Stogie Guys Friday Sampler CLXXIII

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) Washington is eying new legislation that would restrict outdoor smoking in the nation’s capital. The proposal, currently under consideration by the city council, would criminalize sidewalk smoking within 25 feet of participating businesses. “If store owners don’t want smoking in their places of business, they have the right to declare their property smoke-free. And if these property owners don’t want people to smoke outside of their places of business, they have the right to ask people not to smoke there,” said Chris McCalla of IPCPR. “But enacting legislation that gives the government authority over these individual property rights we do not support. Not only is it not justified from a medical standpoint, it is not a justified deprivation of our personal rights from a constitutional standpoint.”

2) Other Smoking Ban Alerts: Los Angeles is banning smoking in outdoor dining areas and around “mobile food trucks.” Indiana lawmakers are hoping to make their state the 39th with some sort of statewide ban. Montana’s new indoor ban contributed to an 18% drop in gambling revenue.

3) Inside the Industry: CAO will soon release two new sizes of their La Traviata blend: a corona (5.6 x 46) called “Favorito” and a belicoso (5.5 x 52) called “Animado.” Joya de Nicaragua is releasing its fifth line, a bundle cigar called the Fuerte Serie B that will be made in fours sizes and sell in the $2-4 range.

4) Around the Blogs: Stogie Review fires up a Zino Platinum Crown Series Emperor Edition 2009. Cigar Jack smokes a Toraño Exodus 50 Years. Nice Tight Ash looks at the E.P. Carrillo Edicion Inaugural 2009. Velvet Cigar reviews the Room 101 by Camacho. A Cigar Smoker and Lindsay Heller smoke the Opus X “Love Affair.”

5) Deal of the Week: Looking for a few good smokes and a new humidor? This set includes three cigars each from  Gurkha, Cocinero, Liga Especial, Perdomo, and Victor Sinclair, plus a quality humidor, humidor solution, a double guillotine cutter, and a humidification disc—all for $59 including shipping.  Grab yours here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr