Stogie Guys Friday Sampler No. 363

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) Earlier this month, Mitch Zeller, director of the Center for Tobacco Products, hosted a webinar on the topic of reducing the burden of regulation on tobacco. A recent newsletter from Cigar Rights of America reports the “webinar focused almost entirely on the prevention of youth usage initiation, ways to encourage cessation of tobacco usage, the reduction of product harms and addictiveness, and new developments of science based regulatory regimes for tobacco.” However, Zeller did acknowledge “the position of the premium cigar industry” and has “received the message that premium cigars are different.” The Center for Tobacco Products is a subset of the Food & Drug Administration that oversees forthcoming tobacco regulations—regulations many consider the greatest threat to the premium cigar industry.

2) The 2014 Midwest Smoke Out will be held on April 24 at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana. Six yet-to-be-announced cigar industry legends will be making an appearance at the event, meeting with attendees who purchased VIP tickets (which go on sale January 1). Proceeds will benefit Cigar Rights of America. Only 20 VIP tickets will be sold at a price of $200; regular admission tickets will be $150.

3) Inside the Industry: Pete Johnson (sort of) announced the makings of a Tatuaje Lancero sampler for 2014. As mentioned earlier, new cigar trademarks are increasing.

4) Deal of the Week: Cigar Place has a variety of cigars on sale with brand-specific coupon codes. Most notable is 30% off Cusano, 20% off Drew Estate Undercrown, and 20% off Oliva.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: FDA