Stogie Guys Friday Sampler CXVIII

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) Want to win a dozen of Rocky Patel’s finest cigars? Want to try the Rocky Patel Decade Torpedo that received a rating of 95 from Cigar Aficionado? Enter our “What Do Cigar Rights Mean to You?” contest and these fantastic prizes can all be yours.

2) According the Cigar Association of America, the industry’s manufacturers trade group, cigar imports were down over the first 9 months of 2008 when compared to 2007. The decrease is almost entirely dues to a drop in cigars from the Dominican Republic, as imports from Honduras and Nicaragua are up or even. These three countries account for 99 percent of the cigars imported into the U.S.

3) Inside the Industry: A number of new releases first announced at the IPCPR have recently been shipped to stores. Felipe Gregorio’s newest line, a Dominican Puro called the “Petrus Prestige,” is in stores now. Rocky Patel’s Renaissance and Cameroon Especial have recently shown up at retailers. And Don Pepin’s “My Father” line has been released, although reportedly only 50,000 will be made this year.

4) Around the Blogs: Stogie Review reviews Azul Luna Polo. Cigar Jack smokes the Tabacos Baez. Keepers of the Flame torches up a Romeo y Julieta Vintage Maduro. Stogie Fresh tries a Los Blancos Sumatra.

5) Deal of the Week: Turkey day may have come and gone, but Cuban Crafters still has a number of Thanksgiving Specials online. Included are StogieGuys.com favorites such as Cabinet Selection and La Carolina. Get yours here while the deals last.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Stogie Guys