The Stogie Guys

Yesterday, the House of Representatives voted 326-102 to place tobacco under the jurisdiction of the Food and Drug Administration. The move would give FDA bureaucrats the ability to regulate tobacco as well as tobacco advertisements, a power that both Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt and FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach oppose. In a statement (pdf) released today, the White House threatened to veto the bill if the Senate passes a version pending there and sends it to President Bush’s desk:

“The bill would mandate significant added responsibilities for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that conflict with FDA’s mission of ensuring the safety and effectiveness of drugs, biologics, and medical devices…

Requiring FDA to oversee the regulation of tobacco products would not only distract the agency from its oversight of food, pharmaceuticals, and medical products but could be perceived by the public as an endorsement that these products are safe, resulting in more people smoking.”

Speaking in favor of the bill, Representative Christopher Van Hollen Jr. (D-MD) made clear that the goal of the bill wasn’t to make cigarettes safer, but to regulate tobacco to reduce its use: “[Smoking] has a huge cost to our society. We have an opportunity to put an end to that…”

The bill would be a significant step towards the FDA declaring all tobacco products unsafe and thus prohibited. As we’ve written before, in an interesting twist, the law forbids the FDA from certifying that some forms of tobacco are safer than others, despite a mountain of evidence, meaning that the only “regulation” the FDA would have at its disposal would be limits on advertising or bans on certain types of tobacco products.

While the bill’s primary target seems to be cigarettes, it could have dire effects on cigar smokers. Besides being another step down the road to complete tobacco prohibition, FDA regulation may mean substantially limited advertising of cigars in magazines and also potentially on websites such as this one. If FDA mandates mean that cigar makers have to worry about nicotine (or other chemical) levels in cigars, it would stifle the creativity that has marked the cigar industry in recent years.

The bill also includes a prohibition on flavored cigarettes (although, oddly, it contains an exception for Menthol). While it is not clear that the flavored smoke ban would include cigars, if it does flavored cigars like Acid and Havana Honeys could be made illegal. Further, demands for “safer” tobacco products could mean a de facto prohibition for handmade cigars which, unlike cigarettes, cannot change their chemical makeup because they are entirely natural products.

–Patrick S

photo credit: FDA

On Monday evening we were lucky enough to attend a special “Cut and Taste” event at Morton’s with Paul Garmirian (PG) Inc. We’d like to tell you a bit about this extraordinary experience not to gloat, but to demonstrate how wonderful cigar events can be—especially when you’re working with pairings of delicious drink, fine cuisine, and premium tobacco.

The evening began with a patio reception featuring a three-piece jazz ensemble and appetizers of smoked salmon, tenderloin crostinis, and mushroom canapés. Being the rum guy that he is, Patrick A stuck with Cruzan Single Barrel (neat) while Patrick S enjoyed a Broquel Malbec. Our friends at PG provided Long Panatellas from 1996, an excellent choice given the cigar’s sleek, elegant format and mild, smooth taste that leads into spice and salt. We were having such a good time we almost didn’t notice it was far too hot and humid to be outside in a suit.

Heading into the air conditioning we were greeted with a crisp asparagus salad and a serving of colossal shrimp. This was followed by a PG Robusto II from 1999, which sported a pleasant interaction of cream and spice with a subtle floral and fruit backdrop.

It was around this time that Paul Garmirian, founder of PG and author of the widely-read book The Gourmet Guide to Cigars (1990), busted out his acoustic guitar and joined in with the band for a song (pictured at right).

The main course of perfectly prepared filet mignon, sautéed mushrooms, and mashed potatoes was simply fantastic. A Nicolas Potel Burgundy was a nice complement to this entrée, as it was to our third and final cigar: a PG 15th Anniversary Belicoso Extra from 2004. This was the most full-bodied and, in our opinion, finest stick of the night with a tremendous taste that bears comparison to the Davidoff Millennium Blend. The profile is so well-balanced that individual flavors are difficult to identify (the four courses of different drinks didn’t help either). We’ll have to get our hands on a few more to put together a full review.

In all, we’d like to extend our thanks to the staff of the Morton’s in Reston, Virginia, and Paul and Kevork Garmirian for a spectacular evening. Such an experience shows how wonderfully fine cigars, cuisine, and  drinks  can all enhance each other. We had a lot of fun living well beyond our means, and we hope this article motivates you to do the same—at least for one evening.

–Patrick A & Patrick S

photo credit: Linda Roth Associates

Earlier this month, Patrick A. wrote about a press release by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) advocating greater smoking restrictions and citing a “new survey” that found “57% of the people in Ireland support a ban on smoking in all homes and cars.”

My antennae always go up when I see references to polls or surveys with no accompanying information. Years of editing news stories made me quite skeptical about polling. Of course there are legitimate polls, but there are many, many more completely useless reports that attempt to gain credibility by artfully disguising their lack of any objectivity or scientific validity.

As an Irish Times columnist wrote recently, “The past decade has seen an explosion in snappy surveys, accompanied by amazing statistics and all-important lists. There are few things, it seems, that our culture enjoys more than a list. It is information in its simplest, most digestible, most satisfying form; that it is utterly worthless information hardly seems to matter.”

If you want to spend a few minutes improving your poll knowledge, check the National Council on Public Polls’ “20 Questions a Journalist Should Ask about Poll Results.”

Now let me confess right away that I failed utterly in my efforts to actually get a copy of what ASH referred to. I did, however, learn several things that I found interesting and increased my skepticism.

First, I read the ASH release, which uses the 57% figure to support a lead stating, “A clear majority wants smoking banned in all homes, even if children are not present, and even if the smoke is not drifting into an adjoining dwelling.” I emailed the Irish ASH branch, asking if they could direct me to the survey. The reply? “We have not released this data—do you have any further details?” I sent the website address for the ASH release and followed up asking again if they had any further info. I’ve gotten no further response from them.

Searching on the web, I also found a release from a large private Irish health insurer, Vhi Healthcare, that cited the survey and noted that it had been commissioned by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer. This was interesting for several reasons. For starters, Pfizer has come under intense fire in the wake of possible links between its anti-smoking drugs and suicidal tendencies among some users, which the company disputes. As sales slumped, the company initiated a massive advertising campaign. Pfizer also maintains a huge operation in Ireland.

Vhi, though, wasn’t able to tell me much of anything. The company’s PR office told me, “Unfortunately, what we received from Pfizer is what was posted on our website and we do not have any further information from the survey to provide to you.” They suggested I check with Pfizer.

First, though, I e-mailed Professor John F. Bazhaf, ASH executive director, to see if he could direct me to a copy of the survey. He sent me the email address for the Vhi release. When I told him I’d seen that and was seeking the full data, he responded that “you have all of the information I have on this particular study. For more information, I suggest you contact the authors and/or sponsors.” He also suggested I call with any other questions.

Now, I was more than happy to call, but I wanted him to know why I was calling. Again, my journalism background doesn’t allow for deception. So, I e-mailed him detailing my cigar background and telling him that I really had only a couple of questions:

Was there a reason you did not cite Pfizer (which has a vast operation in Ireland) as the sponsor of the survey, given the alleged link between the company’s smoking cessation drug and suicidal tendencies by users, as well as Pfizer’s massive U.S. publicity campaign on behalf of its drug? Are you comfortable citing the results of a survey about which you know so little, such as what the questions were, how they were asked, who was questioned, the margin of error, etc.?

He replied that “my role is to try to put the study in context, and relate it to ASH’s so-far successful attempts to ban smoking in homes in certain circumstances,” not to “provide details about the study itself—a job for journalists who report on it to the general public.”

I will give the professor an A+ for being upfront about his intentions and methods. But I don’t think he’d get a passing grade on the quest for truth.

Pfizer was a tougher nut to crack. The website for the company’s Irish operation had no email addresses that I could find. I’ve called the company’s PR office at the New York headquarters several times and left voicemail messages with no response. My email has also not been answered.

The bottom line is I don’t really know much more about the survey than when I started. But the little I’ve learned—Pfizer’s involvement, unquestioned echoing of results, no access to the study—has increased my skepticism.

–George E

photo credit: CNN

Patrick S and Jon N will be reporting live this week from the 76th Annual International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) Trade Show in Las Vegas. Check back regularly for updates throughout the day.

Patrick S (7:00 AM PDT): Today is our last day of live reports from the show. Not surprisingly, last night’s CAO party with Lyrynd Skynyrd rocked. They played all the hits including Free Bird for the big finale.

Jon N (7:00 AM PDT): Patrick and I stopped by the Isla de Cuba booth yesterday to sample two of the brand’s latest offerings. I tried out the Wango Tango “longie” (a 7 inch by 38 ring gauge lancero), while Patrick lit up Blend 376 in a robusto-extra size (5.5″ x 50). I found the smoothly wrapped, beautifully constructed lancero to have a pleasing draw with plenty of smoke; I got lots of pepper and cedar from the medium to medium-full body. Patrick enjoyed his 376, whose flavors he described as “nutty and earthy, with just a hint of leather.” For the record, the Wango Tango lancero is wrapped and bound in Connecticut broadleaf tobacco, with a four-country blend of Central American fillers. The Blend 376 (so named, apparently, because Isla de Cuba “went through 375 blends before they chose this one”) is wrapped with Mexican San Andres leaf, with a Nicaraguan binder and a blend of fillers from Nicaragua, Honduras, and other “secret” Central American tobaccos. Much like the Classic and Aged Maduro lines, these offerings from Isla de Cuba did not disappoint, and I look forward to trying out some more in the coming months.

Patrick S (11:25 AM PDT): This morning we started out stopping by the PG booth to check out the new Soiree line, a “full-bodied after dinner cigar.” I also smoked a PG Gourmet petit corona from 1995 that was fantastically smooth, and Jon lit up a Gourmet corona which he describes as “nice and smooth, a little woody with a touch of pepper.” I’ll be dining with the Garmirians this coming Monday at Morton’s.

Patrick S (11:35 AM PDT): Our next stop was Arganese for the new ML3 and CL3. We also landed some samples of the Arganese Edición Especial Dos Capas, a very cool-looking barber poll perfecto which we will be reviewing in the coming weeks. Additionally we learned that Arganese will be making a line of cigars with Joe Gannascoli, the actor who played Vito Spatafore on the cigar-friendly HBO hit The Sopranos. Naturally, we snapped a photo of Joe with Gene Arganese (right).

Patrick S (1:30 PM PDT): J.C. Newman’s new stuff at the IPCPR is mostly in the accessories area, with new humidors and hygrometers, but we did hear about something they are working on for 2009. They plan to roll out an extension of the Diamond Crown line called the Julius Caesar (after the original “J.C.” who started the company over 100 years ago). The line will be stronger than the current Diamond Crown blend and will consist of three different perfecto sizes. They are currently working with the Fuentes to perfect the blend, which they hope to release at or before next years’ IPCPR.

Patrick S (1:40 PM PDT): This will be my final update from Las Vegas before I fly back to Washington, but I wanted to add that being at the show reinforced my feeling that the cigar industry is full of generally friendly people who are in it as much because they love cigars as for the profits. I wish I had two more days because there are many more booths and people that I wanted to visit with. Overall, I leave with a very optimistic view of the industry. While marketing gimmicks may be part of the trade, manufacturers understand that cigar smokers want quality and interesting smokes, and they are trying to meet those demands. It should be a good year for Stogie Guys everywhere…

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Patrick S and Jon N will be reporting live this week from the 76th Annual International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) Trade Show in Las Vegas. Check back regularly for updates throughout the day.

Patrick S (1:00 AM PDT): The floor opens at 10 AM here in Vegas and we’ll be there when it does. For more information checkout yesterday’s updates and also our preview from last week.

Patrick S (10:40 AM PDT): First stop was the giant Altadis section where Janelle Rosenfeld introduced us to to Altadis’ upcoming releases. On the super premium end is the new Romeo y Julieta Museum Edition, a limited release (retailing for $30 per cigar) that comes in a humidor box with a specially-commissioned painting by the 3D artist Charles Fazzio. Altadis is also releasing the “Mi Dominicana” by Jose Seijas, a Dominican Puro that will be available this month and will go for $7.50-9 per stick. Other exciting new relases from Altadis include a new box-pressed Maduro Montecristo called the “Reserva Negra” plus new cigars from the Turrent family and a maduro H. Upmann.

Jon N (10:55 AM PDT): Patrick and I made sure to take the hotly anticipated Cubao out for a test drive this morning. We sampled some very pretty lanceros in a medium-brown Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. It’s a rustic, but attractive cigar packaged in an equally rustic cabinet with a cool, weather-worn look. We would describe the smoke as medium to full with earth, wood and pepper flavors and a slightly dry finish. The burn is nice and even, and the cigars handle flawlessly. Given the look, flavor, $7 price tag, and Don Pepin’s name, we expect the Cubao to be a big hit.

Patrick S (12:25 PM PDT): Our next stop was at the Reyes Family booth, where Frank Santos told us about their three new lines: Reyes Premier, Reyes Vintage, and Reyes Classic. At his recommendation, Jon and I tried the Classic, which is a mild-bodied cigar made with a natural Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper and filler from four different countries. The cigar was toasty with buttery flavors and the construction was flawless. Santos tells us that the decision to release cigars under the Reyes name is partially a tribute to Rolando Reyes who, while still actively involved in the company, recently handed the reigns to his 31-year-old grandson. He says the company will be focusing on its new lines and that at least in the short term any new releases (none are planed immediately) will likely be extensions of the lines with new sizes.

Patrick S (12:40 PM PDT): We also stopped by to see our friend Kinky Friedman. Kinky is debuting a new size, the Kinky Lady, a 7 inch by 42 ring gauge lonsdale. He also recently introduced a bundled line called “Kinksters.”

Patrick S (3:40 PM PDT): After a quick lunch we jumped back on the trade floor and dropped by the good folks at El Tiante Cigars. We’ve favorably reviewed their cigars in the past and now I’ve gotten my hands on some samples of their new cigar, El Tiante 23 Corojo, which they say is their strongest creation yet. The oily wrapper is similar in color to the Maduro line. I also snapped a quick picture with the Boston pitching legend himself.

Patrick S (4:00 PM PDT): After visiting El Tiante we went to see all the new sticks put out by General Cigar. We covered many of the new releases in yesterday’s post, but it seems the most anticipated is the Macanudo 1968, which is the most full-flavored Macanudo to date. Another interesting trend from General is the production of cigars in the thick 6 inch by 60 ring gauge size. A number of their lines, including the new Cohiba Dominicana, come in the new size. They have also completely re-blended and re-packaged the flavored Havana Honeys line (which was recently acquired by General) with a greater focus on quality and consistency. The Hoyo Excalibur Legend is another new smoke by General that we got a look at. The robust blend appears targeted at smokers who may have got their start with the Hoyo Excalibur line, but have moved towards more full-bodied smokes.

Patrick S (8:00 PM PDT): It was quite a day, but it isn’t over yet. Now I’m off to the CAO/Toraño party at The Palms. We’ll be back on the trade show floor tomorrow, so be sure to let us know in the comments what questions you want asked of the top cigar makers out there and we’ll do our best to get you answers.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Patrick S and Jon N will be reporting live this week from the 76th Annual International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) Trade Show in Las Vegas. Check back regularly for updates throughout the day.

Patrick S (10:15 PDT): This year the show returns to Vegas after being in Houston last year. Despite a recent smoking ban, this is still a great cigar town. There are plenty of places to buy cigars and lots of places to smoke them. I’ve already smoked cigars at the bar, the craps table, the roulette table, the sports book…you get the idea. I’ll be heading to Casa Fuente later today.  The show doesn’t get into full effect until tomorrow when the convention floor opens (when I expect the updates here to be more fast and furious), but tonight it opens with a cocktail reception.

Patrick S (1:23 PDT): We did hear from General Cigar on Friday about their new cigars. I’m looking forward to the La Gloria Cubana Artesanos de Miami rolled in Miami, and also new blends in their Cohiba Line (a Dominican puro), the Macanudo Line (celebrating 40 years since General first started creating Macanudo), and the Hoyo De Monterey Excalibur Legend. General VP Victoria McKee will be personally introducing me to the new lines tomorrow, and we’ll be sure to give you our first impressions.

Jon N (6:20 PDT): Patrick S and I have arrived in Las Vegas, and we got to check out the trade show floor as it was being set up. The big names (Altadis, General, etc.) are in full force with large booths and plenty of floorspace. Like Vegas itself, the show floor is enormous—larger than life and probably pretty easy to get lost in. We look forward to doing so tomorrow morning. The following photos don’t show just how large the floor is.

Patrick S (6:40 PDT): No cigar smoker’s trip to Vegas would be complete without a stop at Casa Fuente. Not surprisingly, the place was packed, but we were fortuate enough to smoke some sticks with a great group of stogie smokers, including Jerry from Stogie Review and Bob from DogWatch Social Club. I enjoyed the Casa Fuente I had (which reportedly features the Opus X blend with a Cameroon wrapper), but I actually enjoyed the King B I bought there even more. Later this evening we’ll be heading back to the IPCPR show for the opening reception.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Stogie Guys

LAS VEGAS — As in past years, the upcoming International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) Trade Show will feature numerous new and revamped cigars. And as George E noted yesterday, competition is fierce for the best tobacco with increased cigar imports, but that hasn’t slowed the trend.

StogieGuys.com will be on the ground in Las Vegas covering the convention with live updates throughout the day on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. However, you don’t need to wait until then to know many of the new cigars that will be introduced. Here is a preview of some of the new releases:

Ashton Cigars is releasing Benchmade, which will cost $2-3 per stick. Like last year’s release, the San Cristobal, Benchmade is a Don Pepin Garcia creation, this time with Nicaraguan mixed-filler tobacco.

CAO is releasing their new Lx2 line, or “ligero times two,” which promises to feature plenty of the spicy ligero tobacco. The cigar follows CAO’s Mx2 (Maduro) and Cx2 (Cameroon) and will cost $6-8 per stick with three sizes: Robusto, Toro, and Torpedo.

Cuban Imports, better known as the exclusive importer of certain H. Upmann and El Rey Del Mundo lines, is debuting an extension of its Exile blend that will be called the Exile Wired. The cigar features an Ecuadorian criollo wrapper grown by the Oliva company, a Connecticut broadleaf binder, and a filler comprised of a Nicaraguan ligero and viso tobacco along with Domincan seco leaf. It will come in four sizes—a 4.5 inch x 52 Rothschild, a 5.5 inch x 44 Corona Gorda, a 6 inch x 52 Torpedo, and a 7.25 inch x 52 Double Corona—with suggested prices ranging from $3.99 to $5.49 per cigar.

Cusano will be reintroducing two of its Cuvée blends: Rouge and 151. The lines have been completely re-blended since their original introduction. Rouge now features an Ecuadorian wrapper with Domincan and Ecuadorian filler, and the 151 sports a dark Brazilian maduro wrapper.

EO Cigars, maker of the 601 line, will again partner with Don Pepin Garcia for its new release. Cubao will retail for $6.50-7.50 per individual cigar and be made at Garcia’s Tabacalera Cubana S.A. factory with an Ecuadorian sumatra oscuro wrapper and filler and binder tobaccos from Nicaragua.

Illusione is coming out with a new line called Cruzado. Don Giolito, maker of Illusione, says Cruzado will be medium-bodied (milder than Illusione), with a Nicaraguan wrapper and binder and filler tobaccos from Nicaragua and Honduras.

La Aurora is introducing a new size featuring the same blend as its Preferido Cameroon cigar—a Cameroon wrapper with Dominican filler and binder. Instead of the round double torpedo shape, the new stick will be a 6 and 7/8 inch by 40 Lancero.

La Flor Dominicana maker Litto Gomez is featuring a new perfecto size for its La Flor and Coranodo sizes. The cigars will come in a box of five that also includes a new, but thus far unknown, blend.

La Perla Habana is introducing a very limited release, Andioamo, and Perla, a new addition to its Black Pearl line. Both cigars harken back to historical Havana, with Andiamo being released to coincide with the 500th anniversary of the discovery of the city by Europeans and the Perla aiming to recreate the taste and aroma of pre-Castro Cuban cigars of the 1940s and 1950s. Both come in Robusto, Toro, and Torpedo sizes, with Perla also being released in a large 8.5 inch by 52 “A” size.

The Reyes Family, makers of Puros Indios and Cuba Aliados, is producing two new cigars under the Reyes Family name: Reyes Family Classic and Reyes Family Premier. The milder Classic line ($4.50-6.00 each) features an Ecuadorian Sumatatra wrapper and Brazilian, Nicaraguan, and Dominican fillers. The medium-bodied Premier line ($6.00-9.00 each) utilizes a dark Ecuadorian maduro wrapper, a Nicaraguan binder, and filler from Nicaragua’s Jalapa region.

Tabacos de la Cordillera will also unveil four new cigars at the show: two medium- to full-bodied maduros (the Fundacion Ancestral Remedios 1942 and the Fundacion Ancestral Santa Clara), and two natural cigars (the Vogel Green and Vogel Red).

Toraño Cigars is finally releasing the third edition of its extremely limited Tribute line. The blend will come in three sizes—a Robusto, a Churchill, and a Torpedo—with only 1,200 boxes of each size being made. The cigar features a Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper with Nicaraguan binder and filler.

Noticeably missing from the announced new releases are the two largest cigar companies, Altadis USA and General Cigar, makers of some of the best-selling and most well-known sticks. No word yet from Altadis, but we expect to see new releases from the largest cigar maker in the world with an announcement just before or at the IPCPR show. Meanwhile, Victoria McKee of General Cigar tells StogieGuys.com that General will be announcing its new cigars tomorrow.

Stay tuned to StogieGuys.com for live coverage from the IPCPR trade show starting this Sunday, July 13th.

[Along with original reporting, this article features information from Cigar Aficionado and CigarCyclopedia.]

–Patrick S

photo credit: IPCPR