The Stogie Guys

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

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) Add a few Pennsylvania religious groups to the list of nanny-staters who advocate government- mandated smoking bans. It was reported this week that a handful of Christian groups in the Keystone State are pushing legislators to pass an intrusive statewide ban with no exemptions for bars or cigar shops – ironic for a state that was founded on religious freedom.

2) In slightly happier news, lawmakers this week carved out exemptions for bars, restaurants, and casinos in Iowa’s proposed statewide smoking ban. One anti-smoking zealot said the ban would be “pretty much useless at this point.”

3) Arganese, maker of such sticks as the Presidente Maduro, recently decided to streamline its convoluted assortment of cigars. According to Cigar Aficionado, the company will no longer make every stogie available in three different strength levels and three different wrapper varieties.

4) Around the Blogs: Stogie Review reviews the Rocky Patel Fusion Double Maduro. Cigar Inspector inspects a Davidoff Anniversary No. 2. Keepers of the Flame tries a Nestor Reserve Maduro. Cigar Jack smokes a Canimao Torpedo. Stogie Baby fires up an Illusione 88.

5) Deal of the Week: Need to travel, but don’t want your smokes damaged? Check out this Traveler Sampler. For just $39.99 you get five top smokes from General Cigar (Macanudo, Hoyo de Monterrey, La Gloria Cubana, Punch and Partagas) plus a travel cigar case. Grab yours here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: ArganeseCigars.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) Last call for our DC Stogie Guys Smoke Out, which is only two days away. We’ll be at Carpool in Ballston, VA on Sunday, March 9 starting at 4pm enjoying fantastic free cigars provided by Cuban Crafters. We’ve also got some prizes (including a humidor) to raffle away. Please RSVP here.

2) New Hampshire has been living under a government-imposed smoking ban for bars and restaurants since last year and, not surprisingly, cigar bars have been suffering. A new bill granting exemptions from the ban is hardly reason to celebrate, though, especially since the same legislature is considering a destructive 60% tax on cigar inventories.

3) High-end smokers should check out the March 24 annual release party for the Avo Limited Edition (called the Tesoro this year). For $300 you’ll get to enjoy dinner, drinks, and Avo cigars at Rothmann’s Steakhouse in Manhattan. Musician and cigar maestro Avo Uvezian, the brand’s namesake, will be on hand.

4) Around the Blogs: Stogie Review reviews a CAO VR Black. Cigar Inspector inspects a Padrón 2000. Cigar Monkey smokes a CAO Gold Maduro. Cigar Jack lights up an EO 601 Black.

5) Deal of the Week: Once again Tinderbox.com has a great sampler for Don Pepin lovers: “Don Pepin’s Rare Knockout Punch.” This 12-cigar sampler includes five cigars by the Cuban master-roller, including four Black labels and one 601 Green, all for just $49.99. Grab yours here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: DavidoffMadison.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) Our upcoming DC Stogie Guys Smoke Out is only a little more than a week away: Sunday, March 9 at 4pm to be exact. The event will feature free cigars plus giveaways all provided by Cuban Crafters. Please RSVP here if you haven’t already.

2) Despite smoking bans, tobacco taxes, and the American trade embargo, sales of Cuban cigars exceeded US$400 million last year – up 7 percent from 2006. To put things in perspective, consider that Cuban sales comprise a whopping 80 percent of the world cigar market (excluding the U.S.), with Spain and France as the largest importers.

3) Windy City readers were no doubt disappointed by the cancellation of Cigar Aficionado’s Big Smoke Chicago. But thanks to the good folks at CAO, NFL legend Dick Butkus, and Cigars & More, they have another great event to look forward to on April 23. Click here to check out the event’s creative marketing campaign.

4) Recognizing the power of tobacco, Tampa’s InterContinental hotel now has a “Big Cigars and Motor Cars” promotion that includes the use of a Maserati or Corvette, a steak dinner, and Fuente cigars for $550 per night.

5) Around the Blogs: Stogie Review reviews a AVO 787. Cigar Inspector inspects a Griffin’s Fuerte. Cigar Monkey checks out the Gurkha Regent. Cigar Jack lights up a Hoyo de Tradición.

6) Deal of the Week: Cuban Crafters (sponsor of our Smoke Out) is running a number of incredible web specials, featuring some great deals on their already reasonable prices. Click here to check them all out.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: DickButkus.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) Camacho Cigars announced yesterday the release of a new line: the Camacho Corojo 10th Anniversary, a celebration of a decade of growing “the world’s only authentic corojo tobacco.” The blend will be offered in four sizes, sell in the $10.50 to $12.75 range, and hit retailers on March 28.

2) Don’t forget to RSVP for our upcoming DC Stogie Guys Smoke Out on Sunday, March 9 at 4pm. The event will feature free cigars plus giveaways all provided by Cuban Crafters. RSVP here.

3) Havana’s tenth annual Habanos Festival – a showcase of Cuban distributors, specialists, and enthusiasts – kicks off on Monday and runs through the rest of the week. New cigars are expected to be introduced, including the Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especial and the H. Upmann Magnum 50.

4) Around the Blogs: Stogie Review reviews a Nub 460. Velvet Cigar smokes a King Conch Maduro. Cigar Inspector inspects a Fuente Cuban Classic. Stogie Fresh smokes a Tatuaje Reserva J21. Cigar Jack lights up a Bobalu Wedge.

5) Deal of the Week: Presidents Day may have come and gone, but at least for the moment this “Presidents Day Sampler” is still available. The sampler features 20 cigars including five of the 4 1/2 stogie-rated 601 Green by Don Pepin Garcia and five of the Rocky Patel Edge, all for just $59.99. Grab yours here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Camacho

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 cigar industry may not have its act together, but Big Tobacco (the cigarette industry) certainly does. At least in Illinois, anyways. Lobbyists in Springfield are working at a record pace towards a hearing that would create exemptions in the newly enacted statewide smoking ban “to allow indoor smoking at many bars, riverboat casinos, strip clubs, and American Legion halls.”

2) If you’re a smoker and a fan of musician Joe Jackson you may like him even more than you thought. He’s a defender of smoking, saying in a recent AP story that “we’re really only hearing one side of it because the anti-smoking move- ment is so powerful.” He’s written passionately about his views, and many of his essays can be found on his website.

3) Factions of the New Hampshire legislature are pushing hard for the state to classify little cigars as cigarettes. Why? As our May 2006 commentary explains, it’s easier for politicians to tax cigarettes than cigars. The Union-Leader wrote a nice editorial on the issue this week, explaining that the bill will “hurt convenience stores and cigar shops” while driving business out of the Granite State.

4) Around the Blogs: Stogie Review reviews the Old Powder Keg. Velvet Cigar smokes the Arganese Chairman. Cigar Inspector inspects a Partagas 8-9-8. Cigars by Matt smokes a Don Francisco. Cigar Jack is holding a month-long contest with tons of great prizes.

5) Deal of the Week: We’ve made no secret of the fact that we’re big fans of Don Pepin Garcia’s cigars. That makes this “Ultimate Don Pepin Garcia Sampler” so special. It includes some of the rarest limited edition cigars made by the master. At $99 it isn’t cheap, but many of these cigars are not available anywhere at any price (and you’d pay a lot more if you could find them). Grab yours here while supplies last.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr