The Stogie Guys

It’s pretty rare that we come across a video solid enough to post, particularly since poor quality, pointless videos are a dime a dozen on the web these days. But the following is truly exceptional. It documents how the looming SCHIP tobacco tax hike would completely wipe out hundreds of thousands of the best jobs throughout Nicaragua, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic.

For more information on a wise strategy to combat the bullshit “for the children” mentality, be sure to check out our previous posts on Estelí, ammunition, and globalization. And please forward the video along to as many people as possible – especially to those who claim to care about the poor.

–Patrick A

Tags: cigars

If you’re reading this it probably means that, like me, you’re an adult who has made the conscious decision to, at least occasionally, smoke cigars. You understand that, like most things, there are certain risks associated with the hobby. But you’ve considered your options and have decided the benefits outweigh those risks.

Today, making that decision is terribly difficult. Thanks to a plethora of anti-smoking activist groups and self-interested health organizations, it seems nowadays, when it comes to cigars and risk, there’s more misinformation than information out there.

Thomas Lambert’s “The Case Against Smoking Bans,” for example, gives a good assessment of how the Environmental Protection Agency completely fabricated the risks associated with secondhand smoke in an effort to fuel the imposition of smoking bans.

So it may not surprise you that I’ve wanted to do a brief examination on the health effects of cigars for quite some time. The only problem is I’m not a doctor.

But Marc J. Schneiderman is. In order to better educate myself on the subject, I’ve been reading Dr. Schneiderman’s musings on how the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) seminal 1998 study on cigars “clearly demonstrates that those risks are acceptable to those who use the product responsibly.”

“The great majority of cigar smokers smoke fewer than one cigar per day and don’t inhale. The ‘habitual’ cigar smoker is rarely even a daily smoker. Disease risk ratios comparing cigar smokers to the general non-smoking population are reported by NCI:

This chart demonstrates that the 1-2 cigar/day user who doesn’t inhale is not at serious risk for developing cancer or heart disease. The ‘all cause’ of death risk for smokers of 1-2 cigars per day (and sometimes more) is not significantly different when compared to those who never smoked.”

Dr. Schneiderman convincingly makes many other relevant points in his rebuttal of the study – including that cigars are not addictive. If you’re interested in the subject, as I’m guessing many of you are, I would highly recommend reading his complete response.

I write this not to make light of the various hazards associated with cigar smoking. Risks exist and we should all be aware of them.

But much of the “science” government agencies and anti-smoking zealots use to advance their own agendas is terribly flawed. As Thomas Lambert and Dr. Schneiderman have done, these unsubstantiated claims should be identified and challenged. In that spirit, I look forward to gathering more data on the health effects of cigars as it becomes available.

–Patrick A

Tags: cigars

I’ve been frustrated in recent months watching the failed efforts to combat the higher cigar taxes that are part of the proposed State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) expansion. I have no connection to the cigar industry — other than enjoying its products — and I don’t claim to have observed everything that occurred. But I do have a little knowledge about how Congress works, and it often appeared to me that tobacco’s resistance was not as effective as it could have been.

So, I thought I’d offer my suggestions for the future.

1. First, and foremost, get a godfather. The cigar industry needs someone to watch over it and take up its interests the way Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) guards the vitamin/supplement industry or Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) takes care of Wall Street. Lacking a powerful, savvy ally who is committed to your view is like being in a hatchet fight without a hatchet.

2. Concentrate on the tax. Much of the recent discussion about the cigar tax actually veered off into whether the concept of SCHIP is good or bad. Forget that. Don’t get drawn into politics. As you hear in DC almost every day, “Stick to your knitting.” For the cigar industry, the issue is the size of the cigar tax, not what it would be spent on. Let others argue about policy. Remember, when you’re counting votes, there are no Democrats or Republicans, only “yeas” and “nays.”

3. Don’t encourage Astroturf campaigns. If there’s one thing legislators know, it’s communication. Most ignore form letter communications, whether via email or fax, so constituents must make their voices heard individually by communicating their own points in their own emails, phone calls, faxes, and letters. Personal, grassroots efforts can be effective. Astroturf is not.

4. Be realistic. There is a large, powerful, not-very-reasonable anti-smoking movement out there. Cigar smokers are a small group. Recognize those facts and deal with them, rather than complain. In my opinion, some tax increase is inevitable. I’d suggest working to keep it as small as possible and trying to get other things you want along with it.

5. Increase congressional awareness. Organize congressional trips to the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Honduras so lawmakers can see the plants, talk to workers, and get a feel for the economic impact of cigars in those nations. Back home, make sure every representative and senator knows all about the jobs related to cigars. And not just in shops and in Florida, but with operations like Finck in Texas, National in Indiana, tobacco farmers in Connecticut, etc.

6. Spend wisely. I’m not inclined to tell others how to spend their money. But I would suggest that employing lobbying and PR firms intimately identified with the GOP might not be the wisest course when both houses of Congress are now controlled by Democrats.

7. Stay alert. Getting surprised by a tax proposal shouldn’t happen. The best time to have an impact is before anything is committed to paper, so stay on top of it every day.

–George E

Tags: cigars

Chances are you’ve seen one at your local B&M. Maybe you did a double take as you were examining the many cigars in the humidor. “What on earth is that?” you ask yourself while noting a dual-colored wrapper.

That is a barber pole, and chances are you’ve seen more of them lately. With two wrappers, usually contrasting natural and maduro leaves, “dos capas” are difficult to make and usually only attempted by highly skilled rollers. Yet more cigar companies are making barber poles now than ever before.

Camacho’s limited edition 2007 Liberty release features a barber pole wrapper. So does the highly anticipated CAO America, though technically that’s a “pinstripe” (and the limited CAO Bratalia line also features one). Arganese (pictured at right) and Gurkha have introduced barber poles. Felipe Gregorio makes two different barber poles, one with two wrappers and the other with three (natural, maduro, and candela). And others, including big names like Fuente and Don Pepin, have also created limited edition barber pole sticks.

So what to make of these cigars? Are they novelties, masterpieces, or both?

Like most things, the answer isn’t that simple. While barber poles are likely created more for aesthetics than flavor, the dual wrappers allow for an additional layer of complexity.

Because the wrapper is usually the part of the cigar that most contributes to a stogie’s flavor profile, a barber pole might offer taste possibilities impossible to create with just one wrapper. Of course, more complexity isn’t always better, as evidenced by the Rocky Patel Fusion. While the Fusion is a fine cigar, it’s generally not considered as good as either the Vintage 1990 or 1992 (despite the fact it uses both cigars’ wrappers).

But flavor isn’t the only reason you might want to try a barber pole. Every smoker has their own definition of a good-looking cigar, and a spiraling wrapper is clearly an attention-grabber.

When it comes to construction, the barber poles also offer both both pros and cons. Because of the skill necessary to create them, they are more likely to be the work of master torcedors. On the other hand, because different types of wrappers burn at different speeds, these cigars may be likely to burn unevenly.

Ultimately, like cigars in general, barber poles are going to be a matter of personal taste. And in the end there is only one way to decide if these curious-looking sticks are for you: Go out and smoke some.

–Patrick S

Tags: cigars

Sometimes you just need to see something to appreciate it. In this YouTube video we visit the Tabacalera Cubana Factory of Don “Pepin” Garcia in Esteli, Nicaragua, whose smokes have taken the premium cigar world by storm:

The speed and ease with which Pepin rolls cigars is most impressive. You also see the dozens of people who are involved in the process of making handmade cigars. They might not all have their name on the band, but it is their hard work and skill that create your cigar.

So the next time you’re enjoying a fantastic smoke (particularly a Pepin-made cigar like the Tatuaje or Pepin’s namesake line) be sure to appreciate the hard work and skill that went into creating your tobacco treat.

–Patrick S

Tags: cigars

You can’t go a single day without hearing that you need to quit smoking. Whether its those annoying advertisements on television, government officials lecturing us, or just some busybody trying to run your life, the number of people telling you to quit is nearly endless. (I even recently saw an ad on another cigar website selling the latest and greatest method for quitting…You won’t find that here!)

What none of these people get is that for many smoking – and especially smoking cigars – is the right choice. So here is a list of four reasons why you shouldn’t quit smoking:

1. Smoking cigars is cool. Think about all the interesting people that smoke cigars: Winston Churchill, Mark Twain, Bill Cosby, Michael Jordan, Red Auerbach, Al Capone, Babe Ruth, Pete Rose, Tony Soprano, John F. Kennedy, Francis Ford Coppola, Rush Limbaugh, Sigmund Freud, J.P. Morgan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Elvis… The list goes on and on. You don’t need to love all those people, agree with them, or even admire them, but the fact is throughout history great characters have tended to be cigar smokers.

Smoking is a personal statement, and that statement is independence and flair. Ayn Rand once said of smoking, “Fire, a dangerous force, tamed at his fingertips.” Smoking exudes sophistication and an ability to relax and enjoy life. These are the people you want to hang out with, not dull teetotalers.

2. Smoking cigars is better than a shrink. Smoking cigars is an exercise in mental health. Chemically, nicotine increases activity in the brain’s neurotransmitters and creates endorphins that act as natural painkillers and give you a pleasurable rush.

When smoking you clear your mind and slow down what is too often a hectic life. This slower pace gives you perspective and peace of mind. Non-smokers go see a shrink while smokers know that cigars can make a bad day better or improve a good day.

3. Smoking cigars is cheap. Anti-smokers claim smokers “waste” money on cigars. What they don’t realize is that smoking is actually a real bargain.

What else can you spend a mere three dollars on and get an hour of enjoyment in today’s society? Going to the movie theater costs ten bucks and a mediocre meal can cost you two or three times that much. But sit down with a cigar and you get a relaxing hour that anyone can afford.

4. Smoking cigars is a luxury. Since the previous item was “Smoking is cheap,” some might be confused about how cigars can also be a luxury. Well, that’s the wonderful thing about cigars. Most luxuries cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. Some people buy super-fast cars, some travel to exotic locations.

But I can have a luxurious, hour-long vacation by simply sitting on my front porch with a good cigar and a decent drink. And smoking is the kind of luxury that can be enjoyed with other luxuries. Want to make that exotic vacation better? Smoke a cigar in an exotic location.

That’s the beauty of cigars. For next to nothing a cigar can make even the most average activity luxurious.

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–Patrick S

I never thought I’d be so irritated by a “courtesy smoking area.” But that’s exactly what I found at Charlotte Douglas International Airport last weekend.

The trip started innocently enough when my girlfriend and I landed in North Carolina’s largest city after a short flight from our homes in DC. We were heading to northern Minnesota for a long weekend of boating, golfing, and bonfires, but needed to survive a three-hour layover in the Queen City before boarding a flight to Minneapolis.

If a stop in Charlotte seems a bit odd for a trip from Washington to Minnesota, no, you’re not geographically challenged. It’s completely out of the way – but a heck of a lot cheaper than any of the other travel options.

So while we were taxiing to our gate, I started to think about how the two of us could best make the three hours pass. Food seemed a logical choice, even if airport cuisine is overpriced and usually less than spectacular. But that would only kill 60 minutes at most.

“What would really hit the spot,” I thought, “is a nice cigar.” Unfortunately, all the stogies we packed for the trip – a generous supply of Gurkha Expedition Torpedos, Cuban Crafters Cabinet Selection Toros, CAO Criollo Patos, and various Don Kiki lines – were packed in checked luggage and therefore inaccessible during the layover.

And then there was hope. As we stepped off the U.S. Airways Airbus 319 into gate B5, my eyes immediately caught a small cigar shop nestled between the men’s room and a California Pizza Kitchen. What luck! Even though it was clear we wouldn’t be able to smoke in the store, I figured we’d have plenty of time to find the airport’s smoking lounge after dinner.

So, with two freshly cut Arturo Fuente Chateau Fuente Maduros in my pocket and a bunch of crappy pizza in our stomachs, we ventured out to find the closest smoking area.

I honestly didn’t think this would take too long. After all, with an annual tobacco income in excess of $500 million in an industry that employs over 250,000, I assumed North Carolina should have some of the most tobacco-friendly airports in the country. But that’s not the case.

While many airports have indoor smoking lounges and various smoke-friendly bars and restaurants, we were told by our California Pizza Kitchen waitress (who obviously enjoyed cigarettes) that we’d have to leave the terminal for an outdoor “courtesy smoking area.”

As if making us leave the building completely wasn’t enough, Charlotte airport officials actually had the audacity to designate one small area at the end of the last terminal for smokers. It was marked by a large overhead sign above and boxed in with white paint on the pavement below.

We kind of felt like caged animals as other travelers stared while they waited to be picked up by loved ones. Clearly, cigar smokers are somewhat of a novelty in these otherwise cigarette-laden smoking areas. We also received plenty of funny looks from airport employees and TSA workers out for a short cigarette break.

But we sat there for quite awhile, puffing away in the sweltering Carolina heat. Hauling our many carry-ons all over hell’s half acre and going back through security was a pain in the ass, but we couldn’t think of a better way to pass the time.

–Patrick A

Tags: cigars