The Stogie Guys

[Editors’ Note: In celebration of the five-year anniversary of StogieGuys.com, we’re updating and re-publishing some of our oldest articles, many of which focused on cigar basics. Our hope is to encourage a discussion among readers and reacquaint the community with important cigar fundamentals.]

Giving cigars as a gift, even to a known cigar fan, isn’t always as easy as it sounds. Smokers’ tastes in cigars vary widely. Some are averse to specific brands based on bad past experiences, some only like very mild or very strong cigars, some are maduro smokers or Cuban snobs, and some will try any handmade cigar at least once. Unlike buying cigars for yourself, buying cigars for friends, relatives, acquaintances, and co-workers is an entirely different animal. So to help you out, here are three tips for good cigar gift-giving:

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After five years of publishing daily, my colleagues and I would like to welcome loyal readers and first-time visitors alike to the new and improved Stogie Guys. We hope you like what you see.

This cleaner look and improved functionality is the result of months of research, soliciting feedback, and trial and error. Many thanks to those of you who took the time to provide us with comments and constructive criticism along the way.

Let me first say that, as far as content and format are concerned, not a lot has changed. It was never our intention to completely deviate from the format that has worked well since May 2006.

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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) Passed one year ago, a ban on the direct shipment of cigars to consumers in Maryland went into effect on May 1. In an email alert dated May 9, Craig Reynolds of Cigars International, an Internet retailer based in Pennsylvania, wrote, “Unbelievable as it may seem, Maryland legislators took away your right to choose where you buy your cigars. We at Cigars International, like many others in the cigar industry, believe this to be an un-American affront to freedom—and will increase the cost of a cigar to you.” Reynolds went on to encourage cigar enthusiasts to contact Comptroller Peter Franchot in an effort to help overturn the anti-cigar legislation.

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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) Politicians in Louisiana are mulling a bill that would increase the state excise tax on cigars by 50%. “Higher taxes on tobacco products will only drive whatever business is left into the hands of Internet, out-of-state, mail-order merchants and criminals who do not pay taxes to Louisiana and do not employ Louisiana’s citizens,” said Chris McCalla, legislative director of the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association. “Of the 57 excise tax increases that states implemented between 2003 and 2007, only 16 met or exceeded revenue targets. New Jersey, for example, increased its cigarette tax in 2006 and instead of gaining a projected $30 million in revenue, the state lost over $22 million.”

2) Other Cigar Rights Alerts: In California, where a new bill threatens to expand the state’s smoking ban, the IPCPR has drafted an amendment to maintain an exemption for retail tobacco shops. Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy hopes to increase state tobacco taxes by 50%. Several politicians in Alabama hope to pass an exemption-free statewide smoking ban.

3) Stogie Guys in the Media: Looking for gifts for your groomsmen and best man? FashionableBride.com (of all places) cites StogieGuys.com in this article, which features gift recommendations for the guys who will stand by you on your big day.

4) Around the Blogs: Cigar Fan fires up a Toraño Master Blend. Cigar Inspector inspects La Aurora Para Japón. Stogie Review reviews a J. Fuego Casa Fuego. Stogie Fresh lights up a Siglo Limited Reserve. Smoking Stogie smokes the Tatuaje La Verite 2009. The Fuente Añejo No. 49 hits the top ten at Your Cigar Ratings.

5) Deal of the Week: A limited number of Tatuaje Anarchy cigars are still available. Boxes of 15 run $150, or pick up a five-pack for $50 while supplies last.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr

[Editors’ Note: In celebration of the five-year anniversary of StogieGuys.com, we’re updating and re-publishing some of our oldest articles, many of which focused on cigar basics. Our hope is to encourage a discussion among readers and reacquaint the community with important cigar fundamentals.]

Golf and cigars go together perfectly. You’ve got hours outdoors, you can ash your cigar anywhere without getting dirty looks (except for the greens), and compared to the rest of society, golf courses generally provide cigar-friendly environments.

There are plenty of firms looking to cash in on this match made in heaven with all kinds of specialty golf cigar gadgets ranging from cigar tees to hold your cigar to golf bag humidors. But dropping extra cash on a gadget is completely unnecessary if you follow a few simple tips.

