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) At 75 percent, New York has the highest state tax on cigars, a sad fact that explains why so many Empire Staters buy their smokes online or through the mail. Politicians in Albany had the opportunity to provide some relief to local tobacconists and consumers when the State Senate passed a modest tax cap at $1.00 per cigar. But this week the Assembly adjourned without addressing the bill, leaving it dead (at least) until the January 2011 session. “I know many of you are upset because we didn’t get the cap passed into law this time around,” wrote Ron Melendi, president of the New York Tobacconist Association, in an open letter. “With one house securely in place, we can now focus all our energy on the Assembly over the coming months.”

2) Anti-tobacco politicians in Texas have been pushing hard, including Rodney Ellis, a Democrat who introduced statewide ban in the Senate, and Myra Crownover, a Republican who introduced a sister bill in the House. On Thursday, though, the legislature ended its special session without voting on either proposal, marking the sixth time the Lone Star State has rejected a statewide ban.

3) Inside the Industry: Camacho and Room 101 have announced a new limited edition cigar called Namakubi. Officially due out at this month’s trade show, Tatuaje has begun shipping a new cigar called the “7th Capa Especial,” which boasts an oily Sumatran wrapper. Tatuaje owner Pete Johnson also officially confirmed that the next Tatuaje Halloween monster series cigar will be “Wolfman,” a torpedo with an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper and a shaggy foot. Florida-based retailer Smoke Inn is releasing an exclusive blend of Don Pepin Garcia’s My Father called “El Hijo,” which features a box press and an unfinished foot.

4) Around the Blogs: Stogie Review reviews Devils Weed. Smoking Stogie smokes a Litto Gomez Small Batch No. 1. Cigar Coop fires up a Monte Pascoal. Toasted Foot toasts a D’Crossier Imperium Class Vintage. Tiki Bar kicks back with a Los Imperialistas. Casas Fumando lights up El Primer Mundo Liga Miami.

5) Deal of the Week: Smoke Inn is featuring pre-release five- and ten-packs of the new Drew Estate/Joya de Nicaragua creation called “My Uzi Weighs a Ton.”

–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) With so many state and local governments passing laws that restrict the rights of smokers, it’s nice to report that one state is repealing anti-smoker restrictions. Last Friday, Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval signed a law rolling back the statewide smoking ban that was originally passed in 2006. Now, owners of free-standing bars and taverns (even those that serve food) can decide for themselves whether they want to allow smoking on their property as long as they prohibit anyone under 21 from entering.

2) In another move towards increased cigar rights, the New York State Senate passed bill S. 3410, which places a cap on the state’s highest-in-the-nation 75 percent tax on handmade cigars. The modest, but critical, cap would limit that tax to $1.00 per cigar. As we reported last week, despite the tax hike, the state has been losing revenue as consumers buy cigars online or through mail-order from lower tax states. The New York Tobacconist Association is now pushing for the State Assembly to take up the bill and encourages New York residents to contact the leadership in the Assembly and their representatives in support.

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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 Toraño Family Cigar Company announced this week that it is now the exclusive distributor of the newly formed Sam Leccia Cigar Company. “I have always had great respect and admiration for the Toraño family,” said Leccia, who made his mark on the industry with the creation of Nub in 2008. “Their expertise and history in growing tobacco and manufacturing great cigars is well known. Since their announcement last year whereby they took back control of the distribution of their brands, it’s clear that Toraño is focused on expanding its distribution company and providing tobacconists with the service and cigars they deserve.” Leccia’s first release, “Debut,” will be a blend from Nicaragua, Honduras, Ecuador, and Santo Domingo.

2) It was always unclear how a new Maryland law that criminalizes the shipment of cigars by out-of-state retailers to the state’s residents would be enforced. But now, according to the Baltimore Sun, “Comptroller Peter Franchot says he doesn’t want to enforce the prohibition on Internet sales of premium cigars that took effect May 1…When out-of-state cigar dealers told Maryland customers about the change last month, smokers fired back, bombarding Franchot with emails. The comptroller quickly said he didn’t intend buyers of high-end cigars to fall under the restriction and started talking to legislators about fixing the statute.” The penalty for violation of the law is $50 per package and up to two years in prison.

