Stogie Guys Friday Sampler No. 349

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) Tuesday marks the beginning of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, a six-day event in Bardstown that celebrates bourbon with food, entertainment, and plenty of libations. Participating bourbons include Blanton’s, Buffalo Trace, Bulleit, Four Roses, Heaven Hill, Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, Woodford Reserve, and more. Highlights include a seminar on barrel making, bourbon tastings, hot-air balloons, historical tours, mixology classes, and a staged train robbery. Bulleit has arranged for free shuttle service to ensure safe travel for guests. The StogieGuys.com team looks upon those who are able to attend with envy.

2) While StogieGuys.com may have seemed a little slow lately, we recently upgraded our hosting server, and you should now be able to load the site faster than ever before. Enjoy, and feel free to contact us if you’re noticing any problems.

3) Inside the Industry: Reinado is now shipping the new sizes of its Grand Empire Reserve blend, which include Toro, Corona Gorda, and the limited edition Petit Lancero (limited to 250 boxes). Omar de Frias is hosting a launch party at W. Curtis Draper to introduce the Fratello brand of Cigars and the Fratello Coffee Blend to cigar and coffee aficionados in Washington.

4) Around the Blogs: Cigar Inspector inspects the Toraño Loyal. Stogie Review reviews the Viva Republica Rapture. Tiki Bar kicks back with the A. Flores Gran Reserva.

5) Deal of the Week:  Fans of the Quesada Oktoberfest may want to jump on this pre-order special of the Oktoberfest Dunkel. Reserve your box today of the Smoke Inn exclusive stick and you’ll get free shipping, plus a Dunkel beer mug.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Stogie Guys