Stogie Guys Friday Sampler CXCIX

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) California continues to lead the nation in anti-tobacco zealotry. This week politicians in Sebastopol, a town 50 miles north of San Francisco, passed an indoor smoking ban over private apartments. While the regulation requires landlords to forbid their tenants from using tobacco products in their homes, medicinal marijuana is exempted under the law.

2) Carnival is experimenting with an expanded smoking ban on its cruise ships—a ban that disallows smoking in cruise liners’ cigar bars, of all places. “Carnival fans…are noting the irony of considering a smoking ban in the one place on a ship specifically designed for smokers,” the USA Today reported on Wednesday. “Some are comparing the move to banning passengers from swimming in a ship’s swimming pools.”

3) Inside the Industry:  General Cigar is celebrating its 50th anniversary in style,with a series of events all around the country featuring their  La Gloria Cubana Artesanos de Tabaqueros, Punch Upper Cut, and Macanudo 1968 cigars.  La Flor Dominicana is adding a Chisel size to its Air Bender line.

4) Around the Blogs: Keepers of the Flame torches a Famous 70th Anniversary Plasencia. A Cigar Smoker smokes the Rocky Patel 15th Anniversary. B&B Cigar Club fires up an Illusione Epernay. The Tiki Bar kicks back with a E.P. Carrillo Short Run. Stogie Review goes inside the CAO Escaparate.

5) Deal of the Week: There’s an email-only special going on at Cuban Crafters this weekend. The best deal is a box of 25 Cupido Criollo Torpedos for just $55 (an amazing $2.20 per cigar). Grab yours here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr