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) Not surprisingly, the House bill that would exempt premium cigars from harmful FDA regulations is attracting a lot of attention from anti-tobacco groups. This week the American Academy of Family Physicians and over 40 other organizations signed a letter strongly opposing the bill, which is supported by Cigar Rights of America and the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR). The groups claim that all tobacco products should fall under the jurisdiction of the FDA. But Bill Spann, chief executive officer of IPCPR, says the groups’ conclusions are wrong and “their so-called supporting statements include unchallenged false science and fabricated assumptions that have become part of the myths surrounding secondhand smoke.” The bill, he says, will “save thousands of small businesses, tens of thousands of jobs, and millions in tax revenues.”

2) With hardly any attention from the media, President Obama recently extended the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba. The embargo was originally enacted in 1962 to prevent Americans from supporting Castro’s regime, but almost 50 years of evidence suggests that politicians in Washington should rethink that failed logic.

3) Inside the Industry: The Cigar Association of America reports that, as of earlier this year, premium cigar imports were up over 12% year to date. Of the biggest cigar-producing countries, Nicaragua showed the biggest gains with a 19% increase. Smaller cigar producing countries like Panama and the Philippines also had big increases from their 2010 numbers.

4) Around the Blogs: Nice Tight Ash checks out the Sosa Wavell. Stogie Review reviews the Alec Bradley Black Market. Smoking Stogie lights up the Canimao Jibaros. Stogie Fresh fires up a La Flor Dominicana Air Bender. Tiki Bar Online kicks back with the Viaje Summerfest. Tatuaje 7th Reserva has a 94 rating over at  Your Cigar Ratings.

5) Deal of the Week: My Father El Hijo (a Smoke Inn exclusive) is on special. Buy a box now and you get a three-pack of the My Father Special, a previously “event only” cigar reportedly based on Pepin’s popular but no longer made limited El Centurion blend. (Patrick S jumped on this deal last week.)

–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) Sherwin Seltzer, General Cigar’s vice president of trade development and a 50-year veteran of the cigar industry, announced his retirement this week. “There comes a time when you have to stop and do something else. I’ve had a great run in this business but at this stage in my life, I want to devote my time to Iris, my wife of 51 years, and my children and grandchildren,” said Seltzer, who will vacate his position at the end of October. Dan Carr, president of General Cigar, says that Sherwin “made great contributions to General Cigar, particularly in developing relationships with our trade partners and as a mentor to people in all areas of the business.”

2) We’re happy to announce that Marty of Austin, Texas, has won the first week of the Stogie Guys NFL Pick’Em Challenge. For his outstanding ability to select the winners of the first week of football games, we’ll be sending him a nice package of cigars. Congrats to Marty and good luck to everyone in the second week.

3) Our favorite cigar manners maven, Patricia Rossi, has just released a new book called Everyday Etiquette: How To Navigate 101 Common and Uncommon Social Situations. And, yes, as you might have imagined, those situations include smoking cigars.

4) Inside the Industry: Yesterday, a number of cigar makers and cigar shop owners met with politicians in Washington to ask for their support of the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act, which would protect handmade cigars from devastating FDA regulations. After spending the day on Capitol Hill, those in town joined others at the the 6th annual cigar dinner party hosted by the Ambassador of the Dominican Republic, which featured plenty of Dominican cigars and rum.

5) Around the Blogs: Tiki Bar kicks back with the Casa Fernandez Miami Reserva. Smoking Stogie smokes the El Credito War of Flavors. Stogie Review reviews the León Jimenes Maduro. Nice Tight Ash samples the Short Story Maduro. Cigar Fan tries a CAO OSA Sol.

6) Deal of the Week: Corona Cigar’s weekly deal features 10 big name cigars for just $30 (or 20 for $50). The cigars include Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, Punch, La Gloria Cubana, Macanudo, Hoyo de Monterrey, and Siglo.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: General Cigar

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) Cigar Rights of America (CRA) reports that the filed federal legislation that would exempt premium cigars from FDA regulation has picked up new sponsors, placing the current number at 45 members of the House. A companion bill in the Senate has also been introduced, and CRA Board President Jeff Borysiewicz and Rocky Patel have met with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and presented him with a letter on the impact FDA regulation could have on premium tobacconists and their customers, as well as the positive economic impact the cigar industry has for travel, tourism, and convention business in Nevada. Now CRA is calling on cigar enthusiasts to sign House and Senate petitions that urge federal lawmakers to protect cigars from harmful regulations.

2) A recent USA Today article highlights Cigar City Brewing, a Tampa-based operation that’s aging beer in Spanish cedar to bring about cigar-related aromas and flavors. “It just blew me away because when I smelled it, it was like waking down 7th Avenue in Ybor City, walking past a cigar shop,” said the brewery’s owner. “It was a win/win. It was good and it really pinpointed it on the map as coming from my city.” Cigar City Brewing’s growing distribution now spans Florida and includes Alabama, Philadelphia, and New York City.

3) Around the Blogs: Tiki Bar tries the new Toraño Loyal. Nice Tight Ash checks out the Julius Caeser. Smoking Stogie fires up an Oliva Serie V Maduro. A Cigar Smoker smokes the CAO OSA Sol. Puffing Cigars reviews the Cusano 18 Gordo.

4) Deal of the Week: Corona Cigar has some deep discounts on five-packs. Our favorites include the CAO Brazilia, Toraño Signature, Don Pepin Blue Label, and Oliva Connecticut.

–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) Edgar M. Cullman, the former head of General Cigar, passed away this week at the age of 93. “Cullman led the fourth generation of his family’s involvement in cigars, which, according to a company history, began in 1848 with Ferdinand Kullman, a wine merchant who immigrated to the U.S. from Germany,” reports Bloomberg. “Cullman joined his father’s tobacco business in 1944 and, in 1961, led a group of investors in buying a controlling interest in New York-based General Cigar, the producer of cigar brands including White Owl, William Penn, and Van Dyck.” Cullman presided over General from 1962 to 2005, helping make Macanudo one of the most recognizable and successful brands in the industry.

2) In August’s “Question of the Month,” we asked readers which cigar released at this year’s trade show they are most looking forward to trying. The Drew Estate Undercrown came in tops with 35% of the vote, followed by the E.P. Carrillo Core Blend Maduro (19%), Tatuaje Casita Criollo (16%), Tatuaje Fausto (15%), CAO OSA Sol (11%), and Casa Miranda (4%). 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 poll.

3) If you’ve got an iPhone and you want to take StogieGuys.com reviews on the go, be sure to check out the new “Cigar Boss” application, which is available in paid and free (ad-supported) versions. The app also links to other websites’ reviews, locates the nearest tobacconists, and enables you to save favorites.

4) Around the Blogs: Stogie Review reviews an E.P. Carrillo Maduro. Cigar Fan smokes the Berger & Argenti Clasico. Smoking Stogie smokes an Illusione MKULTRA. Nice Tight Ash tries the 8-5-8 Sungrown. Your Cigar Ratings gives high marks to the Tatuaje 7th Reserva.

5) Deal of the Week: We gave the My Father El Hijo our highest rating. Even though it’s a limited edition cigar, Smoke Inn still has boxes ($150) and five packs ($50) available here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Amazon

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) Politicians in Michigan passed a statewide smoking ban that took effect in May 2010. But now about 500 restaurant and bar owners, organized as Protect Private Property Rights in Michigan, are firing back. They plan to ban state lawmakers from their premises starting September 1. “To highlight what they consider the hypocrisy of Michigan’s smoking ban—which exempts gambling floors of Detroit casinos—business owners said the lawmaker ban also would have exemptions. It would not cover the Republican or Democratic leaders in the House or Senate,” reports the Detroit Free Press. “Ari Adler, a spokesman for House Republican Speaker Jase Bolger, said the lawmaker ban is an interesting tactic but not likely to spark legal change.”

2) The Room 101 “CigarMageddon Tour” kicks off today, a trip that includes 60 in-store events across the country between now and March. Each stop will feature Room 101 swag and cigars like the Connecticut, Conjura, and Namakubi Edition. Today’s event will be held at Cigar Cigars in Rocky River, Ohio, between 4 and 8pm.

3) Inside the Industry: Hurricane Irene could be double trouble for the cigar industry. The storm passed over the Dominican Republic earlier this week, and while we haven’t heard any specific damage (though we’ve made inquiries) it’s hard to imagine that 20 inches of rain and 80 MPH winds left the tobacco farms there completely unharmed. The second blow could be to the Connecticut crop. The hurricane looks likely to make a direct hit on Connecticut just as crops are being harvested. Reports are that farmers are rushing to get crops out of the ground and into barns before the storm is due to hit this weekend.

4) Around the Blogs: Cigar Fan lights up an Alec Bradley Family Blend. Stogie Fresh checks out El Original Corona. Smoking Stogie smokes the Casa Miranda. Stogie Review reviews a Winston Churchill Lancaster.

5) Deal of the Week: Cuban Crafters is featuring deep discounts on cigars we’ve rated well. Snag a box of 25 La Carolinas for just $45 or a box of 25 Cabinet Cameroons for just $65.

–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) J. Glynn Loope, executive director of Cigar Rights of America, is calling for a “National Cigar Town Hall” to make local politicians more aware of cigar-related issues. “[Lawmakers] need to see that cigars are not marketed to youth; that you’re enjoying a luxury product that’s not addictive and only contributes to your peace of mind and relaxation. They need to note the artisan nature of cigars, and that the walk-in humidor is not some evil death trap…” he writes. “This is our moment to use the democratic process and our grassroots movement to advance legislation needed now, more than ever.”

2) In July’s “Question of the Month,” we asked readers how they felt about the 2011 IPCPR Trade Show. “Excited about forthcoming releases” came in tops with 50% of the vote, followed by “worried about brand over-extension” (34%), “like I didn’t try many 2010 releases” (10%), and “curious about industry consolidation” (6%). 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 a suggestion for a future month’s poll.

3) California’s Crush & Roll West cigar and wine festival has some major additions this year, including a one-year membership in Cigar Rights of America as part of the $125 entry fee. Besides lots of wine and cigars, the Sept. 16-17 fete at the Paso Robles Fairgrounds includes a poker tournament, entertainment, auctions, and educational seminars. Internet cigar fans will know the event from the involvement of Doc Stogie and his Stogie Fresh podcast, which helped launch the event three years ago.

4) Inside the Industry: Another new release from Altadis introduced around the IPCPR Trade Show is the “Casa de Ortez,” a value-priced ($1.50-1.83 per stick) Nicaraguan featuring an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper. Habanos SA, the government-controlled Cuban tobacco monopoly, is releasing a new thick Partagas called the Serie E No. 2 (5.5 x 54).

5) Around the Blogs: Tiki Bar kicks back with an El Titan de Bronze Redemption Maduro. Nice Tight Ash checks out the My Father El Hijo. Smoking Stogie smokes a Room 101 Namakubi. Stogie Review reviews a Carlos Toraño Brigade. Cigar Fan fires up El Triunfador.

6) Deal of the Week: This Toro Madness deal from Corona Cigar features ten tasty toros. $35 gets you five each from Patel Bros. and Corona Gold Limitada, or double up for $25 more.

–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) Officials in Alexandria, a central Louisiana city with a smoking ban that predates the statewide ban that went into effect in 2007, are hoping to make it even tougher to light up. Their aim is to adopt a stricter ban that also criminalizes smoking in bars and gaming establishments. “Statewide, the only places you cannot smoke are restaurants. For several years now, a small group of prohibitionists have consistently failed in their efforts to expand the state’s smoking ban to include bars,” said Chris McCalla, legislative director of the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association. “Extending the smoking ban in this Central Louisiana city could have a negative economic impact throughout the state…”

2) Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was caught with a cigar in his mouth at Salzburg Airport in his native Austria. Smoking at airports in Austria is illegal, but a spokesperson for the facility suggested no charges would be filed. Meanwhile, an anti-tobacco group vowed to file a lawsuit against Schwarzenegger.

3) Inside the Industry: Two new cigars from Prometheus (in addition to the what we reported on in our IPCPR preview) include the Angelenos JM and the Sencillo Black. Angelenos JM is a new 5.5-inch, 54 ring cigar created in conjunction with actor Joe Mantegna with a portion of sales going to charity. Sencillo Black is made by Plasencia in Nicaragua. Black comes in five sizes and features a Nicaraguan wrapper and binder with filler from Nicaragua, Honduras, and Mexico. (more…)