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Stogie Guys Friday Sampler No. 510

23 Dec 2016

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.

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1) Starting on January 1, Craig Reynolds will assume leadership of the entire North American enterprise for Scandinavian Tobacco Group—a “cluster” that includes General Cigar, Cigars International, STG Lane (a market leader in pipe tobacco, roll-your-own tobacco, and little cigars), and STG Canada. “We are leading in handmade cigars, pipe tobacco, and fine cut in the U.S.,” said Reynolds in a press release. “Advancing our collaboration between entities allow us to bring products from across our tobacco categories to all our customers. We believe that this will benefit our customers and drive further growth for our business in the U.S.” According to CEO Niels Frederiksen, “Craig Reynolds has successfully led our entire global handmade cigars business. Today, the handmade cigar category is a growth engine in our business and accounts for more than one-fourth of our net sales and profit. We want to reinforce this development by extending Craig Reynolds’ leadership to our entire North American business.”

2) On Tuesday, Caldwell Cigar Co. and Drew Estate announced All Out Kings, a collaborative effort between the two companies, would be shipping in March, delayed from the original anticipated shipment date of November. We first learned about All Out Kings in June, right around the time Caldwell announced another collaboration—Anastasia, and made by Ernesto Perez-Carrillo. All out Kings will be shipped in four sizes, all sold in 20-count boxes: Smash (5 x 52), Give Me Your Lunch Money (5.75 x 46), Foreverlast (6.5 x 54), and The Fourth Pose (6 x 54). Drew Estate Master Blender Willy Herrera said this of the project: “When Rob [Caldwell] and I began blending this project, we had to meet in the middle in terms of the strength of the cigar so that it was something Rob would enjoy as he is not typically a maduro smoker. We selected specific primings of Connecticut Habano wrapper that would be a bit more subtle, yet flavorful. This has taken a bit more time at the sorting tables and, in addition, the wrapper is extremely oily by nature, which has added to the aging process. I know everyone has been waiting and I’m causing additional stress for Rob, but I won’t let them out of the aging room until I feel they are ready.”

3) Inside the Industry: Could the incoming administration repeal the FDA regulations currently threatening to choke the premium cigar industry? While some experts regard that possibility as a long shot, one report issued by Congressman Mark Meadows, incoming chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, suggests just that. “The worst fear of cigar manufacturers and smokers alike has been that the FDA will impose the same onerous pre-market review requirements on cigars that it currently places on cigarettes,” the Freedom Caucus report said.

4) From the Archives: This is the time of the year for best-of lists, and next week we’ll be unveiling our best of 2016. In the meantime, you’ll want to check out our best of 2015 list to see the handful of cigars that achieved the rare five-stogie rating last year.

5) Please join us in congratulating Derek C. from Louisville, Kentucky. Derek is the latest winner of a StogieGuys.com giveaway. He was randomly selected among many participants at our Facebook page to receive a $20 gift card from Holt’s Cigar Company. Enjoy, Derek!

6) Deal of the Week: The Liga Privada Dirty Rat is a very sought-after and hard-to-find limited edition smoke. Currently, it is in-stock here (4-packs are $58, boxes of 12 are $157). But move quickly. Buy the box, or any order over $75, and get a free triple-flame table lighter by adding the coupon code “StogieDeal” at checkout.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Scandinavian Tobacco Group

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