reader-friendly as possible, each Friday we’ll post a selection of quick cigar news and stogie-related snippets. We call ‘em Friday Samplers. Enjoy.

1) In the continuing trend towards further consolidation of the cigar industry, Swedish Match – the parent company of General Cigar (owner of such brands as Macanudo, Partagas, and Cohiba) – has purchased retailer Cigars International, Inc. Cigar International is a wholesale cigar seller known for its two websites: CigarsInternational.com and CigarBid.com. The move hints that further acquisitions in the cigar industry may be vertical consolidations as companies seek to add shareholder value by controlling production, wholesale distribution, and retail sales.

2) Congratulations to the voters of Athens, Alabama, who this week rejected attempts to ban alcohol and time travel back to the forgettable days of prohibition. While we generally steer clear of politics not specifically tobacco-related, we think alcohol prohibition is a terrible policy for two reasons: (1) it sets a bad precedent for the prohibition of other substances that intolerant teetotalers don’t like, such as tobacco; and (2) it deprives cigar smokers of a fantastic accompaniment to their smoke.

3) Around the Blogs: Keepers of the Flame lights up an H. Upmann Signature. Cigar Jack smokes the Mojito Madness Corona. Cigar Beat tries the Joya de Nicaragua Celebration. Cigar Monkey monkeys around with a Montecruz Negra Cubana.

4) Deal of the Week: Fuente, Gurkha, Macanudo, Hoyo, La Gloria Cubana, Toraño, Partagas, CAO, Punch, Rocky Patel, and Padron. That’s most of the big names in the business and in this sampler they’re available for under $2 per stick. To pick up 16 cigars pictured for just $29.95, click here.

5) Finally, we want to welcome our latest sponsor, Cuban-Cigars-Store.com. For more information on partnering with StogieGuys.com, please visit our Advertising & Promotions page.

-The Stogie Guys