Stogie Guys Friday Sampler No. 242

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) Lawmakers in Connecticut have passed legislation that caps the excise tax on premium cigars at 50 cents per cigar. Once Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signs the bill, Connecticut will become the seventh state to adopt a cigar tax cap (the others being Iowa, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin). “After six and a half hours of debate, the House voted, 83 to 63, on a mostly party line vote,” reports the Hartford Courant. “About a dozen fiscally conservative Democrats, including those who had voted against the original budget and tax increases last month, broke with the party and voted with the Republicans.” Connecticut is a key cigar state given its unique ability to produce high quality wrapper leaves.

2) In May’s “Question of the Month,” we asked readers, “Where are your favorite cigars made?” Nicaragua came in tops with 49% of the vote, followed by the Dominican Republic (24%), Cuba (18%), and Honduras (8%). Be sure to weigh in on this month’s question by voting in the sidebar to the right. And feel free to contact us if you’ve got a suggestion for a future month’s poll.

3) Inside the Industry: Gary Hyams, former chairman of CAO International, is now the president and CEO of Beach Cigar Group Inc., which owns Gurkha Cigars. Colibri has released a limited-edition cigar cutter that celebrates the efforts of Cigar Rights of America.

4) Around the Blogs: Smoking Stogie lights up a Ramón Allones Selección Suprema RE. Stogie Review reviews My Father Le Bijou Special Edition. The Cigar Feed fires up an Illusione HL Maduro. Nice Tight Ash checks out the Fuente Cuban Belicoso. A Cigar Smoker smokes the Diamond Crown No. 3.

5) Deal of the Week: Instead of a cigar deal, here’s a classy way to protect your tobacco treats: This one-day-only deal gets you a three-cigar Colibri leather case (including a cherry lacquer bottom) for just $12, plus free shopping on your entire order.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr