The Stogie Guys

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) Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican, is proposing a $50-per-month surcharge for state employees who smoke. “To demonstrate how bad ideas spread, nine other states have similar policies penalizing those that simply want to enjoy a cigar,” said Glynn Loope, executive director of Cigar Rights of America (CRA). “Testing for nicotine in the same fashion as illegal narcotics is a practice we cannot tolerate nor accept in this nation.” CRA points out that, before he was elected governor, Walker promised to end Wisconsin’s statewide smoking ban. But he later flip-flopped, saying he no longer supports a repeal. Interestingly, the LaCrosse Tribune reports many anti-tobacco groups don’t support Walker’s surcharge proposal. They claim it won’t help state employees quit smoking.

2) The new CAO Brazilia Carnivale is now hitting cigar shops. It’s a large Brazilia (6.5 x 60) that, according to General Cigar, “puts an innovative spin on the popular Brazilia blend.” It features a Habano Grueso wrapper with a Brazilian binder and ligero filler tobaccos from Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. Singles will sell for $8.30. General Cigar hints it may be working on another “small batch twist” for one of CAO’s other blends.

3) Inside the Industry: Iconinc Leaf, maker of Recluse, has announced that a new Draconian blend will officially debut this summer. Draconian will have a maduro Ecuadorian wrapper and a “proprietary” binder. Look for a pre-release review of this cigar in the coming weeks.

4) Around the Blogs: Stogie Review reviews the Diesel Wicked. Cigar Fan fires up an Asylum 13. Half Wheel smokes the Oliva OC-001. Cigar Inspector Inspects the Quesada Selección España. Nice Tight Ash checks out the Cuenca Cigars 5 Anniversary.

5) Deal of the Week: One ultra-popular line that’s hard to find is Liga Privada by Drew Estate. Site sponsor Emerson’s currently has both the Liga Privada No. 9 and the Liga Privada T52 available, but don’t wait too long since they’re likely to go fast.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr

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) John W. Walker, a Democratic representative in the Arkansas House, has introduced a bill (HB 2119) that would strip away the exemptions from his state’s smoking ban. If approved, his measure would criminalize smoking in cigar shops and cigar bars, as well as outdoor restaurants that currently choose to welcome cigar smokers. Cigar Rights of America issued an Action Alert yesterday, urging cigar enthusiasts in Arkansas to contact their representatives and voice their disapproval of the measure, which would erode the freedoms of cigar smokers and business owners.

2) The International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) yesterday announced Mike Ditka will be the special guest speaker at the opening breakfast of this year’s annual convention. Ditka is the former head coach of the Chicago Bears, current NFL analyst for ESPN, and an avid cigar fan. The 81st IPCPR Trade Show will be held July 13-17 at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas.

3) Inside the Industry: Brazilian cigar brand Dona Flor, which was reintroduced in the U.S. last year after lengthy litigation, announced it has signed on with RK Distributors (also known as Cigar Cartel) to be the company’s California distributor. Avo’s annual release for 2013, called the Dominant 13th after the jazz chord, will ship next month and feature mostly Dominican filler (with some Peruvian), a Dominican binder, and an Ecuadorian wrapper.

4) Deal of the Week: Move quickly on this special deal on a sampler of Pinar del Rio cigars. Just $20 gets you six sticks, including one each of the Small Batch Habano and Maduro.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Arkansas House

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) Sindicato, a new cigar company created “by the retailers for the retailers,” has announced the hiring of Jim Colucci as president and CEO. Colucci is the former executive vice president of sales and marketing for Altadis, and he will oversee the development of Sindicato’s first two blends, which are slated for debut at the 2013 IPCPR Trade Show. “Sindicato Cigars was officially launched January 16 when a group of passionate, cigar-loving tobacconists decided to extend their cigar knowledge and experience into making cigar brands,” reads a Sindicato press release. “Their goal is to create a cigar company whose mission is to put the tobacco retailer and its customers first.”

2) Punch Rare Corojo, an Ecuadorian Sumatra-wrapped smoke from General Cigar, is coming back to the market on May 31 with a new Perfecto size (7 x 48) that will retail for $7.39. “Punch Rare Corojo started the trend toward seasonal offerings, and we are pleased to continue the tradition,” said Gus Martinez, director of marketing for Punch. “Between the breadth of frontmarks and the addition of the Perfecto to this year’s lineup, we are confident that Rare Corojo will be the go-to, springtime smoke for cigar lovers across the country.”

3) Inside the Industry: Camacho and Room101 are introducing the new Room101 Namakubi Ecuador. The cigar is billed as “a fusion” between the Namakubi and One Shot One Kill lines (though, curiously, OSOK isn’t mentioned in the marketing materials by name). Available in four sizes (three different perfecto sizes and the small Papi Chulo (4 x 42)) with a total production of just 100,000, the cigars should be arriving in shops now where they will retail for $6-12 each.

4) Event: DC-area cigar fans should strongly consider attending the DC Cigar Tweet Up. The two day event features gatherings at shops all over the Capital area with over twenty cigar makers participating and providing cigars, including the Ortega Serie D Lancero made especially for the 2013 DC Tweet Up. Proceeds benefit two charities.

5) Deal of the Week: Looking for Flor de Las Antillas, Cigar Aficionado‘s “Cigar of the Year”? The Pepin-made classic is on sale at Mike’s Cigars.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Sindicato

I’d like to interrupt our regularly scheduled StogieGuys.com content to congratulate Patrick Ashby and his wife Melissa on the birth of their first child!

Grant Henry Ashby was born in Chicago at 1:43pm on Monday, February 18th. He is a healthy 8 pounds, 5 ounces, and 21 inches long. Patrick tells me both Melissa and Grant are doing very well and looking forward to heading home from the hospital today.

We’ll resume our coverage of the world of cigars in a couple days but, in the meantime, feel free to use the comments to congratulate the Ashby family and give a recommendation for a celebratory cigar.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Patrick A

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) Yesterday, the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) announced it would be increasing its annual dues by $100, in recognition of the mounting issues facing cigar rights and the “substantial financial resources” required to engage those battles. “We must not relent in our fight to guarantee the safety of our industry,” said IPCPR CEO Bill Spann. “Our House and Senate bills have gained immense support, and we must not lose this momentum and prominence while we still have it.” Spann also said the recently unveiled plans to debut a “Consumer Day” and “Roast” at this year’s IPCPR Trade Show—plans we wrote about here—have been “tabled” due to negative feedback from various members. StogieGuys.com is an online media member of IPCPR.

2) General Cigar’s new website went live this week. Victoria McKee Jaworski, General’s director of public relations, likens it to a “digital cigar lounge” with “interactive features like a virtual humidor and a cigar bomb component.” General Cigar is one of the world’s largest manufacturers with blends like Partagas, La Gloria Cubana, and Punch in its portfolio.

3) Just because you haven’t heard much lately about the FDA’s proposal to regulate cigars doesn’t mean the idea is dead. The FDA recently posted a notice on its website that it “intends to propose a regulation” that would extend its authority to “all products that meet the statutory definition of ‘tobacco product’…” That’s virtually anything made from tobacco. The FDA gave no timeframe and did note that the public would be able to comment on any proposal.

4) Inside the Industry: La Palina is dropping prices on its El Diario and Maduro lines by 10% to reflect supply chain savings and to demonstrate its dedication to consumers and retailers. Davidoff is introducing a new size in its Puro d’Oro line, a Gordito (3.75 x 58) that will sell for $56 for a 4-pack or $350 for a box of 25. The new Puro d’Oro Gordito is also part of Davidoff’s new “Short Pleasures” assortment pack along with Davidoff’s Grand Cru No. 5, Entreacto, and Millennium Blend Short Robusto.

5) Around the Blogs: Nice Tight Ash checks out the Alex Bradley Maxx Brazil. Tiki Bar kicks back with a Nestor Miranda Special Selection Connecticut. Stogie Review reviews the Davidoff Royal Salomones. Cigar Inspector inspects the Inception 518.

6) Deal of the Week: StogieGuys.com recommends Bespoke Post, a monthly collection of awesome items delivered to your door. Past boxes include fine bar accessories, shaving kits, coffee, and more. You can skip or purchase every month. Click here to sign up.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: IPCPR

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) Swisher International, a Jacksonville-based company that manufactures Swisher Sweets and other machine-made cigars, yesterday announced its intention to start making premium cigars. The new premium division of Swisher will be called Royal Gold Cigars after Alex Goldman, a 20-year veteran of the industry. “As a fourth-generation tobacconist, I have cemented relationships that will enable Royal Gold Cigars to develop, source, and market an array of premium products that customers will enjoy at competitive price points,” Goldman told CSN. The inaugural lineup from Royal Gold Cigars is expected to debut at this summer’s IPCPR Trade Show in Las Vegas.

2) Governor Steve Beshear is calling for a smoking ban in certain public places in Kentucky, the state with the highest percentage of smokers. “Our addiction hurts productivity, jacks up health care costs, and kills our people,” he said in a public address on Wednesday. “Yet we’ve never instituted a statewide law to protect Kentuckians from second-hand smoke.”

3) Around the Blogs: Nice Tight Ash checks out the Elogio Habano Crescent City Cigars Exclusivo, and so does Stogie Review. Cigar Inspector inspects a Vegas Robaina XV Aniversario. Tiki Bar kicks back with My Uzi Weighs a Ton +11. Cigar Brief smokes a Foundry Talbot while Cigar Fan fires up the Foundry Wells.

4) Deal of the Week: Pinar del Rio makes some nice cigars, and if you’re in the market you might want to take advantage of this special offer. Purchase any box and you get this sampler of six Pinar del Rio smokes for free.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Royal Gold Cigars