3) Inside the Industry: Cuba reportedly produced 81.5 million cigars last year, up 8% over 2009. “My Uzi Weighs a Ton” is a new cigar by Drew Estate made at the Joya de Nicaragua factory that will be out for this year’s trade show; its three sizes will retail for $9-12 each. (more…)

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) Lawmakers in Connecticut have passed legislation that caps the excise tax on premium cigars at 50 cents per cigar. Once Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signs the bill, Connecticut will become the seventh state to adopt a cigar tax cap (the others being Iowa, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin). “After six and a half hours of debate, the House voted, 83 to 63, on a mostly party line vote,” reports the Hartford Courant. “About a dozen fiscally conservative Democrats, including those who had voted against the original budget and tax increases last month, broke with the party and voted with the Republicans.” Connecticut is a key cigar state given its unique ability to produce high quality wrapper leaves.

2) In May’s “Question of the Month,” we asked readers, “Where are your favorite cigars made?” Nicaragua came in tops with 49% of the vote, followed by the Dominican Republic (24%), Cuba (18%), and Honduras (8%). 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 a suggestion for a future month’s poll.

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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 generosity of the cigar community knows no bounds, and that charitable spirit is in fine display in the wake of the deadliest tornado season in 50 years. The Montecristo Relief Organization, established in 1999 by Altadis after devastating hurricanes swept through the Caribbean, is donating $25,000 in vital aid to the victims of last month’s tornado in Joplin, Missouri. It is also matching the first $75,000 donated by Altadis employees, vendors, and customers. If you’d like to contribute, you can send a check to: Montecristo Relief Organization, Joplin Tornado Relief, c/o Altadis U.S.A., PO Box 407179, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 33340.

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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 bill is moving its way through the Nevada legislature that would decriminalize smoking in bars that serve food and are only open to patrons over the age of 21. Its supporters cite a 17% drop in revenue and a 10% drop in employment at taverns since the state’s so-called “Clean Indoor Air Act” went into effect in 2006. Cigar Rights of America issued an email news alert this week calling for Nevada cigar enthusiasts to contact their state representatives and encourage them to “restore some freedom, improve the local economy, and send a message to other states considering similar legislation.”

2) Jose Oliva, CEO of the Oliva Cigar Co., won a primary election on Tuesday, securing the Republican nomination for Florida’s House District 110. “Technically, the race on Tuesday was a special primary election,” reports the Miami Herald. “But the results are considered a de facto victory because there is no Democrat on the ballot in the general election on June 28.” Oliva is a “founding sponsor” of Cigar Rights of America and an advocate of lower taxes, smaller government, and business-friendly policies.

3) Graycliff has appointed the Toraño Family Cigar Company as its official distributor in the U.S. “After many years of doing our own distribution, we decided that it was best if we partnered with Toraño to handle that part of our business, so we could focus on the production side,” said Paolo Garzaroli, president of Graycliff, in a press release. “We chose Toraño for the similarity in our family values and because our respective cigar brands will complement each other very well.”

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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) Following this year’s IPCPR Trade Show in Las Vegas, the show will move to Orlando in 2012. Jeff Borysiewicz, IPCPR Board Member and owner of Orlando’s Corona Cigar Company, confirmed the move for StogieGuys.com. The posh downtown Corona Cigar location, featuring an unparalleled collection of vintage whiskey and pre-embargo Cuban cigars will undoubtedly be one of the after-hour hot spots while the trade show is in town.

2) The two events we reported on last week aren’t the only demonstrations going on next week to protest the outdoor smoking ban going into effect next week in New York City. NYC CLASH (Citizens Lobbying Against Smoker Harassment) is holding a “Smoke in the Park” gathering in Brighton Beach (on the Boardwalk at Brighton and 6th Street) on May 28th at 2pm. Smokers of all kinds wanting to show their anger at this unjust law are welcome to join. In their press release, NYC CLASH says: “We smoked at these outdoor locations before May 23rd and we’ll damn well smoke there after May 23rd. When a law is just so wrong and enacted on the whim of the biased with the power to do so who cannot be reasoned with then it calls for civil disobedience.”

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