Stogie Guys Friday Sampler No. 247
15 Jul 2011
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) Back in 2008, Boston bureaucrats adopted sweeping extensions of the city’s smoking ban, ordering all cigar bars to close by 2018. Before that move, even supporters of the city’s ban, which was four years old at the time, were calling the proposed legislation too severe. “The new regulations go too far,†wrote the Boston Herald. But on Monday, a provision attached to the Massachusetts budget that would have saved Boston’s cigar bars was vetoed by Gov. Deval Patrick.
2) Next week, Patrick S will be in Las Vegas to cover the 78th annual International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers (IPCPR) Association Trade Show—the convention where cigar makers from around the world come to showcase their products and debut new creations. Check back often on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday for live updates from the Trade Show floor as we get the skinny on new products. And feel free to leave a comment on this post if you have a question you’d like us to ask a cigar maker.
3) Inside the Industry: In its annual survey of American tobacco retailers, Cigar Insider found that this year’s best selling cigars brands are, in order, Padrón, Arturo Fuente, Rocky Patel, and Davidoff. The “hottest†brands (those most requested by consumers) are Padrón, Tatuaje, Arturo Fuente, and Rocky Patel. The survey also cites that over 67% of shops are reporting higher sales over the previous year, even though consumers remain price-sensitive.
4) Around the Blogs: This week’s “Around the Blogs” segment is dedicated solely to the 4th Annual Smoke a JJ for JJ Day, which is July 22nd (next Friday). Jerry Cruz, co-founder of Stogie Review, friend of this site, and all around good guy, started the tradition to remember his late son JJ who passed away due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Details here.
5) Deal of the Week: With platinum at over $1,700 per ounce and gold at over $1,600, this Platinum and Gold Sampler is the closest you’ll get to a bargain on the precious metals. Just $35 gets you five each of the Montecristo Platinum Vintage 1999 and CAO Gold (both in the robusto size). Grab your sampler while supplies last.
photo credit: Flickr
Patrick Ashby
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Patrick Semmens
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George Edmonson
Tampa Bureau Chief
Love the blog. Hope to see you guys at IPCPR.
Zara-Orleans Group International
Deval Patrick is a jerk off and the people of Boston voted for him and deserve him.
Being a Bostonian, I know that Deval Patrick is a classic well-meaning MA Democrat (i.e. "protecting" people from themselves by limiting their ability to exercise their right to pursue happiness under the guise of public safety. They pulled the same thing with firearms). Only 48% of the people of MA voted for him (there were three people running for governor) but BillK is right that those that voted for him deserve him: unfortunately, there are more that didn't vote for him that got him.
Thanks for the "heads up" because I missed this in the Boston Globe and I will be writing to my state Senator & Rep.