Stogie Guys Friday Sampler No. 430

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) Pre-orders begin on Monday for Drew Estate’s new “Pope of Greenwich Village” cigar. Named for the 1984 black comedy film of the same title, the cigar features a Mexican San Andrés wrapper, Connecticut stalk-cut Habano binder, and Brazilian Mata Fina and Nicaraguan fillers. The single vitola (6 x 40) will sell in 10-count soft packs for $85. The first 300 pre-orders receive a limited edition T-shirt. Pope of Greenwich Village will be exclusive to Smoke Inn, and part of the Florida-based retailer’s Microblend Series, which commissions custom, limited edition blends from top manufacturers. The series, which is sold online, also includes Arturo Fuente’s Solaris, Tatuaje’s Anarchy and Apocalypse, My Father’s El Hijo, Padrón’s 1964 Anniversary SI-15, Quesada’s Oktoberfest Dunkel, Room 101’s Big Delicious, 601’s La Bomba Bunker Buster, and Illusione’s Pactum.

2) On Monday, America’s oldest vet marked his 109th birthday with a cigar. But Richard Overton of Texas doesn’t need a special occasion to light up a smoke. “Overton lights up a dozen cigars a day, but he’s stopped taking a shot of whiskey in his morning coffee,” reports Fox News. “Overton served from 1942-45, with stops in Hawaii, Guam, Palau, and Iwo Jima while attaining the rank of sergeant.”

3) For Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) the FDA’s impending regulations on cigars and other tobacco products can’t come soon enough. The notoriously anti-tobacco legislator is upset the FDA has taken as long as it has to consider public comments and issue a final rule. Blumenthal says he will introduce legislation to intervene in the FDA rulemaking process if the regulations don’t come before the end of summer, although it seems unlikely that such legislation would have much of a chance of passing through Congress.

4) Inside the Industry: Next Friday will be the fifth anniversary of the annual legal outdoor smoke in New York City’s Samuel Paley Park. In response to New York’s ban on smoking in city parks five years ago, La Palina (which is owned by Samuel Paley’s grandson, William C. Paley) and Cigar Rights of America organized the annual event in the private park space. Anyone over the age of 21 is welcome to attend provided they bring a receipt from a New York City tobacconist. The event runs 5-7 PM on May 22nd.

5) Deal of the Week: Who doesn’t want five bold cigars? This deal lands you one each of the Alec Bradley Prensado Churchill, Liga Privada Undercrown Gran Toro, Romeo y Julieta RyJ Toro, Punch DLX Royal Coronation Maduro, and Rocky Patel Valedor Robusto for just $27, with free shipping.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Drew Estate