Stogie Guys Friday Sampler No. 309

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) Russia, the largest country in the world in terms of landmass, is moving forward with plans to ban advertising of tobacco products and outlaw smoking in most public places, including restaurants and cafes. “We have to move towards civilization, like the rest of the world,” said Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, the main proponent of the legislation. According to the Associated Press, 40% of Russian adults smoke, and “smoking rates have shot up in the past two decades, fueled by extremely low prices for cigarettes…”

2) Tonight is the debut of the Liga Privada Único Serie Velvet Rat, a new cigar from Drew Estate that measures 6.25 inches long with a ring gauge of 46 and a price tag of $14. Only 40 pre-release bundles of 10 will be sold this evening at Tesa, a Chicago retailer that has been a longtime supporter of Jonathan Drew. The Velvet Rat will be available on a larger scale in 2013. Patrick A will be at Tesa this evening to (hopefully) purchase a few Velvet Rats.

3) Inside the Industry: As part of its Punch tailgaiting promotion, Punch is giving away one six-pack of cigars every day. Following up on Tatuaje Anarchy, a Smoke Inn exclusive, the “Tatuaje Apocalypse” will be released in early December. Riverside Cigars in Indiana is hosting the national launch for the new 262 The Revere cigar line today.

4) Around the Blogs: Stogie Review reviews a Fernando León Family Reserve. Half Wheel revisits the Para Japón by La Aurora. Cigar Inspector inspects the Fuente Chateau Fuente. Cigar Coop smokes Freedom by Rocky Patel.

5) Deal of the Week: Corona Cigar (home of the Stogie Guys sampler) is offering a “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Sampler” with 11 (or 13, depending on how you count them) cigars for just $40. Included are five Don Pepin JJ Maduros and five Cuban Classics, plus a Corona Cigar Dos Capas Culebra.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr