Stogie Guys Friday Sampler CCXXVI

As we have since July 2006, each Friday we’ll post a mixed bag of quick cigar news and other items of interest. Below is our latest Friday Sampler.

1) Politicians in Utah are seeking to curtail underage smoking by outlawing flavored tobacco statewide. The original version of their proposed bill criminalized flavored tobacco of any kind, but a newer version exempts cigars, targeting pipe tobacco instead. “We have always been against the sale of any tobacco products to anyone under the age of 19, and there are plenty of laws that already prevent that,” said Fred Cvar, owner of The Tinder Box in Salt Lake City, in an IPCPR press release. “HB0170, unfortunately, also would prevent the sale of virtually all pipe tobaccos to our mature adult customers. Such tobaccos, cut and blended especially for use in briar and meerschaum pipes, have been enjoyed…since the 1600s.”

2) State lawmakers in Washington are mulling a bill that would decriminalize smoking in select cigar shops and lounges. Only 100 exemptions would be granted statewide, each paying $15,000 to the government annually. Smoking inside bars, restaurants, lounges,  tobacco shops, and other places of employment has been illegal in the Evergreen State since 2005.

3) Inside the Industry: Tatuaje is releasing a petit lancero version of the Black Label that will be exclusive to  the Minneapolis Tobacco Grove shop. Jim Colucci, an executive vice president at Altadis, has announced his retirement after a 34-year career with the company. Casa Magna is releasing a new Lancero size. Drew Estate is launching Ratzilla, a version of the Dirty Rat that measures 6 inches with a ring gauge of 46 (we reported the possibility of this new vitola at the 2010 IPCPR Trade Show in New Orleans).

4) Around the Blogs: Stogie Review reviews the Regusto Churchill. Tiki Bar examines the Casa Fernandez Arsenio Maduro. Smoking Stogie smokes a pre-release Drew Estate Liga Privada L40. Cigar Fan fires up a Hoyo de Monterrey Reposado en Cedros. Stogie Fresh smokes the Tatuaje Verocu Tubo. The Padrón 1964 Principe Maduro is now the top cigar at YourCigarRatings.com.

5) Deal of the Week: Altadis continues promotions for its Romeo y Julieta Habana Reserve, offering four sticks for just $7.95 (including shipping). An ad in the March Men’s Journal advises readers to log on here and order the quartet.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr