Stogie Guys Friday Sampler CLXI

As we have since July 2006, each Friday we’ll post a mixed bag of quick cigar news and other items of interest. We call ‘em Friday Samplers. Enjoy.

1) Two powerful earthquakes rocked the South Pacific earlier this week, taking hundreds of lives and causing widespread destruction of homes and infrastructure. A subsequent tsunami devastated the Samoas—“flattening villages and sweeping some residents out to sea”—and landslides on the Indonesian tobacco-producing island of Sumatra left “scores trapped in rubble.” Given the severity of the situation, the consequences of this tragedy on the cigar industry remain unknown and, for now, trivial.

2) While officials tried to criminalize smoking in Atlantic City’s 11 casinos last year, they ended up postponing the law once the recession hit. Now, as the economy continues to take its toll on the gambling industry, it looks like the ban may be deferred again. That would be welcome news for the business community and employment. When the casinos were accidentally forced to go tobacco-free in 2008, “several of the gambling halls said their revenue losses doubled.”

3) Inside the Industry: We’ve finally started to spot the new Fuente Special “T” tubo in stores, reportedly with the Fuente “Queen B”—a smaller version of the Rosado-wrapped King B torpedo. Fuente is also releasing their annual Fuente Fuente Opus X for the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation 2009 collection (priced at $950), which includes rare Opus X cigars. If you’re looking to tee it up with the pros (while smoking fine cigars), spaces for the Montecristo Cup Charity Pro-Am are still available, with a significant portion of the $5,000 entry fee going to the Montecriso Relief Organization. Ernesto Perez-Carrillo, creator of La Gloria Cubana, has launched the website for his new cigar venture.

4) Around the Blogs: Tampa Cigar Examiner reviews Brick House. NiceTightAsh looks at the La Traviata. Cigar Inspector inspects an H. Upmann Magnum 48. Keepers of the Flame smokes a Casa Farnandez.  Stogie Review asks if we need to update our definition of full-bodied.

5) Deal of the Week: Cuban Crafters is having a sale with some real bargains on quality smokes. Our picks would be a box of 25 La Carolinas for just $59, a box of 25 Cupido Criollos cfor just $55, or a humidor box of the new Cubano Claro for just $89. Get yours here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: USGS