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. Below is our latest Friday Sampler.

1) Some politicians in California are aiming to criminalize the online sale of cigars in the Golden State. “In an effort to clamp down on youth smoking, Assemblyman Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) announced Monday that he was introducing a bill that would block the sale of cigarettes, tobacco products, and electronic cigarettes to individuals via the internet,” reports the Los Angeles Times. “The bill, AB 1500, does not prohibit online retailers to ship to other retailers. By requiring customers to purchase tobacco products at brick-and-mortar locations, Dickinson says, the state would generate $24 million in sales tax revenue.” If adopted, the bill would close off one of the biggest markets to online cigar sales and surely put a major dent in the revenue of many online cigar retailers.

2) On Wednesday, the third annual Nicaragua Tobacco Festival kicked off in Managua. The event is a showcase of the best cigar makers in Nicaragua, a country that’s home to many of the world’s hottest brands, and a nation that’s poised to become the number one source of premium cigars in the U.S. (the current leader is the Dominican Republic). Latest estimates indicate that over a third of all cigars sold in the U.S. are of Nicaraguan origin.

3) Inside the Industry: The Toraño Family Cigar Company has announced the “Blends from the Vault Tour,” a 40-store tour featuring exclusive blends. E.P. Carillo said this week that it’s upcoming release, the first in the Generational Series, will come out in May or June.

4) Deal of the Week: Cigar Place has a bevy of discount codes available. One particularly good deal is on the Undercrown Corona Viva, our favorite size of the Undercrown blend. After you add it to your cart, add the promo code “liga” to knock the price down 20% to just $104 for a box of 25.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Roger Dickinson

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) Yesterday, Cigar Rights of America (CRA) sent around an alarming email newsletter detailing some of the state-based threats they’re up against in 2014. Impacted states include Kentucky, where Governor Steve Beshear (pictured) has announced his approval of efforts to ban smoking statewide in bars, restaurants, and other “public” places; Nebraska, where a bill has been introduced to increase cigar taxes from 20% to 31%; Missouri, where a statewide ban is being considered; and Wisconsin, where a cigar tax hike proposal has received bicameral support. Over a dozen other states were also listed. “Of course, these issues are in addition to the vast array of ordinances and proposals at the local level, and the pressing matter of the day, being on the cusp of FDA regulation for this great industry…,” said the CRA email.

2) To celebrate what the Sindicato Cigar Company is calling “National Hex Day,” Saturday, January 18 is your chance to get a free Hex cigar. “All consumers who visit participating retailers and repeat the phrase ‘Hex me!’ will receive a free Hex cigar, while supplies last,” according to Sindicato. “Participating retailers will have stick and box promotions for the day, along with limited edition Hex T-shirts for giveaways.” A list of Hex retailers can be found here, and our review of the Hex Perfecto can be read here.

3) Inside the Industry: Nomad Cigars is adding two new sizes to its S-307 line: a Gordo (6 x 58) and a Corona (5.5 x 44). Leesburg Cigars in Virginia is getting an exclusive Cabaiguan.

4) Deal of the Week: The Stogie Guys Sampler at Corona Cigar Co. has been updated. Just $30 gets you 7 cigars, including an Undercrown and the limited Avo Lounge cigar.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr

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) It is no longer legal to smoke in Boston’s outdoor parks. The city’s Parks and Recreation Commission voted unanimously in favor of the regulation, which impacts all 251 public parks in Boston. “The ban makes it illegal to smoke cigarettes, marijuana, or any other material on properties controlled by the Parks and Recreation Department,” reports Boston Magazine. “Breaking the new law, which goes into effect immediately, is punishable by a $250 fine, and will be enforced by park rangers and officers from the Police Department.” The law was first proposed by Mayor Tom Menino who, despite a complete lack of evidence that outdoor secondhand smoke is harmful, says it is “necessary to maintain the health and safety of our public parks.”

2) Aside from Boston, a host of other smoking bans took effect yesterday, including a near-complete ban for the affluent community of Coronado, California. “In addition to banning smoking on most public property—including all public streets, highways, alleys, sidewalks, and parking lots—the ordinance bans smoking on public or private property within 25 feet of an enclosed building,” reports the NBC affiliate in San Diego. “It also bans smoking on private property that is open to the general public for an event, for recreational purposes, or if the private property is serving as a service area such as an ATM, ticket line, or parking stand.” A first offense will be met with a $100 fine.

3) Around the Blogs: Cigar Fan examines the San Cristobal Elegancia Pyramid. Stogie Review tries the Asylum 13 Sixty. Stogie Fresh reviews the EH Cultura. Nice Tight Ash lists the best cigars of 2013. Cigar Inspector checks out La Aroma de Cuba Robusto.

4) Deal of the Week: Our friends at Emerson’s Cigars have a great deal on tap for you Drew Estate/Joya de Nicaragua fans out there. For just under $160, you get a box of 21 CyB Lonsdale Clubs, an Undercrown Toro 6-pack, and an Undercrown hat. If, like us, you love these blends, this is a hard deal to pass up. Check out the details here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr

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) Earlier this month, Mitch Zeller, director of the Center for Tobacco Products, hosted a webinar on the topic of reducing the burden of regulation on tobacco. A recent newsletter from Cigar Rights of America reports the “webinar focused almost entirely on the prevention of youth usage initiation, ways to encourage cessation of tobacco usage, the reduction of product harms and addictiveness, and new developments of science based regulatory regimes for tobacco.” However, Zeller did acknowledge “the position of the premium cigar industry” and has “received the message that premium cigars are different.” The Center for Tobacco Products is a subset of the Food & Drug Administration that oversees forthcoming tobacco regulations—regulations many consider the greatest threat to the premium cigar industry.

2) The 2014 Midwest Smoke Out will be held on April 24 at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana. Six yet-to-be-announced cigar industry legends will be making an appearance at the event, meeting with attendees who purchased VIP tickets (which go on sale January 1). Proceeds will benefit Cigar Rights of America. Only 20 VIP tickets will be sold at a price of $200; regular admission tickets will be $150.

3) Inside the Industry: Pete Johnson (sort of) announced the makings of a Tatuaje Lancero sampler for 2014. As mentioned earlier, new cigar trademarks are increasing.

4) Deal of the Week: Cigar Place has a variety of cigars on sale with brand-specific coupon codes. Most notable is 30% off Cusano, 20% off Drew Estate Undercrown, and 20% off Oliva.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: FDA

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) Rapper and entrepreneur Jay-Z has made his first foray into the premium cigar industry, partnering with General Cigar to launch a new Cohiba line called Comador. Available in one size, a Toro (6 x 52), Comador is a project two years in the making that includes a Connecticut Havana wrapper and will be sold in a humidor of 21 cigars ($999), a travel humidor of 7 cigars ($350), or a box of 7 cigars ($210). “I worked with Cohiba because I knew they’d take my vision of a luxury cigar and bring it to life in the right way,” said Jay-Z. “We took our time working on this, to get the blend to exactly where I wanted it to be. Comador looks and tastes the way I think a cigar should.”

2) You still have time to bid in Xikar’s charity auction for the 1,000th Xi3 Fossil Mammoth Ivory cigar cutter with free inscription and induction into the Xikar for Life Hall of Fame. It’s to support the company’s relationship with Cigars for Warriors, which collects and disperses premium cigars to U.S. military personnel serving in a designated combat zones. All auction proceeds will go to the project, and you can bid here.

3) Inside the Industry: Illusione announced its Singulare 2013 is now shipping to retailers. In a tweet, Illusione owner Dion Giolito describes the cigar as “sweet hickory, black cherry, mild spice, and leather through the nose. Complex as hell.” We’ve reviewed past Illusione Singulare cigars from 2010, 2011, and 2012.

4) Deal of the Week: Looking for a last-minute cigar Christmas gift, or just something to treat yourself? Please consider purchasing it from one of our retail sponsors, each of which has a number of holiday specials: Smoke Inn, Signal Cigar, Corona Cigar, Emerson’s Cigars, or Cigar Place. Thank you for your support.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Comador

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) La Sirena, a brand that has been under the Miami Cigar & Co. umbrella since it was created in 2009, will be independently owned and operated in 2014. Arielle Ditkowich will remain head of La Sirena. “Ditkowich is extremely grateful for everything Nestor Miranda and the entire Miami team has taught her during their partnership and will always look at the Miranda family as an extension of her own,” reads a press release. “La Sirena Cigars will continue to work with the Garcia Family at My Father Cigars and Guillermo León at La Aurora Cigars to make the current Sirena and Merlion Blends, respectively.” More news about the future of La Sirena is expected to be announced soon.

2) States will take in about $25 billion in tobacco-related taxes and settlement funds from tobacco in 2014, but will spend only about $481 million on programs to reduce or eliminate use, according to news reports. Many states allocate much of the money for other programs, such as Medicaid, and only two—Alaska and North Dakota—will meet federal tobacco-reduction spending recommendations that total $3.7 billion for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

3) Inside the Industry: Drew Estate’s Herrera Estelí line is adding a Lancero size. For the first time ever, Padrón is shipping its highly-acclaimed 1926 blend in four-packs. Boutique Blends/Aging Room is releasing a new box-pressed Dominican puro called the Quattro T59 that’s described as similar to the Aging Room Quattro F55, but with an eight-year-old Dominican Criollo wrapper.

4) Around the Blogs: Cigar Inspector inspects the Punch Sir John. Stogie Review reviews Nica Rustica. Tiki Bar kicks back with the Nomad S-307. Stogie Fresh lights up the Casa Fernandez Miami Maduro. Cigar Fan examines the San Cristobal Elegancia.

5) Deal of the Week: E.P. Carrillo is offering a sampler that includes two never-before-released cigars through the subscription service Bespoke Post. Included is a special edition of the 2013 Limited Edition with a natural Ecuadorian wrapper (as opposed to the regular San Andreas wrapper), a five-year-old Inaugural Limitada 2009, and a cigar called “Family Blend #809” that has an Ecuadorian wrapper, Dominican binder, and Nicaraguan filler. You also get a wooden ashtray, a candle, a cutter, and cedar spills, all for just $45. To get your hands on these exclusive cigars sign up here, then select their “Churchill” box. (After you receive your E.P. Carrillo cigars, you can pass on future boxes you don’t want, or simply cancel.)

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: La Sirena Cigars