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) A judge has dismissed the outdoor smoking ban for beaches in Sarasota County, ruling only the Florida legislature can declare such laws in the state. “Sarasota County Attorney Steven DeMarsh notified Sarasota commissioners just this week that a recent court decision declared the local government does not have the authority to ban smoking in public outdoor areas,” according to the local NBC affiliate. Florida has been under a statewide indoor smoking ban since 2003. This recent ruling affirms the prohibition on municipalities from regulating smoking to a stricter degree.

2) Today Riverside Cigars in Jeffersonville, Indiana, is hosting the national release of two new sizes of Los Regalos Quetzal by Emilio Cigars. Attendees of the free event will enjoy raffles, cigars, specialty cocktails, and the opportunity to meet Gary Griffith and Nate McIntyre of Emilio. Los Regalos Quetzal is manufactured in Estelí and features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper around Nicaraguan tobaccos.

3) Inside the Industry: L’Atelier is preparing multiple new projects for 2013, including L’Atelier Maduro (slated for a June/July release) and a new Surrogate or two. Also a new L’Atelier vitola, the LAT 46SS, is scheduled for an April release.

4) Around the Blogs: Stogie Review checks out the new Civil Cigar Lounge. Tiki Bar kicks back with a Nat Sherman Timeless Nicaragua. Cigar Inspector inspects a Recluse Toro. Cigar Fan fires up a La Musa Mοῦσα.

5) Deal of the Week: Here’s a nice little sampler for coffee lovers. Just $35 gets you five each of Java by Rocky Patel and Tabak Especial, both made at La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate.

–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) The International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) isn’t the only organization stepping up its efforts to marshal resources to fight impending threats to cigar rights (see yesterday’s article for more details). Cigar Rights of America (CRA) this week made a special appeal to all cigar smokers to become official CRA members. And they’re throwing in special goodies to sweeten the pot, including a special CRA cutter and a subscription to Cigar Insider. The urgency is looming regulation from the FDA that “would do irreparable harm to the premium cigar industry and your ability to enjoy a fine cigar.” If you aren’t already a CRA member, please sign up here.

2) In last month’s “Question of the Month” (which admittedly ran significantly longer than a month), we asked readers which cigar maker made the biggest splash at this year’s industry trade show. A.J. Fernandez topped the poll with 24% of the vote, followed by Tatuaje (20%). Honorable mention goes to Joya de Nicaragua/Drew Estate, Ernesto Perez-Carrillo, and General Cigar. Be sure to weigh in on this month’s question by voting in the sidebar to the right. And feel free to contact us if you’ve got suggestion for a future poll.

3) The financial website MarketWatch this week explored what it called the half-dozen most popular U.S. neighborhoods. Topping the list was Chicago’s Old Town, which was cited for pleasantries that include “bohemian-era mainstays such as Up Down Cigar.” “With roots dating back to the 1870s, Old Town’s well-preserved Victorian-era buildings, fashionable dining scene, and its urban, pedestrian-friendly Near North Side location help explain why it’s the most searched neighborhood on Realtor.com,” explains MarketWatch. Up Down Cigar has been serving the neighborhood since 1963.

4) Around the Blogs: Stogie Review reviews an Ezra Zion Reagan. Cigar Brief reviews an Oliva Serie V Maduro 2012. Tiki Bar kicks back with a VegaFina Master 2012. Cigar Fan fires up a 7-20-4 Lancero. Nice Tight Ash checks out Herederos de Robaina. Cigar Inspector inspects a Cohiba Behike BHK 52. Chuck Cowdery reviews the Evan Williams Single Barrel 2003 Bourbon.

5) Deal of the Week: We recently gave the Tatuaje Apocalypse a four-stogie rating. Fortunately, the exclusive Tatuaje releasee is still available at Smoke Inn. Five-packs and boxes of 15 of the exclusive release are still available here (along with shirts and hats).

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: CRA

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) Since this is our last Friday Sampler of 2012, we think it’s an opportune time to thank all of you for your readership, feedback, and support over the past year. This was quite a year, and we couldn’t have done it without you. In 2012 we celebrated our sixth anniversary of daily coverage with a pilgrimage to Drew Estate in Estelí, Nicaragua. We surpassed over 2,300 articles published since our inception. We wrote full reviews of nearly 100 cigars and well over 100 Quick Smokes. We reported from the IPCPR Trade Show in Orlando and attended dozens of other cigar events. And we had such a great time reading your comments, emails, and even meeting some of you in person. Here’s to an even better 2013!

2) Longtime friend of StogieGuys.com Jacob Grier has an excellent article at The Atlantic entitled “The Case Against a Smoke-Free America.” In it, the Oregon-based writer implores his audience to “stop treating smoking as pure vice. Lost in discussions of the very real problem of how to reduce deaths from smoking is an acknowledgement that tobacco has redeeming qualities, that it can be enjoyed in moderation, and that not all forms of tobacco use are equally dangerous.” Grier outlines the most pressing threats to tobacco freedom, including smoking bans, taxes, and FDA regulation. You can read the full article here.

3) Inside the Industry: Dunhill is introducing a new cigar called the Dunhill Aged Reserva Especial 2003. The cigar is made by General Cigar and features aged Dominican filler tobaccos from the 2003 crop surrounded by a Connecticut broadleaf binder and a Connecticut-shade wrapper. It comes in ten-count boxes and will cost $15.

4) Giveaway: Be sure to check out our Quick Smokes over the next ten days for a chance to win a big box of cigar swag. To enter you need to be subscribed to our free email newsletter. Once you do that, you can earn one entry for every Quick Smoke between now and NYE that you leave a comment on.

5) Deal of the Week: Looking for a last-minute gift (or maybe just something for yourself)? Check out the holiday samplers at Emerson’s Cigars. Depending on what you’re looking for, you can grab a nice sampler of premium sticks (many include a lighter or a flask) for $30-70.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: 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) Michael Jordan is set to move into his new 28,000-square-foot, $12.4 million home, which sits on 3 acres along Jack Nicklaus’ Bear Club, an exclusive golf course in Florida. A longtime cigar fan, the former NBA superstar and current majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats took his passion for the leaf into account when building his palace. According to TMZ, Jordan will have “a giant state-of-the-art home theater…outfitted with special equipment made to handle mass amounts of cigar smoke.” His property will also boast a pool house, a guest house, and a two-story guard house. Jordan previously had a $29 million home outside Chicago.

2) If you’ve ever been in the market for a humidor, you’ve surely noticed humidor retailers including estimated cigar capacities (60-count, 150-count, etc.) along with their product specs. And you’ve probably also come to learn that such estimates are typically inflated. To address this issue, the folks at HumidorDiscount.com have created a nifty humidor calculator that tells you how many cigars (you pick the brand/size) will fit in a humidor, given its dimensions. The calculator will even tell you if the cigars should be arranged vertically or horizontally.

3) Washington has had a smoking ban in place for years. But in light of the state’s recent legalization of marijuana, one bar owner in Olympia is telling patrons they can smoke—as long as they’re not smoking tobacco. He “appears to be the first restaurant or bar owner in the state to test the recently expanded limits on recreational marijuana use,” according to CNBC. “Federal, state, and local officials appear unsure” if he is breaking the law.

4) Inside the Industry: CAO is reportedly releasing a “Left Coast” regional cigar (although the “left coast” region apparently includes pretty much everything west of the Mississippi river). The unusual cigar (6.75 x 72) will be trapezoidal-shaped and come in boxes of 14.

5) Around the Blogs: Stogie Review reviews the Crowned Heads Four Kicks Mule Kick. Nice Tight Ash checks out the Dona Flor CC Bahia Blend. Casa Fumando smokes the Crémo Classic Maduro. A Cigar Smoker lights up the Rocky Patel 50th Anniversary.

6) Deal of the Week: A few people noticed that when Corona Cigar launched their new website, the link to the Corona Stogie Guys Sampler was broken. Now it’s fixed. And it’s still a great deal, with 7 cigars for just $29.95, including limited Davidoff and Avo cigars.

–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) Yesterday, North Dakota’s draconian smoking ban took effect—the same one that passed via ballot referendum and includes no exemption for cigar shops. We most recently wrote about this egregious powergrab from the perspective of Todd Pryor, owner of the Great Plains Smoke Shop in Minot. But now another impacted businessman is grabbing headlines: Dana Coulter, proprietor JT Cigarro and Skky Bar in Fargo. “Coulter said he runs an owner-operator business out of a separate room in the JT Cigarro building, and he is the only employee,” according to the Grand Forks Herlad. “He plans on letting customers smoke inside that room” to take advantage of what he perceives as a loophole in the law. Enforcement of the regulation is expected to be “complaint-driven,” so it isn’t clear if Coulter’s move will be challenged by the state.

2) Drew Estate has just launched a sharp new monthly newsletter to keep its fans updated on what’s happening at the popular cigar maker. One of the industry’s savviest users of new media, Drew Estate’s publication incorporates video, photos, and a monthly giveaway of a box of cigars. To sign up, simply visit DrewEstate.com.

3) Still time to enter to win a free Punch tailgating six-pack. Every day through December 28th, Punch is giving one prize pack away, including six cigars, a cutter, and a bottle opener.

4) Around the Blogs: Cigar Fan fires up a Flor de Las Antillas. Stogie Review reviews a Diesel Grind. Stogie Fresh rates the La Aurora Guillermo León Family Reserve. Tiki Bar kicks back with the Montecristo Epic.

5) Deal of the Week: Corona Cigar has launched a new website. While you’re there, check out their “12 Days of Deals” specials, for a new deal every day.

–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) Davidoff is celebrating 2013 being the year of the snake with a Davidoff 2013 “Year Of The Snake” Edition. The Churchill (7 x 48) features an Ecuador “701” wrapper around a San Vicente Seco binder and a combination of Piloto Seco, San Vicente Ligero, Piloto Viso, and hybrid 192 Seco/Yamasá filler. The cigar sells for $29.90 or $240 for a box of 8. Only 4,500 boxes are being produced.

2) Once again, Tampa’s cigar history comes alive with a festival celebrating the city’s rich heritage. Cigar makers, retailers, and food and drink vendors will be among those on hand for the Tampa Cigar Festival tomorrow at Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park downtown. It lasts from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a $5 admission fee. Part of the proceeds go to Southeastern Guide Dogs.

3) Inside the Industry: This year Nicaragua is expected to supplant the Dominican Republic as the top exporter of premium cigars to the U.S. despite lagging far behind the Dominican and Honduras only a decade ago. Habanos SA has named Walfrido Hernandez Mesa a co-president to serve alongside Buenaventura Jiménez Sanchez-Cañete.

4) Around the Blogs: Cigar Fan fires up an Ashton ESG 22 Year Salute. Stogie Review reviews La Musa by Emilio. Nice Tight Ash checks out a La Zona Espinosa. Tiki Bar kicks back with an Oliva Serie V Melanio. Cigar Inspector inspects a Fuente 8-5-8 Rosado.

5) Deal of the Week: Emerson’s Cigars is featuring a “Deal of the Year” with 20 cigars and a humidor for $99. Included are four each of the Vega Fina Fortaleza Toro, Trinidad Paradox Toro, Vega Fina Toro, Montecristo Platinum Toro, Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Toro, and Montecristo Platinum humidor.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Davidoff

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) The 14th annual Ybor City Heritage & Cigar Festival takes place tomorrow from 10am to 5pm in the historic Ybor City neighborhood of Tampa. The event will include craft beer, food, cigar rolling, and representatives from such cigar companies as Arturo Fuente, J.C. Newman, San Lotano, Rocky Patel, and Alec Bradley. Tickets are $5 in advance and $10 at the gate with proceeds benefiting the Ybor City Museum Society. If you’re within driving distance and looking for something fun to do tomorrow, we’d highly recommend it. The Stogie Guys team has enjoyed visiting Ybor City in the past, and this is a great opportunity to take in the best the neighborhood has to offer.

2) In other cigar event news, tickets are now on sale for the 2012 Big Smoke in New York City, which will be hosted by Cigar Aficionado on Thursday, November 29 at Pier 92. The $240 ticket price includes drinks, food, and cigars from some of the biggest names in the industry, including Padrón, General Cigar, Arturo Fuente, Oliva, and Rocky Patel.

3) Inside the Industry: Best Cigar Prices is releasing a new house blend called 2012 Limited that features a Habano Jalapa wrapper and is made by Alec Bradley. Archie Mishkin, former president of the Bayuk Cigar Co., passed away on October 30 at the age of 94. The details aren’t clear, but proceeds go to a good cause so check out this charitable giveaway.

4) Around the Blogs: Cigar Brief smokes the Inch by E.P. Carrillo. Cigar Fan fires up a T.L. Johnson Tempio Extreme Box Press. Nice Tight Ash checks out a Montana Azul. Stogie Review reviews an Alec Bradley Fine and Rare 2012. Cigar Inspector inspects a Cohiba Siglo VI Reserve. Tiki Bar kicks back with an Avo 25th.

5) Deal of the Week: Stuffing vs. dressing may be the debate for Thanksgiving dinner, but when it comes to cigars humidor stuffing is a no-brainer. This Humidor Stuffing Sampler features 10 cigars for $30 including CAO Cameroon, Don Pepin JJ Maduro, CAO Gold, and Perdomo Lot 23.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: cltampa.com