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) Cigars Direct, an online retailer based in Tampa, scored big when it brokered the sale of a 1,600-pound cigar to an undisclosed buyer outside the U.S. for $185,000. The 19-foot-long Gran Habano #5 El Gigante was owned by a Miami collector, according to the Tampa Tribune. The ring gauge is about 2,160 (3 feet) and 16,000 wrapper leaves were used, according to the paper. The headline: “How big is your humidor?” The buyer reportedly also bought 100 other high-end cigars costing $750 apiece.

2) We’re pleased to announce Chris G. of Pleasanton, California, as the winner of our latest giveaway. Chris’ entry was chosen by Ron “Jaws” Jaworski himself. He won two tickets to Jaws’ Super Bowl Cigar Party ($1,000 value), an event that took place last night at the Bourbon Vieux on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. We hope you had a great time, Chris!

3) Inside the Industry: Ortega Cigars has released its first three “Wild Bunch” cigars. Cusano Founder Mike Chiusano, now reunited with his brother at C&C Cigars, recently rolled out his new Loose Cannon line in two blends, one with an Indonesian Sumatra wrapper and one with a Dominican Habano wrapper.

4) Around the Blogs: Cigar Fan fires up an Avo Heritage. Nice Tight Ash checks out the Nicaraguan Cigar Co. Condega Maduro. Cigar Brief smokes Headley Grange. Stogie Review reviews a Dunhill Aged 2003. Cigar Inspector inspects La Gloria Cubana Torpedo.

5) Deal of the Week:  The Annual Cigar Family Charitable Foundation cigar pack supports the children of the Dominican Republic. This special and very limited $50 gift pack includes one special edition each of the Fuente Fuente Opus X Figurado and Julius Caesar by Diamond Crown Figurado.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Cigars Direct

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) With the new year well underway, state legislatures across the U.S. are reconvening—and you can bet a wide variety of cigar-related bills are up for consideration. In Washington, a smoking ban exemption has been introduced on behalf of tobacco shops and cigar lounges (yes, it’s currently illegal to smoke inside tobacco shops or lounges in Washington). In Virginia and New Jersey, cigar tax hikes are in the works. In Oregon, some lawmakers are hoping to enable municipalities to place additional excise taxes on tobacco. And in Hawaii, banning smoking on beaches, tobacco display regulations, and excise taxes are all being considered. Be sure to keep an eye out for threats to cigar rights in your neck of the woods.

2) Anti-tobacco zealots also continue to push for outdoor smoking bans. The latest fight is in Marshall County, West Virginia, where officials will be voting on a measure that would criminalize smoking in parks, playgrounds, outdoor dining areas, fairs, and festivals. West Virginia does not currently have a statewide ban, but Marshall County prohibits smoking inside restaurants. For now, county bars, tobacco shops, and private clubs are still afforded the freedom to choose their own smoking policies.

3) Inside the Industry: Alec Bradley’s candela-wrapped St. Patrick’s Day cigar is changing names. Originally called the “Dirty Hooligan,” the cigar is now called “Filthy Hooligan,” a move designed to ensure no trademark issues with Drew Estate, purveyors of the Dirty Rat. According to Alan Rubin of Alec Bradley, “I had to make a decision that was based on integrity. The product is good enough to sell on its own, no matter what we called it.”

4) Around the Blogs: Stogie Review reviews the Tatuaje Apocalypse. Tiki Bar kicks back with a La Gloria Cubana Trunk Show LR-1. Nice Tight Ash checks out an Emilio Series H Maduro. A Cigar Smoker smokes the 601 La Bomba. Cigar Coop fires up an Asylum 13. Cigar Inspector inspects a Ramón Allones Superiores.

5) Deal of the Week: In case you haven’t checked it out yet, here’s a deal created just for StogieGuys.com readers. The “Stogie Guys Cigar Sampler”—offered by longtime supporter Corona Cigar—contains seven cigars for $29.95 (plus free shipping on your entire order). It includes limited edition cigars from Avo and Davidoff, plus cigars from by Rocky Patel, J.C. Newman, Casa Fernandez, and two Corona “house” blends. Pick yours up here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: 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) There’s still time to win a pair of tickets ($1,000 value) to Ron “Jaws” Jaworski’s Super Bowl cigar party in New Orleans, and Jaws will personally be selecting the winner. The former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst’s event will feature top-notch premium cigars, single-malt scotch, and plenty of NFL and ESPN celebrities. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post about your favorite cigar-related sports celebration.

2) Many StogieGuys.com readers know Matt Krimm and John Anderson (right) as the proprietors of W. Curtis Draper, the oldest tobacconist in the District of Columbia. On Monday, the duo opened the doors of their newest venture—Civil Cigar Lounge, a new smoke-friendly locale in Washington’s Friendship Heights neighborhood. Civil is equipped with a state-of-the-art air ventilation system, plush seating for over 90 patrons, 125 personalized cigar lockers, a full bar, and a menu designed by an adjacent restaurant.

3) Remember our “Win a Big Box of Cigar Swag” contest? We’re pleased to announce David of Kirkville, New York, has been randomly selected as the winner. Please join us in congratulating David, who soon be the proud owner of a bunch of cigar T-shirts, hats, playing cards, cutters, and other memorabilia.

4) Inside the Industry: Florida-based retailer Smoke Inn is introducing its sixth installment of the MicroBlend Series™, this time made by Room 101. The “Big Delicious” cigar will be a Torpedo (6.25 x 42-54) with a shaggy foot and will retail for $8.95. The binder/filler tobaccos from Brazil, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic will be adorned with a “very special and limited high grade” Habano 2000 wrapper.

5) Deal of the Week: A good ashtray is hard to find, and Drew Estate makes some of the best at their Subculture Studios. If you’re in the market for a new place to rest your ash, you’d be well advised to check these out.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Civil Cigar Lounge

People don’t pay enough attention to this fact, but the cigar community is exceedingly generous. A perfect example is former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski, a cigar aficionado who spends considerable time and energy supporting charity.

Each year, just before the Super Bowl, “Jaws” (far right in the picture above) holds a cigar party with his many friends from ESPN and professional athletes, with proceeds benefiting charity. This year proceeds go to Jaws Youth Playbook Charity and the United Way for the greater New Orleans area.

Tickets cost $500 (with all proceeds going to charity); StogieGuys.com is giving one reader a pair of free tickets. (Details below.)

Jaws New Orleans Cigar Party, the 4th annual event put on by Jaws, features premium cigars from the industry’s top brands (including CAO, Macanudo, Miami Cigar & Co., Rocky Patel, Quesada, and La Gloria Cubana), single-malt scotch, and plenty of football celebrities to make it the must-attend cigar event. Jaws will be joined by ESPN personalities including Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, Mike Ditka, Suzy Kolber, Mike Golic, Merril Hoge, and others. It is an intimate affair, so not only do you get up close and personal with the celebrity guests, the space will also fill up quickly.

Jaws is an active community champion. His foundation, Jaws Youth Playbook (JYP), works to improve the overall health and wellness of at-risk youth. JYP is proud to partner with the United Way for the greater New Orleans area and support their Hurricane Isaac relief efforts. This year’s event will take place on Thursday, January 31 at the Bourbon Vieux on Bourbon Street in New Orleans.

Enter to win two free tickets: Entry is simple. In the comments, let us know the best sports-related cigar celebration you’ve ever enjoyed. Just tell us your team, what they won, and what cigar you celebrated with. We’ll pick our favorite and hook you up with the free tickets. Just make sure you can get yourself to the event, since it would be shame to waste such a great prize.

And even if you don’t win the free tickets, please consider buying a ticket. The money goes to two great causes and it promises to be a fantastic event.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Jaws Cigar Party

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) A judge has dismissed the outdoor smoking ban for beaches in Sarasota County, ruling only the Florida legislature can declare such laws in the state. “Sarasota County Attorney Steven DeMarsh notified Sarasota commissioners just this week that a recent court decision declared the local government does not have the authority to ban smoking in public outdoor areas,” according to the local NBC affiliate. Florida has been under a statewide indoor smoking ban since 2003. This recent ruling affirms the prohibition on municipalities from regulating smoking to a stricter degree.

2) Today Riverside Cigars in Jeffersonville, Indiana, is hosting the national release of two new sizes of Los Regalos Quetzal by Emilio Cigars. Attendees of the free event will enjoy raffles, cigars, specialty cocktails, and the opportunity to meet Gary Griffith and Nate McIntyre of Emilio. Los Regalos Quetzal is manufactured in Estelí and features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper around Nicaraguan tobaccos.

3) Inside the Industry: L’Atelier is preparing multiple new projects for 2013, including L’Atelier Maduro (slated for a June/July release) and a new Surrogate or two. Also a new L’Atelier vitola, the LAT 46SS, is scheduled for an April release.

4) Around the Blogs: Stogie Review checks out the new Civil Cigar Lounge. Tiki Bar kicks back with a Nat Sherman Timeless Nicaragua. Cigar Inspector inspects a Recluse Toro. Cigar Fan fires up a La Musa Mοῦσα.

5) Deal of the Week: Here’s a nice little sampler for coffee lovers. Just $35 gets you five each of Java by Rocky Patel and Tabak Especial, both made at La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate.

–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) The International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) isn’t the only organization stepping up its efforts to marshal resources to fight impending threats to cigar rights (see yesterday’s article for more details). Cigar Rights of America (CRA) this week made a special appeal to all cigar smokers to become official CRA members. And they’re throwing in special goodies to sweeten the pot, including a special CRA cutter and a subscription to Cigar Insider. The urgency is looming regulation from the FDA that “would do irreparable harm to the premium cigar industry and your ability to enjoy a fine cigar.” If you aren’t already a CRA member, please sign up here.

2) In last month’s “Question of the Month” (which admittedly ran significantly longer than a month), we asked readers which cigar maker made the biggest splash at this year’s industry trade show. A.J. Fernandez topped the poll with 24% of the vote, followed by Tatuaje (20%). Honorable mention goes to Joya de Nicaragua/Drew Estate, Ernesto Perez-Carrillo, and General Cigar. Be sure to weigh in on this month’s question by voting in the sidebar to the right. And feel free to contact us if you’ve got suggestion for a future poll.

3) The financial website MarketWatch this week explored what it called the half-dozen most popular U.S. neighborhoods. Topping the list was Chicago’s Old Town, which was cited for pleasantries that include “bohemian-era mainstays such as Up Down Cigar.” “With roots dating back to the 1870s, Old Town’s well-preserved Victorian-era buildings, fashionable dining scene, and its urban, pedestrian-friendly Near North Side location help explain why it’s the most searched neighborhood on Realtor.com,” explains MarketWatch. Up Down Cigar has been serving the neighborhood since 1963.

4) Around the Blogs: Stogie Review reviews an Ezra Zion Reagan. Cigar Brief reviews an Oliva Serie V Maduro 2012. Tiki Bar kicks back with a VegaFina Master 2012. Cigar Fan fires up a 7-20-4 Lancero. Nice Tight Ash checks out Herederos de Robaina. Cigar Inspector inspects a Cohiba Behike BHK 52. Chuck Cowdery reviews the Evan Williams Single Barrel 2003 Bourbon.

5) Deal of the Week: We recently gave the Tatuaje Apocalypse a four-stogie rating. Fortunately, the exclusive Tatuaje releasee is still available at Smoke Inn. Five-packs and boxes of 15 of the exclusive release are still available here (along with shirts and hats).

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: CRA

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) Since this is our last Friday Sampler of 2012, we think it’s an opportune time to thank all of you for your readership, feedback, and support over the past year. This was quite a year, and we couldn’t have done it without you. In 2012 we celebrated our sixth anniversary of daily coverage with a pilgrimage to Drew Estate in Estelí, Nicaragua. We surpassed over 2,300 articles published since our inception. We wrote full reviews of nearly 100 cigars and well over 100 Quick Smokes. We reported from the IPCPR Trade Show in Orlando and attended dozens of other cigar events. And we had such a great time reading your comments, emails, and even meeting some of you in person. Here’s to an even better 2013!

2) Longtime friend of StogieGuys.com Jacob Grier has an excellent article at The Atlantic entitled “The Case Against a Smoke-Free America.” In it, the Oregon-based writer implores his audience to “stop treating smoking as pure vice. Lost in discussions of the very real problem of how to reduce deaths from smoking is an acknowledgement that tobacco has redeeming qualities, that it can be enjoyed in moderation, and that not all forms of tobacco use are equally dangerous.” Grier outlines the most pressing threats to tobacco freedom, including smoking bans, taxes, and FDA regulation. You can read the full article here.

3) Inside the Industry: Dunhill is introducing a new cigar called the Dunhill Aged Reserva Especial 2003. The cigar is made by General Cigar and features aged Dominican filler tobaccos from the 2003 crop surrounded by a Connecticut broadleaf binder and a Connecticut-shade wrapper. It comes in ten-count boxes and will cost $15.

4) Giveaway: Be sure to check out our Quick Smokes over the next ten days for a chance to win a big box of cigar swag. To enter you need to be subscribed to our free email newsletter. Once you do that, you can earn one entry for every Quick Smoke between now and NYE that you leave a comment on.

5) Deal of the Week: Looking for a last-minute gift (or maybe just something for yourself)? Check out the holiday samplers at Emerson’s Cigars. Depending on what you’re looking for, you can grab a nice sampler of premium sticks (many include a lighter or a flask) for $30-70.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Stogie Guys