The Stogie Guys

It has long been a suspicion that the anti-smoking movement would not be content with dictatorial smoking bans and oppressive tobacco taxes. Last week that suspicion was reinforced in a big way.

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) issued a scathing press release citing that “57% of the people in Ireland support a ban on smoking in all homes and cars” and that “this could expand the latest front in the war to protect nonsmokers.” John F. Banzhaf, executive director and chief counsel for ASH and professor of law at George Washington University, went on to make this ominous statement:

“As politicians in many states continue to debate whether to ban smoking in restaurants, bars, casinos, and other public places, it looks like legislators are once again far behind the growing public sentiment for smoking bans, and also far behind how far judges and regulatory agencies are willing to go.”

Now it comes as no surprise to our regular readers that government-mandated smoking bans and the anti-tobacco zealots who advocate them get no sympathy here. We’ve made no secret of the fact that such invasive bans limit choice, violate private property, and are justified only by shoddy “science.” But this call for smoking bans in private homes and cars takes tyranny to a whole new level.

Ironically, as our friend Jacob Grier so eloquently describes, “Despite all the recent victories for the anti-smoking lobby, its increasingly untenable claims and restrictive proposals will open the door to blowback.” Such impending retaliation should have the anti-smoking community at least a little worried (that is, of course, if the cigar industry gets its act together). Physician Michael Siegel, a proponent of smoking bans in workplaces, recently penned this on the subject:

“I must also say that ASH is making the pronouncements of smoking ban opponents look good. Many years ago, when I was lobbying for smoke-free workplace laws, opponents of these laws argued that this was just the first step: Workplaces were the first step and eventually we [the antis] would be trying to get smoking banned in the home. I countered these arguments by stating no—you’re wrong—we are going to stop after getting smoking banned in the workplace. Unfortunately, it looks like I was wrong and the smoking ban opponents were correct. Thanks to ASH, all those smoking ban opponents can now say ‘I told you so.’ Why would ASH make a public statement like this? Wouldn’t ASH recognize that by doing this, it paints all anti-smoking advocates and groups as being complete fanatics whose ultimate goal is to ban smoking everywhere, even inside the home?”

Maybe it was naïve to think a complete tobacco ban wasn’t the goal of anti-smoking groups from the get-go. Is it any wonder that those who would organize and put great effort into restricting the rights of others are not to be trusted?

In any event, as a cigar enthusiast and an overall fan of individual rights, I hope the cigar industry—including all those well-intentioned groups that sprung up last month—can use ASH’s brazen lack of judgment to make some gains for smokers and liberty.

–Patrick A

photo credit: CNN

Yesterday, United Tobacco’s EO (Espinosa y Ortega) Brands announced the introduction of the new Cubao cigar. EO Brands is best known for its 601 line of cigars, which comes in four blends featuring the same Nicaraguan filler and binder overlayed with a wrapper leaf of Connecticut (Black Label), Habano (Red Label), Maduro (Blue Label), or Oscuro (Green Label).

Like the 601 line, which has been introduced over the past two years, Cubao will be made by Don “Pepin” Garcia. Pepin’s other cigars include Tatuaje, Don Pepin Garcia, San Cristobal by Ashton and (formerly) the Padilla Miami, 1932 and 1948 lines.

According to EO Brands, “Cu-bao” is the Taino word for “where fertile land is abundant” or “a great place.” The cigar features an Ecuadorian grown Sumatra Oscuro wrapper with filler and binder from the Esteli and Jalapa regions of Nicaragua. It will be made at Garcia’s Tabacalera Cubana S.A. factory.

According to press materials, Cubao will be a full-bodied smoke. The new cigar will be made in six sizes: No. 1 (7-1/8 inch x 49), No. 2 (6-1/8 inch x 52 torpedo), No. 3 (7-1/2 inch x 38), No. 4 (4-7/8 inch x 50), No. 5 (6-1/8 inch x 50), and the No. 6 (5-1/2 inch x 52).

The cigar will come in boxes of 20 cigars, except for the Lancero which comes in a box of 30. Suggested retail price for a box is $130-158 ($204 for the Lancero), or $6.50-$7.50 individually.

The Cubao will be introduced at the IPCPR Trade Show in Las Vegas starting July 13th.

Responding to the possibility that Cubao would compete with EO’s already popular 601 lines, Erik Espinosa says “a true cigar smoker needs variety, and will embrace the new stick, knowing that Pepinand EO can be counted on for the consistency of their product.”

StogieGuys.com will be in Las Vegas to give a firsthand report of the Cubao and other cigars introduced at the cigar trade show.

–Patrick S

photo credit: EO Brands

The annual hype machine is starting up again. Cigar makers will be launching dozens of new lines at the IPCPR Trade Show in Las Vegas this July and marketing departments are busy trying to create buzz about their new releases.

Given that CAO is known for its cutting edge marketing, it should come as no surprise that CAO (led by their head of marketing, Jon Huber) has released a two-part short film hinting at it’s new release planned for this year’s IPCPR convention (formerly known as the RTDA).

In an email to StogieGuys.com editors this week, Huber wrote “CAO New Release??? Maybe…” and directed us to CAO’s short film titled “CAO Mission Escaparate.”

Here is the part one of the film:

Part two can be found here here.

StogieGuys.com will be at the annual convention in Las Vegas, to provide our readers with information on the new CAO cigar and the many other new cigar releases.

–Patrick S

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief take on a single cigar.

This Nicaraguan (made in Don Pepin Garcia’s factory) features an attractive, if dry, rosado wrapper. The flavor has Pepin’s typical Nicaraguan bite, but lacks the overall smoothness, complexity, or depth that his cigars usually have. The construction was good with an easy draw, solid ash, and a relatively even burn.

Verdict = Hold.

–Patrick S

Michigan is now one step closer to a statewide smoking ban. Last week, in a surprise move, the Senate quickly passed the statewide ban that had been languishing in committee.

Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm praised the bill’s passage, saying it “sends a strong message across Michigan and the nation that we place a high priority on the health of our citizens” and promised to sign any smoking ban that came across her desk. Never mind that the science doesn’t support the contention that smoking bans help non-smoking citizens.

Business groups, particularly restaurants and bars, argued against the legislation:

The Senate action was an unexpected setback for opponents of the ban, led by the Michigan Restaurant Association. The group’s spokesman, Andy Deloney, called a statewide smoking ban unwarranted government regulation that hurts Michigan’s business climate.

Deloney said nearly 5,100 Michigan restaurants and taverns – about one of three – prohibit smoking, an increase of 130% in the last 10 years. He said owners made the switch to accommodate customers.

In other words, there is no shortage of completely smoke-free establishments, not to mention the fact that many places have non-smoking sections.

The leading advocate for the smoking ban was state Senator Ray Basham, who has been trying to pass a statewide ban for a decade. Basham’s leadership on the ban is noteworthy because he has proven himself to be completely idiotic on the issue of smoking (and particularly cigars).

Last month Michigan Sheriff Michael Bouchard confiscated thousands of counterfeit Cubans that turned out to be high quality non-Cuban cigars. Rather than simply destroy them, he sent them to troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. (Altadis and General Cigar also chipped in thousands of cigars for the troops.)

In response to Sheriff Bouchard’s generous act, Basham had this to say: “It is sad that troops are being killed in Iraq, but it’s even sadder that someone would send cigars, which is also a killer.”

Anti-smoking activists in Michigan couldn’t have a better spokesman: Basham is another example of an anti-tobacco activist so dedicated to controlling the lives of others with his smoking ban that he would ignore scientific evidence, common sense, and even basic decency.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief take on a single cigar.

I enjoyed this Churchill-sized vitola considerably more than the torpedo-shaped No. 9. At seven inches with a 49 ring gauge, it provides several hours of sweet, earthy flavors with few sour or stale notes. The combination of an Ecuadorian Sumatra-seed sungrown wrapper and Dominican binder and filler tobaccos yields a straight burn and a firm white ash. Expect to pay around $6-7 apiece, and expect a long and pleasant smoke.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys