Stogie Guys Friday Sampler CXXXV

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 items of interest. We call ‘em Friday Samplers. Enjoy.

1) With the federal government’s 700% tax increase on “large” cigars taking effect this week, families in America and across the Caribbean are bracing for the worst. Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood, as reported by the Associated Press, worries that SCHIP will devastate the profits and jobs that have already been hit hard by the recession. Likewise, many of the 185,000 families who depend on cigar exports from Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic—as showcased in this video—may be forced to find alternate sources of income as the U.S. responds to the tax hike by decreasing its cigar consumption.

2) According to Newsweek, Gurkha Cigars is claiming that “several inside sources” say the cigar used by Monica Lewinsky and Bill Clinton was, in fact, a Gurkha. We’re not sure why the company would want to tout its role in this sordid Oval Office incident, which is completely unverifiable anyway.

3) A documentary about famed Major League pitcher Luis Tiant (whom we interviewed about his line of “El Tiante” cigars) will be shown next month at the Tribeca Film Festival. The film documents his life (thus far) and his return to Cuba after 46 years of exile. It features interviews with Carlton Fisk, Carl Yastrzemski, and Peter Gammons.

4) Inside the Industry: The “CAO eLements” tour kicks off on Tuesday with Tim Ozgener traveling to retailers across the country for tastings of the new LX2 blend. We hear Alec Bradley is preparing a new release described as “just as complex [as the Tempus] with a little more kick.”  Cigar-related April Fools jokes are nothing new, but you may have missed Famous’ offering of five-cent “pre-owned” (i.e. pre-smoked) cigars. Cigar Rights of America is throwing a party just for members at the Big Smoke in Connecticut.

5) Around the Blogs: Stogie Review reviews a Padilla Habano Burberry. Cigar Jack smokes a Marco V.  Cigar Inspector inspects a Santa Damiana. Cigar Command dresses down an Avo LE 09.

6) Deal of the Week: To combat higher taxes, Cuban Crafters is slashing prices. Included are highly-rated sticks like the Don Kiki Brown ($33 for box of 25!), Cabinet Selection ($50 for  box of 25) and Cameroon ($60 for box of 25). Grab yours here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr