Stogie Guys Friday Sampler No. 251

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) Officials in Alexandria, a central Louisiana city with a smoking ban that predates the statewide ban that went into effect in 2007, are hoping to make it even tougher to light up. Their aim is to adopt a stricter ban that also criminalizes smoking in bars and gaming establishments. “Statewide, the only places you cannot smoke are restaurants. For several years now, a small group of prohibitionists have consistently failed in their efforts to expand the state’s smoking ban to include bars,” said Chris McCalla, legislative director of the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association. “Extending the smoking ban in this Central Louisiana city could have a negative economic impact throughout the state…”

2) Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was caught with a cigar in his mouth at Salzburg Airport in his native Austria. Smoking at airports in Austria is illegal, but a spokesperson for the facility suggested no charges would be filed. Meanwhile, an anti-tobacco group vowed to file a lawsuit against Schwarzenegger.

3) Inside the Industry: Two new cigars from Prometheus (in addition to the what we reported on in our IPCPR preview) include the Angelenos JM and the Sencillo Black. Angelenos JM is a new 5.5-inch, 54 ring cigar created in conjunction with actor Joe Mantegna with a portion of sales going to charity. Sencillo Black is made by Plasencia in Nicaragua. Black comes in five sizes and features a Nicaraguan wrapper and binder with filler from Nicaragua, Honduras, and Mexico.

4) Around the Blogs: Nice Tight Ash checks out a Joya de Nicaragua Cabinetta. Stogie Review reviews a Perdomo Reserve Limited Cameroon. Smoking Stogie smokes a Curivari Reserva Limitada. Tiki Bar kicks back with a Tatuaje Avion. On Your Cigar Ratings the Rocky Patel Decade currently scores 98.

5) Deal of the Week: Smoke Inn is featuring the Honest Abe Sampler with 16 cigars for just $45. For under $3 per cigar, you get four each of the La Aurora Cameroon Preferido #2, Rocky Patel Edge Lite Toro, H. Upmann Vintage Cameroon Toro, and Bolivar Churchill.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: GMT