The Stogie Guys

Yesterday the country honored Martin Luther King for his promotion of equality under the law and his dedication to ending racial discrimination. Thankfully, we have certainly made much progress towards those goals, in no small part because of King, since his assassination in 1968.

But as Tampa Tribune editorial writer Joseph Brown noted in a recent column, while racial equality under the law has increasingly become a reality in the decades since King’s death, in the same period it has become acceptable to discriminate against another group:

Since King’s assassination nearly 40 years ago, however, one group of Americans has increasingly become a target for legal discrimination. They are barred from many public places – and even bleeding-heart liberals go along with it. Additionally, they are taxed unfairly.

The group: smokers.

Brown points out correctly what many smokers acutely notice regularly, that unlike almost any other segment of the population, discrimination – and particularly legal discrimination – is accepted against smokers where elsewhere it is condemned.

Meanwhile, in an article in the winter issue of Regulation Magazine, which is on the shelves now (unfortunately the article isn’t online, but an edited version is available on the Washington Post website), University of Missouri Law School Professor Thomas Lambert explores the reasons anti-tobacco activists give for that discrimination. Specifically, he looks at the most drastic anti-smoking measure – the smoking ban – and ultimately finds that these justifications just don’t cut it:

Contrary to ban advocates’ claims, the costs of smoking’s externalities are ultimately borne by the owners of smoking-allowed establishments who, as a group, have incentives to efficiently accommodate smokers and nonsmokers. Efforts to shape people’s preferences regarding smoking run into individual choice issues and may be counterproductive. Scientific evidence on the risk of ETS (“environmental tobacco smoke” – more commonly called second-hand smoke) may be overstated and never addresses the important point that some people are willing to take that risk.

A better approach would be a hands-off policy permitting business owners to set their own smoking policies. Motivated by the pursuit of profits, the owners would have the proper incentive to maximize social welfare. The market would be far more likely than government regulation to accommodate the various preferences of nonsmokers and smokers alike.

Lambert’s analysis is a bit dry and academic, but it is also thorough and quite convincing.

StogieGuys.com readers should take the time to read these articles. This way, the next time some anti-smoking zealot tries to tell you why your state or city should ban smoking, you’ll be ready to explain to them just how wrong they are.

–Patrick S

Tags: cigars

SAN PEDRO, BELIZE – Coming to you from beautiful tropical Belize (known formerly as British Honduras), there is seemingly no shortage of cigar topics for me to write about.

I could tell you about my first encounter with the famously fake glass-top box of Cuban Cohiba Esplendidos (prominently featured in an advertisement for the local cigar shop), the fantastic Honduran Punch I had (a Honduran cigar just seemed appropriate here in British Honduras), or the Cohiba Robusto of questionable authenticity I was given upon my arrival (more investigation is needed there).

Yet instead I’ll take this opportunity to praise that often unheralded creature: the cold weather stogie smoker.

The absurdity of writing about cold weather cigar smoking from an 80 degree beach immediately made me think of one of my favorite (and similarly absurd) movie quotes:

It’s easy to grin when your ship comes in, and you’ve got the stock market beat. But the man worthwhile is the man who can smile, when his shorts are too tight in the seat.

A few days in the tropics made me realize just how easy it is to be a cigar smoker in the tropics. Nothing calls for a cigar like turquoise water and a warm breeze, except maybe a warm night at a beach bar with some Bob Marley playing. And naturally the lack of a Cuban embargo means that all the world’s cigars are available to you.

The point is, if you can’t enjoy a cigar here, you probably never can. (Leave me down here too long and I’d probably be up to four a day!)

Which brings me to the cold weather smoker, outside on the porch, in the backyard, or walking the dog (because you can’t for one reason or another smoke inside). Perhaps an oppressive smoking ban forced you out of your favorite watering hole and into the inhospitable winter frost.

To brave incliment weather shows true dedication to the wonderful hobby that is cigars. Like the man who’s shorts are too tight in his seat, the cold weather smoker need not smile while he bundles up for a sub-freezing stogie session, but he does. When many might close up the humidor until late spring, the cold weather smoker bravely smokes on.

So let me propose the following: The next time you’re smoking a cigar in a perfect setting, pause a moment and think of the cold weather smoker preparing to risk frostbite just for the hobby he loves. (Personally, as I make my most difficult decision of the night – Cuban Cohiba, Montecristo, or something else – I know I will think of my friends to the north deciding between gloves, hats, or space heaters!)

Such reflection is important because many of us will end up cold weather stogie smokers ourselves far too soon.

–Patrick S recently vacationed in Belize.

As we’ve said before…Tis’ the season for gift giving!

So your Stogie Guys each came up with a few items that we really want this year. (Screw peace on Earth!) Feel free to tell us what you want in the comments section.

Patrick A:

Padrón Millennium 1964 Series – As my December 11 review details, I enjoyed the Padrón Serie 1926 No. 6 immensely. And since I haven’t had the opportunity to try anything from the Millennium 1964 Series, perhaps nothing would be finer than to find a few of those sticks under the tree.

Montecristo Golf Set – Had I been especially good this year, I might have asked Santa to bring me this Montecristo golf club set. The clubs I have now are great (except when I’m swinging them), but wouldn’t three woods, nine irons, a mallet-style putter, and a sleek bag sporting the famous Montecristo logo look badass on the links?

Rocky Patel Java – I’ve had my eye on this box of 12 Javas for some time. A quick glance at our archived reviews page shows Rockey Patel cigars have tested well at StogieGuys.com, and I’d sure love to try a few more.

Patrick S:

Davidoff 12 Cigar Sampler – What few Davidoffs I’ve had I really, really enjoyed. But usually the price leads me to spend my cigar budget elsewhere. Hence, this would make a perfect gift. With 12 different cigars from Davidoff’s many fantastic blends, this super sampler would let me try all that the legendary brand has to offer.

CAO’s Brazilia vs. Italia: Artistry of Champions – Since CAO’s Brazilia line is one of my favorites, I was pretty intrigued when the company put this very unusual set of figuardos out. But I was left with one important question: Can you really smoke those 96 ring gauge trumpets? I’d sure like to find out!

The Companero – This nifty accessory is literally all you need to enjoy a good party: a combination cigar case, flask, torch, and double cutter.

George E:

La Flor Dominicana Ligero Mysterio – A cigar I’m eager to smoke, but one with a price tag that’s pretty intimidating. I’m also the kind of guy who’d probably want to wait for some “special occasion” to light it up, rather than smoking it when I bought it. But as a gift, that would be special enough to warrant immediate smoking.

Michael Schwab Commemorative Mug for Peet’s 40th Anniversary – I like to drink coffee when I’m smoking. This mug is an attractive way to savor the java.

Arturo Fuente Sun Grown Double Chateau – Just the sight of that shiny black band at the foot is enough to guarantee smoking pleasure. These consistent, rich beauties are always enjoyable. And when you can’t find the Mysterio, these are likely to be available.

JR Gift Card – Sooner or later, I’ll be driving up I-95 in North Carolina. What better way to spend a few minutes than winding through the towels, remaindered books, NASCAR paraphernalia, and all the other trinkets they wouldn’t take at South Of The Border to the humidor room? A fabulous opportunity to try singles that you might otherwise not see, to check out bargains, and to simply enjoy yourself.

–The Stogie Guys

Tags: cigars

Yesterday your three hardworking Stogie Guys took some time to relax and have some cigars in Ybor City. By chance Patrick A and myself were in the area for business, and once we realized we’d have some free time, we immediately contacted Tampa Bureau Chief George Edmonson to meet for a few hours in the cigar capital of America.

With just over three hours to spend in the historic district of Tampa, we wasted no time. We started our trip by meeting in front of the Columbia restaurant, where they roll their own cigars in the Gonzalez & Martinez Cigar Factory. The factory itself was closed when we were there and, unfortunately due to Florida’s Draconian restaurant smoking ban (how a state with well over half a million Cubans bans the traditional after dinner cigar is beyond me), we couldn’t light up at the restaurant.

So we walked down E. 7th Avenue (the main drag in Ybor) until we came across an open cigar shop (at 11 on Sunday morning your options are a bit limited). Outside of The Tampa Cigar Company Inc., the owner was puffing away at a cigar. As we walked in, to our left was a cigar rolling station surrounded by dozens of cigar presses, and to our right was a walk-in humidor with hundreds of stacked, un-banded cigars which we were told were all rolled right there in the shop.

At the owner’s recommendation we selected three robustos ($5 per stick), which we enjoyed with strong cuban coffee. After a leisurely smoke we thanked our host and left to have some lunch.

Later we found ourselves at King Corona Cigar, a large combination cigar shop, bar, and barbershop. They carry a respectable selection of name-brand cigars in a massive humidor. Tucked in between the CAO’s, Fuentes, and Diamond Crowns was an unbanded cigar simply called “Ybor City Handmades” that came in three sizes – Lonsdale, Torpedo, and Churchill.

Since we could find the national brands anywhere, we decided on the very reasonably-priced Ybor City Handmades and enjoyed three Churchills with some more coffee. With excellent construction, a mild buttery-almond flavor, and the occasional hint of spice, these Ybor-rolled Dominican cigars with their nearly vein-free Connecticut Shade wrappers were a steal at just over two dollars apiece

Unfortunately, like every cigar, this stogie adventure had to come to an end, but not before everyone walked away with a few more cigars for our humidors and a few pleasant memories.

–Patrick S

Since almost everyone who inhabits DC is from someplace else, the nation’s capital is a virtual ghost town over the holidays. And like most Washingtonians, I packed up and headed home for Thanksgiving this weekend.

My trip to Chicago not only provided me with opportunities to catch up with friends and loved ones. It also gave me a chance to visit a hometown treasure: Oakbrook Tobacco.

With so many legendary cigar stores in Chicago – like Iwan Ries & Company, Up Down Tobacco, and Rubovits Cigars, just to name a few – it’s easy to overlook a great stogie shop like Oakbrook Tobacco, a suburban B&M with a unique house blend any large premium cigar manufacturer would love to call its own.

The sticks aren’t pretty, but with a delicious, yet mild, flavor and a pleasing aftertaste, who cares about looks? In fact, I’d highly recommend purchasing a few of Oakbrook Tobacco’s F-1s or F-2s.

The shop was established in 1976 under the guidance of Meyer Patur, a late cigar legend whose knowledge of the leaf and blending are rarely equaled. At 85 years old, the Russian-Jewish immigrant rolled 100 cigars each day on site.

His craftsmanship, attention to detail, and customer appreciation – three characteristics not lost on Oakbrook’s current staff – did not go unnoticed. Over the years, Patur established an impressive clientele, including George Burns, Tip O’Neil, Milton Berle, and James Smithson (founder of the Smithsonian Institute).

Today, Oakbrook Tobacco has a new location with a large walk-in humidor and an impressive members only smoking lounge. “Club Fumare,” as it is called, will serve as a refuge from nagging wives, holiday shopping, and pesky smoking bans when it opens in the near future.

But if your travels don’t take you to Chicago, worry not. You can purchase cigars from Oakbrook Tobacco, including their renowned house blends, online.

Also, if there’s an uncovered cigar treasure in your hometown, be sure to contact us. StogieGuys.com is always on the lookout for new smokes to buy and new places to visit.

–Patrick A

I heard it again the other day. Listening to a cigar podcast, someone upset at smoking bans referred angrily to the “liberals” who want to impose them.

It’s a common perception — or, I should say, misperception — that those who favor smoking restrictions are “liberals.” Sure, some of them are. But the truth is that the issue, like most, is not so simple.

Name a group that’s been officially opposed to tobacco for decades. How about the Southern Baptist Convention, which, according to its Web site, adopted a measure in 1984 that calls for, among numerous other actions, taking “leadership in encouraging our people, pastors, and SBC leaders to refrain from using tobacco in any form …”

Or look at the states with fairly extensive bans. Sure, you’ll find Massachusetts and New York. But you’ll also find Utah and Idaho. And Florida, where voters have chosen Republicans for nearly every statewide office for quite a while – including George W. Bush’s brother as governor twice – approved an extremely restrictive smoking restriction.

Which governor said the overwhelming majority of residents in his state “don’t want to have someone else impose their habit upon them, whether it’s spitting or whether it’s vomiting or whether it’s smoking”? And also said he’d support a ban on all cigarette sales in his state? Arkansas Republican Mike Huckabee, according to news reports. He’s also known for this quote: “The country was better off with Leave it to Beaver than Beavis and Butthead. We were better off when the Gideons gave Bibles to the fifth graders than when school nurses gave condoms to the sixth graders. We thought it was better for fathers to take their sons hunting than sons in urban areas hunting for their fathers.”

Even in California, often associated with liberal nanny-staters eager to take away smoking rights, it isn’t as black and white as that. Among the first communities that moved to ban smoking on beaches and piers were those in Orange County, where, I believe, the last Democratic presidential candidate to win a majority was FDR — before WWII.

Of course, political labels tend to be pretty meaningless, anyway. That’s probably why politicians are so fond of tossing them around. The truth is that there are lots of people who want to stop others from smoking, for whatever reason. Some see themselves as liberals, some as conservatives, some as centrists, some who knows. Perhaps we can just call them what they are: anti-smokers.

–George E

Yesterday we reviewed the Hoyo de Monterrey Governor cigar. And today we’re talking about the governor most associated with stogies.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is without doubt the most prominent cigar smoker in America. He has graced the cover of Cigar Aficionado twice – the only other person to do that is Winston Churchill.

That’s why we were disturbed to see this tidbit in a recent article on the San Francisco Chronicle’s website:

He’s getting sensitive about that cigar-smoking image:
Schwarzenegger sat in the courtyard of the Four Seasons (he stayed there, the press didn’t) smoking a stogie as he was interviewed last week. But when photographers were brought out, the stogie suddenly disappeared. He handed it off to his deputy communications guru, Sheryl Main, and she discreetly dumped it so the governor could be snapped stogie-free.

We just wanted to tell Arnold to stick with it.

We love that he put in a cigar tent in the courtyard of the state capitol building, despite the absurd protests of anti-tobacco zealots. And we agree with him that attacks on his smoking tent are “childish.”

That’s why we hope he keeps true to the words he told Fox News back in May 2005: “As long as I’m at the Capitol, I will be smoking my stogies down there, and I will be having people down there smoking stogies.”

Now there’s a political stance we can really get behind!

–Patrick S