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 Aficionado reports that Eric M. Newman of the J.C. Newman Cigar Company was recently voted the new chairman of the Cigar Association of America. The organization, which apparently lobbies for stogie smokers’ rights, certainly has its work cut out. We’re hoping Mr. Newman can get the industry back on track.

2) If you’re considering a trip to the Tampa area, you might want to arrange your schedule for Nov. 17 to enjoy Ybor City’s ninth annual Cigar Heritage Festival. Admission is free with suggested donations earmarked for the Ybor City Museum Society. The event, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., will feature representatives from Fuente, Rocky Patel, Thompson, Camacho, 601, and others. Festivities also include a beer garden, dominoes, entertainment, and cigar rollings.

3) Add a horrifically invasive smoking ban to the list of reasons never to visit Oakland, California. Thanks to a Draconian city council, it is now illegal to smoke in ATM lines, parks, bus stops, and – get this – municipal golf courses. Is this supposed to be a joke? Who do these bans protect?

4) While presidential frontrunners Hillary and Rudy both support the failed Cuban embargo, constitutionalist candidate Ron Paul is coming down hard on the 45-year-old policy. In a recent column, Dr. Paul wrote that “it is Americans who live in a free country, and as free people we should choose who to buy from or where to travel, not our government.”

5) Around the Blogs: Cigar Command has a Padrón 1964. Matt smokes a Fuente Don Carlos No. 4. Velvet Cigar tries a Coronado by La Flor. Brian smokes a Hemingway Classic. Cigar Jack reviews a La Flor Double Ligero. Keepers of the Flame lights up a La Aurora Preferidos.

6) Deal of the Week: If you’re as impressed by Don “Pepin” Garcia’s cigars as we are, then you’ll want to try his latest creation: the Troya Classico XVIII. Tinderbox.com has five-packs for just $29.95 that usually run $45. Grab yours here (and you might also want to check out their eight-Pack Sampler).

–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) In celebration of its ten-year anniversary, Rocky Patel Cigars this week released Decade, the company’s “best blend yet.” Box-pressed with an Ecuadorian wrapper and Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos, the line comes in four sizes and will cost upwards of $9 apiece. Cigar Aficionado reports the cigars “will not be available through discount catalogue or online sources.”

2) There have been some new cigar websites going up of late. The Newman Cigar Company, the manufacturer behind Diamond Crown and Cuesta-Rey, has created two new websites to promote its expanded humidor lines: DiamondCrown.com and CraftsmansBenchInternational.com. Meanwhile, United Tobacco and JR Cigars both introduced new blogs.

3) Around the Blogs: Matt has a Fuente Don Carlos. Cigar Jack smokes a CAO America. Stogie Review reviews a Bolivar Cofradia. Keepers of the Flame lights up a MATASA 30th Anniversary. Cigar Beat tries a Cuvee Blanc. Cigar Inspector inspects a Montecristo.

4) Deal of the Week: Three weeks ago, we told you about this sampler of samplers. Now Tinderbox is doing it again. The deal sports cigars from Cuesta-Rey, Punch, Bolivar, and General Cigar (including a Macanudo Gold, a Punch Grand Puro, a Hoyo Dark Sumatra, an El Rico Habana, and a Partagas Spanish Rosado) all for $60. Grab yours here.

–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) The House couldn’t muster enough votes yesterday to override SCHIP, a health insurance program for children from families who earn annual incomes at double the poverty level. The bill would have cost an additional $35 billion over the next five years, financed by hefty increases in federal tobacco taxes. Despite the fact that it would devastate much poorer children from cigar-producing countries such as Nicaragua, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic, Democrats on Capitol Hill have vowed revisions and promise to send Bush “another measure in two weeks of similar size and scope.”

2) With one remaining spot left to fill on Sunday, today is the last to submit a Quick Smoke for our five-week Cigar Giveaway Contest. Previous winners include Dustin from New Hampshire, Kevin from Florida, George from Wisconsin, and Eric from Arizona – each of whom will receive a three-pack sampler from Arganese Cigars (pictured at right).

3) Around the Blogs: Cigar Inspector inspects an Ashton Esquire. Matt smokes a Fonseca No. 1. Cigar Command fires up a Casa Toraño Maduro. Cigar Beat and Keepers of the Flame review Don Lino Africas. Stogie Review has an Arganese Ambassador. Cigar Jack enjoys 5 Vegas Series A.

4) Deal of the Week: We aren’t exactly sure why this is called the “Fall Sampler,” but we do know that with ten sticks for $19.99 this is a fantastic deal. With cigars from CAO, Camacho, H. Upmann, and Don “Pepin” Garcia, these are fantastic cigars at a fantastic price. Grab yours here.

–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) General Cigar, Inc. reached a settlement yesterday in its protracted legal battle against four companies that were selling unauthorized “yellow band” Cohibas (as opposed to authentic “red dot” Cohibas). The defendants acknowledged trademark infringement and reportedly turned over 10,000 sticks to General “for destruction.” I wonder if they’ll be destroyed in the same manner U.S. Customs destroys Cubans, as reported by former Kennedy Press Secretary Pierre Salinger: “One by one.”

2) Here’s a helpful tip: A handy item to include with your smoking paraphernalia is one of those tiny screwdrivers that comes with eyeglass repair kits. The little head will turn most lighter flame-adjustment screws as well as depress the gas refill nozzle to drain the tank before refilling.

3) Around the Blogs: Cigar Inspector inspects a Punch Black Prince. Keepers of the Flame reviews a Montecristo Serie C. Cigar Monkey smokes a Cusano Cuvee Blanc. Stogie Review tries a Graycliff Blue Label. And Cigar Jack has a cool “Blog Carnival” cooking.

4) Deal of the Week: The World Series Sampler has seven quality cigars for under $30. Included are such top notch smokes as the CAO Italia, Oliva Serie G, Partagas, La Aurora, and Cohiba – all in the Robusto size. Grab yours here.

5) Finally, you may have noticed that Monday’s review of the Fuente Hemingway Short Story was sponsored by CigarsDirect.com. In the coming months, CigarsDirect will be supplying us with a number of stogies so that we can continue to provide our readers with a wide selection of cigar reviews. (Don’t worry; you’ll still get the same unvarnished truth from us.) But we do encourage you to check out CigarsDirect’s website where they have an excellent selection of stogies, including hard-to-find smokes such as the Fuente Opus X, Casa Fuente, and Anejo lines.

–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) You don’t need to check the calendar to know that fall is finally here. Temperatures are dropping, leaves are changing colors, and – most importantly – the MLB playoffs are underway. While Patrick S. fumes about the Mets’ historical collapse and Patrick A. prays his beloved Cubs can hang on, we thought you might enjoy this Cigar Aficionado article about the best places to smoke in baseball’s playoff cities.

2) In case you were wondering, our Quick Smoke Cigar Giveaway Contest is still on. Dustin from New Hampshire and Kevin from Florida are the two big winners to date, each of whom will receive a prized Argonese sampler for their submissions. If you’d like a shot at one of the remaining three, get your submission in as soon as possible.

3) Around the Blogs:Keepers of the Flame lights up a Gran Habano 3 Siglos. Cigar Jack smokes the Olor de Cibao. Stogie Review reviews the Bolivar. Cigar Inspector tries a Gurkha Beast. Cigar Command has a Joya de Nicaragua Serie C. Cigar Monkey smokes a Victor Sinclair Bamboo. Velvet Cigar checks out the new CAO America.

4) Deal of the Week: With not one sampler but four, this deal gets you 19 quality cigars for just under $60. Included is a seven-cigar CAO sampler (with a Seed to Soul DVD), a four-cigar Hoyo sampler, a five-cigar Cuesta-Rey sampler, and a three-cigar Punch sampler. Grab it here.

–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) Before the year is out, General Cigar plans to release Stradivarius de los Maestros, a $34 stogie with a 15-year-old Connecticut Shade wrapper. Named for the famous, expertly-crafted violins, Stradivarius will come in three sizes – Churchill, Lonsdale, and Robusto Major – each in its own wooden coffin. (I guess a cellophane wrapping would be inappropriate for a cigar that costs as much as 17 Don Kiki Brown Labels.)

2) From the same big-government state that brought us the Calabasas calamity comes one of the most obtrusive smoking bans yet. Starting November 8, it will be illegal to light up near children in Belmont, California. The senseless law also forbids smoking in apartments, townhouses, and condominiums that share a common floor or ceiling. What’s next?

3) Around the Blogs: Matt lights up a Tatuaje Havana VI. Cigar Command smokes the Cuvee Rouge. Cigar Jack tries the 601 Blue. Keepers of the Flame torches a Fuente Don Carlos. Cigar Inspector inspects a Chateau Fuente Maduro. Stogie Review reviews a Primer Mundo Rosado Obscuro.

4) Deal of the Week: This Papi Sampler from Tinderbox.com has nine great sticks for the very reasonable price of just $49.95. Included is a Montecristo Classic, a Cohiba XV, and the box-pressed, Pepin-made 601 Blue. Grab yours here (and while you’re there, check out the ridiculous photo they have with the sampler).

–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) StogieGuys.com Exclusive: Although you’ve probably already read that the compromise proposal to extend the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), now being negotiated in Congress, is thought to include the cigar tax plan approved by the U.S. Senate, that’s not what a couple of staffers on Capitol Hill told George Thursday. They said the cigar tax issue was among those still being discussed and that some lawmakers were working to reduce the cap, which is $3 in the Senate plan. Also, while there’s been talk of a Tuesday vote in the House, one of the staffers said it was possible the language might not be finalized until Monday. With all this taking place in the next few days, now would be a good time to contact your representatives.

2) Newly announced presidential hopeful Fred Thompson says he would “definitely” continue the Cuban embargo, but doesn’t check the “heritage” of the boxes of apparent Habanos that friends give him, according to Sunday’s St. Petersburg Times. Kind of reminds us of JFK’s hypocrisy.

3) As reported in our top item, the $3 cigar tax may not be finalized but it is very close. So just what would that proposed tax do? Rich Perelman reports a cigar that currently retails for $3.00 (like a Gispert Lonsdale) would likely increase to $4.60 before state tobacco taxes are included. While a cigar that retails for $10.00 (such as a Montecristo Churchill), will likely go to $15.31 before state tobacco taxes are included, or from $250.00 per box to $382.75 before state taxes.

4) Cigar Aficionado’s Jack Bettridge has a blog entry on what sounds like a great book: Churchill’s Cigar by British journalist Stephen McGinty. A quick search reveals this fascinating excerpt from the London Sunday Times.

5) Around the Blogs: Cigar Inspector inspects a Gurkha Double Maduro. Stogie Review reviews the Oliva Serie V Ligero Especial Lancero. Matt lights up the Tatuaje Reserva “A”. Cigar Command smokes a Dunhill Signed Range. Keepers of the Flame flames up a Tatuaje Series P2. Cigar Jack smokes the MAXX by Alec Bradley.

6) Deal of the Week: This ten cigar sampler from Tinderbox.com features six – count em’ six – cigars made by the hottest cigar maker in the business, Don “Pepin” Garcia. That includes two Tatuajes, a Padilla Miami, a 601 Blue, and two from Pepin’s own line. (Oh, and the other four sticks aren’t bad either.) All this for just $69. Pick yours up here.

–The Stogie Guys