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. We call ‘em Friday Samplers. Enjoy.

1) Facing a budget shortfall of nearly $9 billion, New York Gov. David Paterson wants to double the state’s wholesale tax on cigars. The move, which would also impact other non-cigarette forms of tobacco, would increase the tax from 46% to 90% of the wholesale price. Paterson’s administration claims the tax hike will bring an additional $40 million to state coffers. But not if, as WNYT reports, “no one is still in business.” Speaking at a gathering of concerned retailers near Albany, Eric Josten, owner of Queensbury Cigar & Pipe, said, “Even though we’re competitors we both know that we’re going to go down on this ship together if New York State has their way.”

2) Speaking of taxes, syndicated columnist Deroy Murdock highlights the connection between high tobacco taxes and terrorism in his latest column. As Murdock explains: “Tobacco taxes create a perfect arbitrage opportunity that radical Muslims exploit to collect money for terrorist groups that murder Americans and our allies.” Murdock then goes on to cite numerous examples of suspected terrorists financing their activities by smuggling cigarettes into high tax states and selling them with counterfeit tax stamps.

3) Inside the Industry: Gurkha has acquired Cojimar, an inexpensive flavored cigar brand from the Dominican Republic. Rocky Patel is celebrating 15 years in the business with his 15th Anniversary blend that features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper and Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos; it will be created with the entubar bunching method and a Cuban-style triple cap. Following the success of the Romeo y Julieta Short Churchill, Habanos has announced the newest Cuban Romeo: the “Wide Churchill” (5.1 x 55).

4) Around the Blogs: Stogie Review reviews a La Reloba Selección Habano. Tiki Bar kicks back with a Joya de Nicaragua Cabinetta. Smoking Stogie smokes a Padrón Legacy 110 Maduro. Keepers of the Flame fires up with a Troya Classico LXIII. Nice Tight Ash checks out the Cuban Punch Corona.

5) Deal of the Week: Fathers Day is coming soon, which means a Fathers Day Sale at Cuban Crafters. Boxes of the La Carolina are just $70, boxes of the Contraband are $50, and boxes of the Cubano Claro are $90. Grab yours here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Advisory Committee created to give recommendations about FDA regulation of tobacco, including cigars, is under fire for multiple conflicts of interest among some of its members.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), a watchdog group, sent a letter earlier this week to the inspector general of the Dept. of Health and Human Services asking for an investigation into appointments made by the FDA to the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC).

TPSAC was created under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act which puts tobacco products under FDA oversight. Last Fall the FDA sought comments on expanding its authority to include cigars. A recommendation by the TPSAC would be the likely first step towards regulation of cigars, which would be extremely damaging for the cigar industry and the choices of cigar smokers.

In its letter to the inspector general, CREW raised issues about Drs. Neal Benowitz and Jack Henningfield, two members of the committee who have financial conflicts of interest based on their ties to pharmaceutical companies that make smoking cessation products. Both have also made substantial money as expert witnesses in cases against the tobacco companies who they are now charged with regulating.

CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan noted, “TPSAC panel members are barred from having financial ties to cigarette companies. Common sense dictates they shouldn’t have ties to pharmaceutical companies that make smoking cessation products either.”

In a statement to the New York Times, an FDA spokesman responded to the charges by noting “tobacco cessation drugs are not regulated by the Center for Tobacco Products.” But that doesn’t address the conflict raised due to Benowitz and Henningfield’s financial interest in getting smokers to quit smoking and use the products they stand to profit from.

In addition, the doctors conflict of interest suggests that both are in violation of President Obama’s highly-touted ethics policy, signed immediately after he took office. That policy bars “every appointee in every executive agency” from participating in “any particular matter involving specific parties that is directly and substantially related to [the appointees’] former employer or former clients, including regulations and contracts.”

The FDA ethics office did not respond to multiple questions from StogieGuys.com about whether the apparent conflicts of interest constitute a violation of the Obama executive order on appointees’ ethics commitments.

–Patrick S

photo credit: FDA

It shouldn’t surprise you when I say that my colleagues and I aren’t fans restrictive smoking bans and excessive tobacco taxes. Many cigar producers, as we are, have become outspoken advocates against anti-tobacco zealotry. But few wear their freedom flag on their sleeve like Revolution Cigars.

Revolution Cigars is the maker of 262 Paradigm, a blend that honors the date (February 1962) that JFK hypocritically bought a shitload of his favorite Cuban cigars before signing a trade embargo against the communist isle. “Now you can smoke the legacy with 262 Cigars, post-revolution seed with pre-revolution flavor,” says Revolution’s website.

The website also comes complete with a “262 Manifesto” in defense of the freedom to smoke cigars. “Our voices must be heard,” it reads. “Our goals must be accomplished, not solely for the sake of our immediate cause, but for the many other liberties which are, even now, hanging in the balance.”

What better way to strike a blow against tyranny than to manufacture a cigar with the capability to captivate? That, it seems, is the goal of Revolution Cigars, and the reason for launching 262 Paradigm. This blend features a Brazilian wrapper, Honduran binder, and a filler blend of seco and ligero tobaccos from Estelí and Jalapa paired with Cuban-seed cubito leaves from Colombia.

Three vitolas are available: Torpedo, Robusto, and a box-pressed Toro that measures six inches long. I sampled three of the latter for this review. Handmade in Honduras by Alec Bradley, each Toro included a white band across the foot, a dark and toothy wrapper, and potent, mouthwatering aromas of espresso and dark chocolate.

With such a delightful pre-light fragrance, I am thankful the foot lights easily and evenly with a single wooden match. Soft flavors of creamy nut and milk chocolate follow for the first several puffs. Then, after about an inch, these classic Brazilian tastes are augmented by a heartier backdrop of leather, black coffee, and spicy wood. Mighty delicious.

As the white ash continues to layer sturdily off the foot, I can’t help but draw comparisons to some of Padrón’s higher-end cigars. Sue me. Before you do, though, I challenge you to smoke a few Toros and tell me that you don’t notice striking similarities: a dark box press, a profile reminiscent of moist chocolate cake, subtle woody spices, and superb construction.

So all politics aside, I am very impressed with this savory newcomer. It tastes great to the nub, smokes like a champ, and is priced fairly at less than $9 apiece. I love cigars that look and smell great only to completely live up to or exceed pre-light expectations. The 262 Paradigm Toro from Revolution Cigars does that in spades, earning a well-deserved four and a half stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

What may be the strangest cigar news in recent weeks came from California. The state with the most anti-smoking laws in the country and a staggering budget shortfall estimated at more than $26 billion is actually lowering its tax on cigars.

It’s not a huge cut—41.11% to 33.02%, to be exact. And, since its paid by distributors, the reduction may not even be noticeable by the time the retail price is set. But, hey, in this economy anything helps, right? Of course, it’s hard not to wonder why: Why would the state cut cigar smokers and users of tobacco products other than cigarettes a break?

Well, it turns out there was no choice. “The formula demands it,” said Anita Gore, spokeswoman for California’s five-member Board of Equalization tax panel that approved the change without discussion at a May meeting for July 1 implementation.

Gore explained to me that the rather arcane requirements of state tax law are based on the cigarette tax. (For tax purposes, she said, California recognizes only two categories: cigarettes and other tobacco products.)

The state law requires that the tax percentages on other tobacco products match that levied on the wholesale price of a single cigarette. So, with cigarette prices going up and the per-pack tax remaining the same, the percentage drops. And that means the percentage applied to other tobacco products must be lowered as well. Necessary adjustments are made annually.

Gore said that the tax for other tobacco products is levied on the value of whatever amount the distributor buys, whether it’s a truckload or a single stick. Remember, at that point cigar prices are often half or less than retail.

I’m not sure it’s fair that cigar smokers are paying less simply because cigarette smokers are paying more. But that’s the way it is, at least in the Golden State.

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Aging cigars is no guarantee that you’ll improve them. While years, or even decades, in the humidor can create magnificent smokes, it can also result in virtually tasteless tobacco long past its prime.

This particular Padilla Series ’68 Robusto had been in my humidor since fall 2007. I didn’t really know what to expect. I’d enjoyed a few of these more or less fresh and was hoping it would be at least as good. What I got was much better.

The prelight aroma was delicate with shades of tea and earth. From the start, the smoke was full and thick, the taste balanced, complex, and smooth.

I lit it outside on a beautiful spring afternoon, expecting to read and drink coffee while enjoying the cigar. Soon, though, I had abandoned my book and let the coffee go cold. I was lost in the pleasure of this rich cigar.

Of course, it’s often difficult to separate the cigar from the cigar experience. And the time and attention I devoted to smoking the five-inch Nicaraguan puro were amply repaid.

In this case, though, I couldn’t help but wonder whether what was clearly a good cigar—my colleague awarded it three and a half stogies when he reviewed it—became a great one because I was so attuned to it. With aged cigars, I believe there’s frequently a favorable mindset before the flame is struck.

These are the kind of questions I imagine Plato and Aristotle would have pondered if they had access to good cigars. I may be able to continue my philosophical explorations as well, since I think I have one or two of these left. I hope they are good as this one, which earns five out of five stogies.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here. A list of other five stogie-rated cigars can be found here.]

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

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 had been hanging on to this Cuban icon for over two years, finally deciding this weekend that it was overdue for a date with the flame. I was right. While the physical properties were improved, particularly the stability of the ash, the flavor was slightly sourer and a bit less flavorful. Time may have withered away some of the almond and oak. I still recommend purchasing this 6.1-inch cigar—just remember not to wait too long to fire it up.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

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.”

A Don Pepin Garcia production for Forcade Cigar, this stick is strong, with some of the pepper characteristic of Garcia’s creations. But Giralda lacks the complexity and interlaced flavors of his best. The line does show promise, and I plan to keep an eye on Forcade, although I can’t recommend this one.

Verdict = Hold.

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys