Stogie Guys Friday Sampler CIII

In our ongoing effort to make StogieGuys.com as entertaining and informative as possible, each Friday we’ll post a mixed bag of quick cigar news and other snippets of interest. We call ‘em Friday Samplers. Enjoy.

1) The industry may finally be getting its act together. Cigar Rights of America (CRA), a grassroots nonprofit hell-bent on battling tobacco taxes and smoking bans, was formed early this week. Sponsored by retailers and manufacturers— including Fuente, Davidoff, General, and Rocky—the organization will fight the “overzealous anti-smoking movement.” IPCPR announced plans to establish its own industry advocacy group one day later.

2) Speaking of the overzealous anti-smoking movement, the Ohio State Supreme Court shot down an exemption for private clubs from the state’s oppressive smoking ban. And while Pennsylvania legislators rejected a bill to ban smoking in most workplaces across the Keystone State, the proposed regulation will likely be reconsidered on Monday after some politicians try to make it stronger.

3) Inside the Industry: Don Giolitoo of Illusione cigars is coming out with a milder line to be called the Cruzado. Famous Smoke’s Cigar Expo & BBQ Bash 2008 starts today in Easton, Pennsylvania with with a golf tournament before a weekend filled with stogies and BBQ. The Metropolitan Cigar Society of Fairfield, New Jersey hosted Rocky Patel at a special dinner Wednesday night.

4) Around the Blogs: Keepers of the Flame lights up the Padrón 7000. Stogie Review smokes the Sancho Panza Double Maduro. Cigar Jack reviews a Camacho Corojo Toro. Matt puffs on a Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic Lancero. The Stogie Baby tries a Montecristo Media Noche.

5) Deal of the Week: Need a Fathers’ Day gift? Cuban Crafters has slashed prices on a number of cigars. Included are boxes of Stogie Guys favorites, including the Cuban Crafters Cabinet Selection, J.L. Salazar, and La Carolina lines—each of which is available at deep discount. See all the deals here.

-The Stogie Guys

photo credit: CigarRights.org