First, make a good decision about what to smoke. The golf course is perfect for a Churchill or, if a smaller ring gauge is more to your liking, a lonsdale. Remember that your cigar may sit un-smoked for awhile as you four-putt, only to find that it went out. Larger cigars have a higher tolerance for re-lighting.

Second, you need to light your cigar properly. While golf courses are perfect for smoking a stogie, the wind that never seems to be blowing at your back can make lighting a cigar awfully difficult. If blocking the wind with your hand doesn’t get the job done, you may want to try using a hat to block the breeze. Or sit in your golf cart (if you’re riding, not walking) and duck behind the clear plastic windshield. A torch is preferable to matches under windy conditions.

After you’ve got your cigar selected and lit properly, the next challenge is deciding where to rest your cigar while you swing away. Plenty of outfits hawk special “cigar tees,” but all you need is a flat, non-flammable surface: various places in golf carts, tee box markers, or even a few tees from your bag. Just try to avoid laying your cigar directly on the grass—especially the greens—as many golf courses are saturated with chemical fertilizers.

Our final tip regards how many cigars to bring to the course in the first place. The standard is one cigar for every nine holes. But it’s better to come over-prepared, especially if the course has a slow pace of play. That makes three cigars per 18-hole round a good rule of thumb. Just remember to store your stash safely in your golf bag inside a simple leather case or a cigar tube.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief verdict on a single cigar of “buy,” “hold,” or “sell.”

I’ve made no secret of the fact that I’ve been very impressed with Ernesto Perez-Carrillo’s new cigars, particular the 2010 Short Run limited release. But despite the fact that it is reportedly the third best-selling size, I’ve never been a huge fan of the six-inch by 60-ring gauge size. Still, I was looking forward to trying the Dominantes (6.25 x 60). It’s fuller-bodied than the smaller Short Run sizes, but still features graham spice, butter, and woody notes. Add a bit of leather into the mix and you get an interesting blend with the excellent construction I’ve come to expect from Carrillo’s cigars.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

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) In the useless contest to see who can make the world’s longest cigar, José “Cueto” Castelar is second to none. The 67-year-old already owns four Guinness World Records, with his latest creation measuring over 45 meters long. Now he aims to crush his previous best and set a new record with a 70-meter monstrosity, ensuring that the title remains in his native Cuba. “Cueto said that as long as he lives, the Guinness record has to be in Cuba,” his spokesman told the AFP. “He is very lively now and will get tired as the days go by, but he hopes to reach his goal.”

2) Miami Cigar & Co. has released a new video in its promotion of National Nestor Miranda Cigar Day. “On Friday, May 6, I want you to visit your local tobacconist, buy any cigar you want, and you’re gonna receive from me Art Deco—free, no charge,” says Miranda in the video. “The wrapper is corojo ’06, it’s handmade in Nicaragua, and the size that we’re gonna give you is the size that I love: the Robusto (5.5 x 54).”

3) Inside the Industry: Davidoff is introducing the new Zino Z-Class, a full-bodied cigar with a Dominican wrapper, Peruvian binder, and filler mix of Nicaraguan and Honduran tobaccos. The Economist reports accusations of widespread corruption in the Cuban national cigar industry, which has resulted in the imprisonment of Habanos V.P. Manuel García since last August.

4) Around the Blogs: Smoking Stogie fires up the My Father Belicoso Davidoff NYC Exclusive. Stogie Review reviews the Diamond Crown Julius Caeser. The Tiki Bar kicks back with a Drew Estate Dirt Lancero. Cigar Inspector inspects a Por Larrañaga RE Switzerland. Nice Tight Ash checks out the Punch Rare Corojo 10th Anniversary. The AVO Limited Edition 2011 85th Anniversary Perfecto is the new top cigar at YourCigarRatings.com.

5) Deal of the Week: This weekly special features two top Dominican robustos. $29 lands you five each of the La Aurora 1495 and the La Gloria Wavell. Or you can double up for just $50.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: AFP