Stogie Guys Friday Sampler No. 340
28 Jun 2013
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) Toraño plans to release only 3,000 boxes of a new cigar called Exodus Finite, a Nicaraguan puro that will be available in three sizes: Robusto (4.9 x 52), Toro (6.25 x 52), and BFC (6 x 60). “Finite’s blend combines an all-Nicaraguan filler of EstelÃ, Condega, and Ometepe tobaccos, a Jalapa binder, and a Habano-seed Jalapa wrapper,†reads a Toraño press release. “Finite is a word which perfectly defines the nature of this new release. Based on the limited availability of the tobaccos we have incorporated in the blend, we knew we would only be able to make around 75,000 cigars.†Look for this cigar starting in August for the suggested retail price of about $8-9.
2) Jamaica was one of the last major Caribbean nations to allow private business like bars and restaurants to decide if they want to allow smoking. No more. Starting on July 15, a country-wide smoking ban will be in place. Businesses will be forced to post “no smoking†signs and tobacco products will be marked with new warning labels. Details about enforcement are forthcoming.
3) Inside the Industry: Press releases announcing new cigars are coming fast and furious with barely two weeks until the IPCPR Trade Show. Drew Estate has acquired Heavenly Cigars, a brand known for its flavored cigars that also produces the more traditional Red Lion blend. 7-20-4 is set to release a new one-size (6 x 52) line called “Spider†that will come in a glass-top humidor box. Room 101 has announced the addition of a new non-limited, regular production, five-size line dubbed the “Room 101 HN” that will feature a Honduran criollo wrapper, Brazilian binder, and filler from Honduras and the Dominican Republic.
4) Around the Blogs: Doc Stogie smokes La Palina Maduro. Stogie Review reviews the Alec Bradley Nica Puro. Nice Tight Ash checks out La Aurora 107 Maduro. Cigar Inspector inspects the Opus X Lost City.
5) Deal of the Week: This “Red, White, and Blue†sampler features six patriotic sticks for just $20. Included are two each of the Graycliff Red, Rocky Patel Vintage 1999 (white), and Don Pepin Garcia Blue. Get yours before Independence Day is here.
photo credit: Toraño
1) The latest trend in smoking bans may not necessarily come at the hands of federal, state, or local government officials. In major cities, property management companies may start preventing renters from smoking without government intervention. The most prominent example is New York City’s Related Companies, which is beginning to ban smoking within its 40,000 rental units—both inside and out. “New tenants will sign a contract agreeing not to smoke anywhere in the building (that includes private terraces and balconies.) Breaking the rules could lead to eviction,†reports 
1) Big changes are afoot at Camacho Cigars, a Florida-based cigar manufacturer known for producing full-bodied cigars that has been owned by the Davidoff Group since 2008. For starters, the brand is embracing its reputation for strength with a new scorpion logo and distributing marketing materials that trumpet “bold is back with a vengeance†and “the world’s leader in bold cigars.†It is also revealing new branding that’s a major departure from Camacho’s older, more traditional look. It has hired Mike Ditka, Matt Booth of Room 101 Cigars (Room 101 has always been made by Camacho), and screenwriter Rob Weiss to be on the “Board of the Bold.†And it is narrowing its portfolio of 11 blends down to 6—Corojo, Corojo Maduro, Connecticut, Criollo, Triple Maduro, and Diploma—most of which will be entirely re-blended. We hear some prices may also drop as part of the reboot. This reinvention will be celebrated at a national release party in Dallas on June 20, and the new cigars will go on sale following the 2013 IPCPR Trade Show.
1) Pennsylvania has had a statewide indoor smoking ban over most “public†locales for almost five years. But now certain politicians are aiming to expand that regulation over establishments that are currently exempt, including bars, private clubs, and casinos. Interestingly, according to the 
1) It’s the last day of May, and that means we’re set to reveal the the winners of the seven fantastic prizes we’re giving away to celebrate the seventh anniversary of StogieGuys.com. In case you missed the announcements, the prizes are epic, and they come courtesy of some of our favorite cigar makers, including 
1) For the first time in its history, La Gloria Cubana is launching cigars with Nicaragua as the country of origin. The Dominican-based brand, made famous by Ernesto Perez-Carrillo for General Cigar, recently announced two expansions of its Serie R line. The first is called Serie R Black, which will feature an “audacious†Jalapa ligero wrapper around Nicaraguan tobaccos. Three thick sizes will be available and the retail price will be in the $7-8 range. Details about the second new La Gloria Cubana blend won’t be released until June. According to Michael Giannini, General Cigar’s director of innovation, these blends are “meant to deliver the smoking experience of a well-aged, refined, and balanced Nicaraguan smoke, and we believe we’re delivering that in spades.â€
1) In the sad contest to become the least tobacco-friendly state in the U.S., California lawmakers are aiming to further burden cigar consumers and retailers with yet another proposed tax hike. The latest maneuver comes courtesy of Kevin de León (pictured), a Democrat from Los Angeles. He is pushing to increase the excise tax on premium cigars by 85-95% to fund “yet-to-be-specified health programs and causes,†according to the 
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