Stogie Guys Friday Sampler CLXXX
12 Mar 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) It was announced this week that Mayor Adrian Fenty, a proponent of the DC’s three-year-old smoking ban, is granting a one-time special smoking pardon for the Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick. This group of Washington’s business and government elite will be allowed to smoke indoors at the Capital Hilton on March 17 to celebrate Irish-American culture. But Irish luck has nothing to do with the mayor’s newfound tolerance for tobacco. The Friendly Sons have close ties to the DC Council, including a member in Councilman Jack Evens (pictured). He sponsored the exemption legislation, a bill that also grants immunity to a St. Patrick’s Day professional boxing fundraiser in the city. Apparently you can occasionally smoke in DC if you have friends in high places. The rest of us are out of luck.
2) Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson signs a statewide smoking ban today that criminalizes smoking in bars, restaurants, most places of employment, and within ten feet of doors. The new law takes effect July 1 and exempts tobacco shops.
3) Inside the Industry: Cigar Rights of America released its second members-only sampler on Wednesday, a ten-pack of toros that were specially blended or sized for CRA. Cigars include the Alec Bradley Tempus, Camacho Limited Edition, Diamond Crown Maximus, Fuente’s Forbidden X, and La Aurora 100 Años. The sampler costs $100 and comes with a one-year CRA membership certificate.
4) Around the Blogs: Stogie Review chats with Pete Johnson. The Tiki Bar reviews the Don Gonzalez Special Edition. Toasted Foot looks at the Vegas Cubanas by Don Pepin Garcia. Nice Tight Ash fires up a Graycliff 1666 Pirate. Cigar Rants rants on the Liga Privada No .9. A Cigar Smoker reviews the LFD Air Bender.
5) Deal of the Week: With full-bodied spice and Cuban-like depth, people are turning to Nicaraguan smokes more and more, and this Nicaraguan Blends Sampler shows why. Included are two each from Padilla Habano, Man O’ War, Rocky Patel Fusion, and Gurkha Park Avenue, all for under $30. Grab yours here.
photo credit: Flickr
Patrick Ashby
Co-Founder & Editor in Chief
Patrick Semmens
Co-Founder & Publisher
George Edmonson
Tampa Bureau Chief
thanks for the mention!
With regard to your first comment, this country appears to be heading down the purloined path to oligarchy. Politicians who vote for smoking bans and occassional exemptions such as the one described above should be voted out of office. America: the land of the free—not hardly.