Stogie Guys Friday Sampler No. 353

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) Further moves to regulate premium cigars under the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) may be delayed due to the partial U.S. government shutdown. According to the Heartland Institute, a nonprofit organization headquartered in Chicago that seeks to promote free market solutions to policy problems, “almost half of the federal agency’s staff has been furloughed, including those working on tobacco issues.” Meanwhile, the need to distinguish premium cigars from other tobacco products is only becoming clearer as the emergence of e-cigarettes may complicate matters from a regulatory standpoint. Currently, a majority of state attorneys general are asking the FDA to regulate advertising of e-cigarettes, which are combustion-free devices often used for smoking cessation purposes.

2) Altadis announced this week it is releasing the first-ever Romeo y Julieta that’s a Nicaraguan puro. Called “RyJ by Romeo y Julieta,” the blend includes a proprietary Nicaraguan wrapper around double binders from Estelí and Jalapa. Three sizes will retail in the $8-9 range: Toro (6 x 52), Piramide (6.1 x 54), and Bully Grande (5 x 54).

3) Inside the Industry: According to data distributed by the Cigar Association of America, U.S. imports of cigars through May were up 10% compared to 2012. The biggest percentage increase among the three major cigar-producing countries (Dominican Republic, Honduras, and Nicaragua) came from Nicaragua (up almost 20%) but all three increased imports.

4) Around the Blogs: Stogie Review reviews the Tarzona Revolution 305. Stogie Fresh fires up a Hoyo de Monterrey Reposado en Cedros. Cigar Fan lights up the La Gloria Cubana Serie R Estelí. Cigar Inspector inspects the Liga Privada No. 9. Halfwheel checks out the Tatuaje Grand Chasseur TAA 2013.

5) Deal of the Week: Hard to beat 30 cigars for $60, but the catch is you don’t know exactly what cigars you’ll get. While you don’t know the exact cigars, the following brands are represented: Padilla, La Traviata, HC by Xikar, Camacho, Onyx, Gurkha, La Aurora, Guillermo León, El Tiante, Toraño, Perdomo, El Baton, Anoranzas, Martin Family, Quesada, A. Turrent, and Rocky Patel.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr