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) Time is running out to enter our College Football Bowl Contest. The winner gets three cigars: a La Aroma de Cuba, a Bahia Gold, and a pricey Graycliff Grand Cru.

2) In a Government Accountability Office study released this week, it was revealed that the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control “opened more investigations and imposed more penalties for embargo violations, such as buying Cuban cigars, than for violations of other sanctions, such as those on Iran.” Baltimore Sun columnist Jay Hancock wrote an amusingly sarcastic response to the news on his blog.

3) The Association of Dominican Cigar Manufacturers is throwing the first annual Procigar Festival in Santiago on March 5-7. For just under $600, you can tour factories and tobacco fields, hit up exclusive dinners and parties, and participate in informational seminars. The producers of such brands as Romeo y Julieta, Macanudo, Davidoff, and La Aurora will all be on hand, so book your flight today!

4) Around the Blogs: Cigar Jack smokes a Graycliff G2. Velvet Cigar puffs a Chamuco Black Magic. Cigar Beat tries the Toraño Signature. Cigar Command smokes a Griffins 2006. Stogie Review reviews the Alec Bradley Trilogy. Cigar Monkey smokes a Cielo Poseidon.

5) Deal of the Week: This “Deluxe Holiday 30” sampler has 30 cigars for $60. In case you’re not a math major, that’s just two bucks per stick. The deal even includes Fuentes, Gisperts, and Montecristos. Grab yours here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Wikipedia

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) Red Sox great turned cigar producer Luis Tiant this week announced he will campaign in support of presidential hopeful Bill Richardson. We find this a perplexing move for “El Tiante,” who was nice enough to grant StogieGuys.com an interview back in August. Richardson is an ardent proponent of huge tax increases for tobacco and also an advocate of oppressive smoking bans.

2) The latest cigar publication is The Cigar Report, a quarterly magazine with an active website. The magazine recently debuted and promises to “take readers on far-reaching journeys into this centuries old passion.” It’s a product of Doubledown Media, whose other publications include up-scale magazines aimed at hedge fund managers, private airplane owners, and investment bankers. Among the entries in the first issue are a Q&A with Jimmy Smits, a profile of Drew Estate, and a guide to smoking in New York.

3) We’re not big fans of flavored sticks, but it’s worth mentioning that stogie giant General Cigar – manufacturer of such brands as Macanudo and Punch – recently acquired Havana Honeys. In a widely-distributed press release, COO Daniel Nuñez said General’s “purchase of Havana Honeys represents an opportunity to strengthen our position within the growing flavored segment of the premium cigar category.”

4) Around the Blogs: Cigar Jack smokes a Padilla 1932. Velvet Cigar puffs a Don Lino Africa. Cigar Beat tries the Primos Habana Criollo Rosado. Cigar Command smokes the Griffins 2006. The Stogie Review reviews the Flor de Oliva Corojo.

5) Deal of the Week: In honor of yesterday’s review, today’s deal is a sampler of Don Pepin cigars. For $39.99 you get eight of Pepin’s finest, including two Series JJs and two new JJ maduros. That’s only $5 per cigar, so be sure to grab yours here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: 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) Lawmakers in Lansing are close to an invasive smoking ban for one of America’s most oppressed states: Michigan. With a 56-46 vote this week, the House bypassed many members’ calls for bar and restaurant exemptions. A tougher fight, however, is expected in the Republican-controlled Senate.

2) Have an old cigar box collecting dust in your closet? In desperate need of a makeshift violin? Bring $25 and the box to Frye Guitars in Chicago tomorrow and you’ll be in business. After all, who wouldn’t want one of these under their tree?

3) Around the Blogs: Cigar Jack smokes a Oliva Serie V. Velvet Cigar puffs a Primos Toro. Cigar Beat tries the Rocky Patel Edge Maduro. Cigar Command smokes the Fuente Work of Art Maduro. The Stogie Review reviews the CAO Italia.

4) Deal of the Week: Here’s a deal that’s easy on the wallet: $25 for ten cigars, including sticks from Macanudo, Rocky Patel, Fuente, Onyx, H. Upmann, Oliva, Perdomo, and 601 by Pepin Garcia . Grab 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) According to reports, the new Padrón Serie 1926 cigars are finally hitting stores. The “Padrón 80” – which we initially reported on in September – is the first ever perfecto released by the company. If you’re fortunate enough to find them, they will cost you $30 each.

2) Remember that sad case of eminent domain we told you about in September? You know, the one where the city of San Diego seized and destroyed the Gran Havana cigar lounge to make way for a Marriott? Well the Union-Tribune reported yesterday that city officials are “now voicing regret over using eminent domain powers in the first place,” and the hotel’s developer is trying to short the former owner of the lounge by almost $3 million for his land.

3) Around the Blogs: Cigar Jack smokes a Camacho SLR Maduro. Leafy Times smokes three Macanudos. Velvet Cigar puffs a 5 Vegas Miami. Cigar Beat tries the Olde Word Reserve Maduro. Cigar Monkey reviews the Ashton VSG. And finally, on a sad note, the cigar blog community loses one of the good guys as Jerry from The Stogie Review steps down.

4) Deal of the Week: This “World Famous Sampler” from Tinderbox.com includes ten cigars from the biggest names like Cohiba, Montecristo, Macanudo, La Aurora, Don Tomás, La Gloria Cubana, and Arturo Fuente. And at just just $34, you get all ten for what it would normally cost for any five of these. Grab yours here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Photobucket

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 world has lost another great cigar-smoking sportsman. Hall of Fame hockey player, coach, and executive Tom Johnson passed away yesterday at the age of 79. Johnson won six Stanley Cups as a defenseman for the Montreal Canadians and two more as an executive and then head coach of the Bruins. A news report of his death noted that Johnson would be remembered for “his loyalty to friends and colleagues and for his quick wit, not to mention his ever-present cigar.”

2) We hope you had a pleasant and cigar-filled Thanksgiving. In case you’re short of things to be thankful for, Rich Perelman has put together a great list. Most of all, we at StogieGuys.com are thankful for you, our loyal readers.

3) Around the Blogs: Cigar Jack smokes a Padillo Obsidian. Stogie Review reviews a Palmas Puro. Keepers of the Flame lights up a Pelo de Oro Habano. Cigar Command smokes the Padron 2000. Velvet Cigar puffs a Cuvee Blanc.

4) Deal of the Week: Today is the biggest shopping day of the year (also known as “Black Friday”). So here is a Black Friday steal from Tinderbox. They are offering their house brand, the La Reserva, for well under $2 a stick. Those with a sharp memory will note that back in April we gave this cigar a “buy” rating in a quick smoke. Grab yours here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: AP

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) It was recently announced that Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby, will ban smoking in the racetrack’s indoor areas starting November 25. A judge recently found that “Churchill Downs’ exemption from Louisville’s smoking ban violates the Kentucky constitution,” so you can no longer enjoy a cigar with the traditional mint julep.

2) Worried about packing your Zippo lighters for holiday travel? Don’t be. The Transportation Security Administration recently dropped its ban, allowing travelers to carry windproof lighters past security checkpoints and in the cabins of commercial aircraft.

3) Detroit is widely known as the Motor City, but not many people know that up until the 1920s it was a tobacco haven. According to an article in the Detroit News this week, “it was estimated that 210 million cigars and 14 million pounds of chewing tobacco were produced annually in Detroit, providing jobs for more than 10,000 workers.” Apparently a pre-Civil War flood of German and Jewish settlers brought an influx of cigar production skills to Michigan.

4) Around the Blog: Cigar Jack smokes a Habano Leon. Stogie Review reviews a Montesino Maduro. Cigar Inspector tries the Fuente Anejo 55. Keepers of the Flame lights up a Hemingway Work of Art Maduro. Cigar Command smokes the Casada Connecticut. Velvet Cigar puffs a Sancho Panza Extra Fuerte (like the one George recently reviewed here).

5) Deal of the Week: This week we’ve got a great sampler from Cuban Crafters. Regular readers may have noticed that that Cuban Crafters cigars such as the J.L. Salazar y Hermanos, Don Kiki Brown Label, La Carolina, Cameroon, and Cabinet Selection have all scored very well in reviews or quick smokes. Today you can get all those – 12 total cigars plus a free cutter – for just under $20. Grab yours here.

6) Finally, we’d like to welcome our newest advertiser: egars.com. For information on advertising with StogieGuys.com, please click 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) The following quote from San Jose City Councilman Forrest Williams says a lot about California’s ridiculous holier-than-thou attitude toward smoking: “I think we ought to eliminate cigarettes altogether. Let’s just get rid of them.” That’s what he said, according to the Mercury News, after San Jose passed a prohibition on smoking in parks and inside private cars. The invasive law was approved on Tuesday—just a few days after similar outdoor ordinances were passed in Oakland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego.

2) For a fascinating discussion on taste, objectivity, and “expert” ratings, check the Nov. 3 entry on science writer Jonah Lehrer’s blog, The Frontal Cortex. Though it deals with wine (sparked by a recent dust up between two leading wine critics), you’ll find it sounds familiar. And don’t skip the reader comments; they are equally intriguing.

3) The Wall Street Journal reports that an article in New Scientist relates the concerns by a Boston University researcher that “the antismoking movement has gone overboard” with its claims about the danger of secondhand smoke. All this is from a public health physician who’s testified on behalf of indoor smoking bans!

4) Around the Blog: Cigar Beat smokes the Casada Connecticut. Cigar Inspector inspects the H. Upmann 46. Cigar Jack tries the Casa Toraño Maduro. Matt enjoys the Oliva Serie V. Stogie Review reviews the Avalon Honeyboy (and if you haven’t already offered Jerry your thoughts and prayers, we suggest you do so).

5) Deal of the Week: This week we’ve found yet another great deal from Tinderbox.com. Their “Cuba Libre Sampler” features ten cigars for just $20! It includes La Aurora, Gispert, Cuba Aliados, Don Thomas, and two Don Pepin Cigars. Grab yours here.

–The Stogie Guys