Weekly Cigar News Sampler: Senator Pat Toomey Joins Fight for Cigars, Fratello to Launch Navetta, and More

As we have since July 2006, each Friday we’ll post our sampling of cigar news and other items of interest from the week. Below is our latest, which is the 549th in the series.

1) U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) has joined the fight for cigars, bringing the number of co-sponsors on S. 294—the Senate bill that would exempt premium cigars from FDA regulations—up to 18. Sen. Toomey “has publicly signaled to the FDA that premium cigars are different and that they should be exempted from FDA regulatory authority,” reads a Cigar Rights of America (CRA) email alert. “CRA and the entire premium cigar industry would like to thank Senator Toomey for standing with the consumers and small businesses of the premium cigar industry.” Now is an important time for coalition-building in the Senate. As we reported earlier this month, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a spending package that includes a provision prohibiting the FDA from enforcing regulations against premium cigars. The omnibus appropriations package passed the House with a 211-198 vote and will now move to the Senate for consideration. Congress has until December 8th to pass spending legislation and fund the federal government. If your two senators are not already co-sponsors of S. 294—and if you haven’t already done so—please click here to make your voice heard.

2) Omar de Frias will debut the newest line from Fratello Cigars at a launch party at the Kingstowne location of Old Virginia Tobacco Co. in Alexandria, Virginia, on October 4. Navetta means “shuttle” in Italian and is a “dream project” Frias envisioned while he worked at NASA for 12 years. It sports an Ecuadorian Oscuro wrapper and will be offered in four sizes with prices ranging from $10.50 to $12.50: Discovery (5 x 50), Endeavor (6.25 x 54), Enterprise (6 x 60), and Atlantis (6.25 x 52). Navetta is made at Joya de Nicaragua. “Blending Fratello Naveta was special as I wanted to translate the ultimate celebration our men and women of the space program felt after a successful mission,” says Frias. “After being part of over 21 missions, nothing beats the feeling of getting our astronauts home safe to their families. Colleagues of mine would get together and smoke a very special cigar to commemorate the occasion. This very special blend carries the ultimate feeling of innovation, duty, honor and success.”

3) Here’s a man who is 111 years old and smoking at least a dozen cigars every day. “Richard Overton has seen much during his storied life, which began on May 11, 1906. But, through it all, Overton remains a humble man who simply likes to spend his days sitting on the porch of his Austin, Texas, home, enjoying two of his favorite things: whiskey and cigars.”

4) Inside the Industry: Arturo Fuente and longtime collaborator Prometheus International Inc. are teaming up to introduce a special collection of four eleven-year-old Fuente Fuente Forbidden X cigars. The set carries a suggested retail price of $165.

5) From the Archives: An important question asked and answered: Do cigars always get better with age? This article from 2008 also includes four tips we garnered conversing with some top collectors.

6) Deal of the Week: StogieGuys.com recommends Bespoke Post, a monthly collection of awesome items (think fine bar accessories, shaving kits, wine, workout gear, coffee kits, exclusive cigars, and more) delivered for just $45. You can skip or purchase every month. Today is the last day to sign up and be eligible for the October box.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr