Stogie Guys Friday Sampler No. 291

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) Cigar Rights of America (CRA) reports politicians in Springfield are “dangerously close” to drastically increasing the cigar tax in Illinois from 18% to 35%. “This will give Illinois the highest effective rate of any surrounding state, and drive purchases online and out-of-state,” reads a CRA Action Alert. “The bill passed the Illinois House [last week] and passed the Senate in April of 2011. It now is going back to the Senate for debate and voting on the House’s changes.” The move comes less than three months after the Cook County Board increased cigar taxes in Chicago.

2) On Tuesday, New York State announced it would temporarily stop enforcing a controversial law that criminalizes outdoor smoking at state parks. Before this week, violators were subject to a citation for disorderly conduct. But a smokers’ rights organization claimed that the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation failed to comply with state rules about new policies, so the office has decided to delay enforcement until the policy can be properly vetted. “There’s a state rule-making process that we’re undergoing that will take a couple of months and in that time we will not issue tickets,” Dan Keefe, a spokesman for the parks office, told Reuters. Meanwhile, the office “hopes smokers will nonetheless choose to voluntarily refrain from the habit even without the threat of a ticket or citation.”

3) Inside the Industry: Christian Eiroa, former president of Camacho Cigars, announced he is launching the CLE Cigar Co., and that the company’s first two blends, CLE Corojo and CLE Cuarenta, are expected to hit the market in July. Carlos Fuente Jr. was honored with the 2012 Dominican Distinguished Humanitarian Award in recognition of his charitable work in the Dominican Republic. CAO is extending its Last Stick Standing promotion to July 31 to make sure everyone has enough time to get their ratings in.

4) Around the Blogs: Congrats to Charlie at Stogie Review on the birth of his child, Chase—enjoy that well-earned celebratory cigar! Cigar Fan fires up a few Macanudo Gigantes. Nice Tight Ash checks out Flor de las Antilles. Doc Stogie unveils his Cigar Safari video. Cigar Brief reviews the Obsidian. Cigar Explorer explores the Viaje Exclusivo 2012.

5) Deal of the Week: This “Rocky vs. General” sampler features 10 old favorites for just $30. You get the Vintage 1990, 1992, 1999, Sungrown, and Olde World Reserve by Rocky to compare against the Partagas Classic, Partagas Black, Hoyo Excalibur, Don Tomás, and Punch from General Cigar.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr