In our ongoing effort to make StogieGuys.com as entertaining and reader-friendly as possible, each Friday we’ll post a selection of quick cigar news and stogie-related snippets. We call ‘em Friday Samplers . Enjoy.

1) The intense competition to craft the world’s longest cigar is alive and well in the Caribbean. Aiming for his fourth Guinness world record, Cuban José Castelar is set to unveil a 98-foot monstrosity with 93 pounds of “top-quality” tobacco. He is expected to fall short of last year’s record of 135 feet set by Patricio Peña of Puerto Rico.

2) Inside the Industry: Small quantities of the new Rocky Patel Summer Blend 2008 go on sale in two weeks. Rocky described the Sumatra-seed Ecuadorian-wrapped blend to Cigar Aficionado as “medium to full in body, with a spicy, peppery flavor.” The four vitolas will sell for $6.50- $8.50 apiece.

3) Greece announced plans to ban smoking in public places yesterday. The move comes after previous smoking laws in bars and restaurants went ignored by one of Europe’s heaviest smoking populations.

4) Around the Blogs : Cigar Jack checks out the CAO Brazilia Gol. Keepers of the Flame smokes a La Flor Dominicana El Jocko. Stogie Baby lights up an Old Henry. Stogie Review smokes the Split Decision Double by ITC.

5) Deal of the Week : La Tradicion Perdomo Reserve was named "cigar of the year" by Robb Report . If you haven’t tried it yet, this La Tradicion Perdomo Reserve Sampler is a great way to introduce yourself to this popular and often hard to find line at a reasonable price: $39.

-The Stogie Guys

photo credit: The Telegraph

In our ongoing effort to make StogieGuys.com as entertaining and reader-friendly as possible, each Friday we’ll post a selection of quick cigar news and stogie-related snippets. We call ‘em Friday Samplers. Enjoy.

1) We’ll be on the radio again this Sunday talking cigars on the Livin’ Large with Geoff Pinkus radio show on WIND 560 AM in Chicago. The show runs from 5-7pm Central, and we’ll be talking stogies about halfway through the first hour. If you’re not in the Chicago area, you can listen live here.

2) According to Sports Illustrated, Atlanta Braves manager and cigar enthusiast Bobby Cox thinks the Mets’ smoke-free policy at Shea Stadium is “a great idea.” Under the policy, smokers can light up only in designated areas outside the ballpark. Cox, who always enjoys a post-game cigar and visits the in-division Mets many times each year, declared “the clubhouse doesn’t count.”

3) Tribune Co., owner of the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Cubs, and other properties, announced this week it has killed its $100-a-month penalty for smoking employees enrolled in the company’s health plan. About 600 of approximately 16,000 staffers confessed they smoked after the fee went into effect on January 1.

4) Inside the Industry: Don Pepin is partnering with Ashton again to introduce a mixed-filler cigar called the Benchmade that will retail for around $2. Rocky Patel will be producing a limited edition Lancero sampler with five of his popular lines.

5) Around the Blogs: Cigar Jack checks out the Perdomo Habano Maduro. Cigar Beat trys out a car cigar ashtray. Velvet Cigar smokes a Cohiba Maduro No. 5. Stogie Review smokes the Padilla Signature 1932.

6) Deal of the Week: With a dozen cigars for under $30, this Tax Rebate Sampler is a must for Punch fans. You get an assortment of eight Punches, plus four other quality smokes. Get yours here. (Also, check out free shipping on all Tatuajes.)

-The Stogie Guys

photo credit: GeoffPinkus.com

In our ongoing effort to make StogieGuys.com as entertaining and reader-friendly as possible, each Friday we’ll post a selection of quick cigar news and stogie-related snippets. We call ‘em Friday Samplers. Enjoy.

1) According to the suicide note left by a German bartender, Germany’s new smoking ban was the reason that Uli Stegmeier killed himself. Newspaper reports say the bar owned by 60 year-old Stegmeier had seen a 20 percent drop off in customers since the ban went into effect. And this isn’t the first time that smoking bans have killed people.

2) Matt Christiana of Matt’s Cigar Journal is participating in the Ride For Kids to benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. By donating, you are entered in a drawing to win one of four boxes of cigars that includes a box of 32 Opus X Petit Lanceros. Find out more details here.

3) Inside the Industry: CAO announced this week that legendary classic rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd will be headlining their party at the IPCPR (formerly the RTDA) trade show in Las Vegas in July. Altadis announced that they will be sending 50,000 cigars to the troops. To find out more about this good cause visit cigarsfortroops.com.

4) Around the Blogs: Cigar Jack checks out the NUB Connecticut. Cigar Beat inspects a Troya Clasico LIV. Velvet Cigar smokes a Graycliff Crystal. Keepers of the Flame lights up a Fuente Anejo 48.

5) Deal of the Week: Cuban Crafters is celebrating(?) the passing of tax day by cutting prices on a number of cigars. Included are the Cabinet, Red Label, Cameroon, and White Label lines. See them all here.

-The Stogie Guys

photo credit: CigarsForTheTroops

In our ongoing effort to make StogieGuys.com as entertaining and reader-friendly as possible, each Friday we’ll post a selection of quick cigar news and stogie-related snippets. We call ‘em Friday Samplers. Enjoy.

1) A bill to give the FDA the power to regulate tobacco recently cleared its first legislative hurdle. As we wrote last August, FDA oversight would be another step toward complete tobacco prohibition and may mean substantially limited advertising of cigars in magazines (and also potentially on websites such as this one).

2) If you like to smoke and gamble, Atlantic City will soon be out but casinos in Iowa will still be in. On Tuesday, Iowa Gov. Chet Culver is expected to sign a statewide smoking ban that will go into effect on July 1 and include an exemption for casinos. Wednesday, however, Atlantic City officials voted to ban smoking on all gaming floors.

3) Inside the Industry: The Newman Cigar Company opened its second Diamond Crown Cigar Lounge in Corona Cigars in Orlando. Gene Richter, formerly of the Coors Brewing company, is joining General Cigars as vice president of sales. EO Brands, maker of the 601 line, has introduced 601Rewards, where customers can redeem 601 bands for items ranging from a 601 T-shirt to a 42 inch hi-def flat screen TV.

4) Around the Blogs: Cigar Jack checks out an El Titan de Bronze Redemption. Cigar Beat inspects a Tatuaje Havana IV. Velvet Cigar smokes a Padilla Obsidon. Stogie Review reviews the Defiance by Xikar.

5) Deal of the Week: A great way to try the new Hoyo de Monterrey La Tradición is this deal. For only $19.99 (including free shipping), you get four Tradicións and a Don Tomás sampler pack with three different blends. At less than $3 a stick it’s a real bargain. Get yours here.

-The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr

In our ongoing effort to make StogieGuys.com as entertaining and reader-friendly as possible, each Friday we’ll post a selection of quick cigar news and stogie-related snippets. We call ‘em Friday Samplers. Enjoy.

1) Don’t expect to smoke a cigar while watching the upcoming summer games – not in person, anyway. Beijing will ban smoking in most public places starting May 1 “as part of its pledge to hold a smoke-free Olympics.” As if China’s communism wasn’t enough…

2) A tobacco festival in the Philippines ended this week with the parade of a 101-meter long cigar (that’s the length of a football field plus one end zone) through the streets of Candon City. The monstrosity was “carried by 150 employees…and was made from 300 kilos of Burley, Virginia, and native tobaccos.”

3) Nub Cigars are a new concept by the Oliva Cigar Company. By producing short sticks with extremely large ring gauges, the theory is you can maximize the “sweet spot,” so no Nub is longer than four inches and the ring gauges are all between 56-66. They hit shelves nationwide this month.

4) Around the Blogs: Cigar Jack checks out a Camacho Havana. Cigar Beat inspects a Griifin’s Fuerte. Velvet Cigar smokes a Padilla Hybrid. Keepers of the Flame lights up a Nestor Miranda Special Selection. Stogie Review reviews the Drew Estate Java Maduro.

5) Deal of the Week: In honor of Stress Awareness Month, Cuban Crafters is running some pretty fantastic deals on our favorite stress relief devices: cigars. You’ll find specials on Cupidos, Don Kiki White Labels, and Cuban Crafters Cameroons. Check them out here.

-The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Nub Cigars

In our ongoing effort to make StogieGuys.com as entertaining and reader-friendly as possible, each Friday we’ll post a selection of quick cigar news and stogie-related snippets. We call ‘em Friday Samplers. Enjoy.

1) Cigar smokers are getting hit hard as the slumping U.S. economy seems headed for a recession. Since many B&Ms get their inventories from Europe, prices are on the rise with the dollar at an all-time low to the Euro. And while total premium cigar imports increased about eight percent in 2007, holiday sales were lower than expected, casting uncertainty on 2008 shipment projections.

2) With business suffering thanks to Maryland’s smoking ban, Baltimore County tavern owners are seeking an exemption for enclosed decks, patios, and other outdoor structures of bars and restaurants. The bi-partisan bill won the support of a state Senate committee this week, but – not surprisingly – anti-tobacco zealots are up in arms. “Anything that would dismantle anything built into [the smoking ban] would be horrible,” said one “health” activist. (To think there used to be a Lord Baltimore cigar brand!)

3) Camacho Cigars is offering $2,500 and boxes of their new 10th Anniversary line as prizes for a new contest. All you have to do is create your very own Camacho commercial. More details can be found here.

4) Around the Blogs: Cigar Jack checks out an El Mejor Emerald. Cigar Inspector inspects a Camacho Corojo. Stogie Baby smokes a Tatuaje Havana. Keepers of the Flame lights up a Camacho 1962. Stogie Review reviews the Indian Tobac Split Decision Quad.

5) Deal of the Week: If you like Pete Johnson and Don Pepin Garcia’s Tatuaje brand, you should be drooling over this “Ultimate Tatuaje Sampler.” The deal includes ten of the best (and most impossible to find) Tatuajes for just $89.99 – a bargain considering the double-digit price tag of most of these singles. You can grab yours here.

-The Stogie Guys

photo credit: iOffer

In our ongoing effort to make StogieGuys.com as entertaining and reader-friendly as possible, each Friday we’ll post a selection of quick cigar news and stogie-related snippets. We call ‘em Friday Samplers. Enjoy.

1) With the Iraq War entering its sixth year this week, now is another great time for cigar enthusiasts to think about sending a few spare sticks to the soldiers in the Middle East. One law enforcement official is doing his part: Instead of destroying seized counterfeit Cubans, as is protocol, a Michigan sheriff has decided to send them to overseas troops. A local shipping company has graciously offered its services to safely deliver the goods.

2) Jameson Cigar Co., a new operation, is introducing itself with a sweet deal: two cigars and a T-shirt for just the cost of shipping ($6). You can sign up for the offer here.

3) Around the Blogs: Cigar Jack reminds us to accept no ashtray substitutes. Cigar Inspector lights up an Opus X Robusto. Keepers of the Flame provides an aging report on the Camacho Havana Monarca. Cigar Monkey tries the Emilio Reyes Gold.

4) Deal of the Week: Spring is here and that means one thing: golf season. This Golf Sampler includes two cigars each from Padrón, Hoyo de Monterrey, H. Upmann, and three other brands. You also get a lighter, cutter, and some golf tees. Get yours here.

-The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr