Stogie Guys Friday Sampler CCXVII

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) Cuba’s government-controlled tobacco monopoly is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Trinidad brand with a special limited release. Trinidad 40th anniversary humidors will soon be on sale at La Casa del Habano shops across the globe, each filled with 40 Trinidad Cañonazo cigars. “Trinidad, as a Habano, dates back to 1969, but for many years, like Cohiba, it was made only for gifts to foreign diplomats,” reads a description of the brand on the Habanos website. “Not until 1998 was it released for general sale and then only in small quantities.”

2) Alec Bradley—the company responsible for Tempus, Prensado, and Maxx—will pre-release its New York Cigar series on Friday, December 10. Available only at select retailers in the Empire State, the blend will be offered in five sizes with an average suggested retail price of $12.75. Click here to contact a retailer to reserve your order.

3) Inside the Industry: Don Pepin Garcia’s My Father Cigars opened its first branded cigar lounge in Cave Creek, Arizona. As part of its nationwide launch for Macanudo Cru Royale cigars, Macanudo awarded $10,000 to one lucky patron of the Old Allegheny Smoke Shop in Pittsburgh. Originally debuting this summer, Swag cigars are now arriving in stores nationwide.

4) Around the Blogs: Your Cigar Ratings (a new site where users submit their own reviews) currently rates the Tatuaje Petite Cazadores Reserva and Illusione hl Maduro as its top-rated smokes. Smoking Stogie smokes the Cain F Lancero. Cigar Fan fires up the Casa Fernandez Aganorsa Leaf. Stogie Review reviews the La Aurora Corojo. Tiki Bar tries the Nestor Miranda Buckhead 2010.

5) Deal of the Week: It’s not too late to take advantage of this Black Friday sale from Cuban Crafters. Included are deals on highly rated smokes like La Carolina, Cuban Crafters Cameroon, and Miami Medina.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Habanos