Stogie Guys Friday Sampler CXIX

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) General Cigar Co. may be in a heap of trouble. In the latest twist of a protracted legal battle, a U.S. District Court judge recently ruled that the company’s use of the Cohiba name is “unfair trade by misappropriation.” The Cuban government has been seeking General’s profits from Dominican Cohiba cigars and an enjoinder to prevent the U.S. company from using the trademark for 11 years. Stay tuned to StogieGuys.com for developments and additional coverage next week.

2) We are pleased to congratulate friend of the website Luis Tiant, better known as El Tiante, for becoming a finalist in the Class of 2009 at the Baseball Hall of Fame. The right-hander and three-time All-Star pitched 19 seasons before founding his own cigar company. The Veterans Committee vote will be announced on Monday.

3) There’s still time to enter our “What Do Cigar Rights Mean to You?” contest. Simply leave a comment here for a chance to win a dozen of Rocky Patel’s finest cigars, three punch cutters, and Rocky’s new five-torch Diplomat table lighter—all generously provided by the good people of the Duque Cigar Company. Entries must be submitted before the stroke of midnight on December 14.

4) Inside the Industry: Rocky Patel will be releasing only 4,000 boxes of his Winter Blend. Holt’s will be the exclusive retailer of a new Padrón 1926 vitola, the six inch by 48 ring gauge Legacy.

5) Around the Blogs: Cigar Jack smokes a Gurkha Black Dragon. Keepers of the Flame lights up a Diamond Crown Maximus. Cigar Spy reviews a Cohiba Siglo III. Cigar Inspector surveys the Romeo y Julieta Escudos 2007 LE. Stogie Review takes on the El Titan de Bronze.

6) Deal of the Week: If the “2008 Cigar Innovation Award” existed, it most certainly would go to Nub—the short, thick cigars designed to skip right to the heart of flavor. This Nub Sampler will help you get acquainted with the hot new brand. You get singles of all 12 Nub sticks for under $40. Grab yours here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: General Cigar Co.