Stogie Guys Friday Sampler No. 293

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) S. 1461, the U.S. Senate bill that would protect premium cigars from disastrous FDA regulations, is now up to 12 cosponsors as Kelly Ayotte (R-NH, pictured) signed on this week. Meanwhile, H.R. 1639, the sister bill to S. 1461 in the House of Representatives, now has 203 cosponsors, according to the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR). Fifteen more cosponsors would result in a majority in the House. It bears repeating that FDA regulation of premium cigars would be devastating, particularly to boutique brands and new blends. If your Representative or Senators have not yet cosponsored their respective bills, please contact them and urge them to do so. And thank you for your continued vigilance.

2) The Michigan Senate recently approved a bill that would install a 50-cent tax cap on cigars. Currently, Michigan taxes cigars at 32% of the wholesale price. The IPCPR expects the State House to consider this bill when lawmakers return from their summer recess.

3) Inside the Industry: The IPCPR Trade Show is less than two months away, and the show floor plan is online (pdf). Notable is that Cigar Rights of America’s (CRA) booth is right in the front by the IPCPR’s own booth for its political action committee. This is a big difference from last year when, either intentionally or unintentionally, the CRA booth was way in the back, and it’s a good sign of cooperation between two important groups that work to safeguard the rights of cigar smokers.

4) Around the Blogs: Cigar Fan fires up a La Tradicion Cubana Chulo. Cigar Explorer explores the EloGio Serie Habano. Stogie Review reviews an Ortega Serie D Natural. Cigar Brief smokes the Chateau Real. Cigar Inspector inspects a Hoyo de Monterrey Short Hoyo Pyramides LE 2011.

5) Deal of the Week: Having trouble finding the new Tatuaje Little Monsters sampler? Corona Cigar has them available for pre-order with the cigars due to be shipped out later this month. While you’re there, check out the new CRA Sampler featuring ten exclusive cigars from some of the most sought-after lines (and you also get a one-year membership in CRA).

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Wikipedia