Stogie Commentary: Wish List Wishes

An email from the Stogie Guys’ founders about preparations to cover the annual International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association convention this summer evoked two reactions: wistful regret that I won’t be there and utter amazement at how fast another year has passed.

Even with the economic woes still rippling through the country, cigar exhibitors in New Orleans will, no doubt, unleash a batch of new cigars. And I haven’t yet begun to whittle down my wish list of earlier smokes. The coming sticks will surely entice me to add more names and put me further and further behind on smoking them. Only a smoker who lights up far more frequently than I could hope to keep up.

I may, however, be able to make some progress soon. For the past several months, the weather here in Florida has been so pleasant. I’ve done nearly all my smoking outside my home, reducing the stock of cigars in my humidor. But with the temperatures rising, I’m likely to be visiting local shops more frequently to revel in indoor air-conditioned smoking. So I will have a chance to try some of the smokes I’ve been wanting to light up.

For example, I have yet to smoke a Casa Magna, the low-priced stick Cigar Aficionado raved about. There are also new Tatuajes that sound tasty, new La Gloria Cubanas (and new sticks to come from that brand’s founder), a host of new Padillas that promise good things, and My Father from Pepin’s factory. That’s really just the top of the list.

Any you’d care to recommend?

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys