Stogie Guys Friday Sampler CLXXVII
19 Feb 2010
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) A disproportionate number of online cigar wholesalers call Pennsylvania home, including Famous Smoke Shop, Cigars International, and Holt’s. This isn’t a coincidence. Along with Florida, the Keystone State is the only one without a cigar tax. But Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (pictured) recently proposed a budget that includes new excise taxes on cigars and smokeless tobacco. When a similar tax was proposed last year, Keith Meier, CEO of Cigars International, said his $90 million company with 150 employees might “swim to sunnier shores, such as Florida†if adopted.
2) Inside the Industry: In partnership with Nestor Miranda of Miami Cigars & Co. and Guillermo León of La Aurora, Don Pepin Garcia is making his first Dominican-wrapped cigar. Called “Dominicano,†it will include Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos and be made at Garcia’s My Father Cigars factory. The blend’s four sizes will retail for $6-8 apiece.
3) Around the Blogs: The Stogie Guys, via The Daily Caller, feature the EO 601 “Green†La Fuerza. Stogie Review lights up a Man O’ War Special Edition. Keepers of the Flame smokes a CAO La Traviata. Nice Tight Ash tries the Chateau Real Maduro. Cigar Inspector reviews the Tatuaje J21.
4) Deal of the Week: This unpublicized email sale has deep discounts on some top smokes. Our favorite pick is the Don Kiki Brown label for just two dollars per stick. Grab yours here.
photo credit: Flickr
The cigar tax article is from last year (Feb 2009). The tax was defeated (for now) in the final budget proposal. In fact, according to cigarcyclopedia.com, CI plans to expand in PA. Here is the link.
http://www.cigarcyclopedia.com/webapp/content/vie…
I'm not sure what you're referring to, but numerous articles such as this one in the Philadelphia Inquirer, (http://www.philly.com/philly/business/homepage/20100209_Rendell_budget_plan__Shave_sales_tax__widen_its_scope.html) state that a cigar tax is part of the governor's budget proposal for 2010.
That's strange. When I originally clicked on the link I got this article: http://www.pottsmerc.com/articles/2009/02/18/busi…
from 09. It's actually the source of that Keith Meirers quote as well.
This is my fault. When I originally posted this Sampler I linked to the wrong article, which was from Feb. 09. It has now been updated. Sorry for the confusion.
No problem. Thanks for clearing it up and correcting the link.