The Stogie Guys

Because there is no such thing as too many choices when it comes to selecting hand-rolled cigars, Stogie Guys is pleased to report that Brazil Cigars and Tobacco will be increasing its presence in the Mid-Atlantic region.

The company distributes the Dona Flor, Alonso-Menendez, and Aquarius cigar lines – all made with Brazilian Mata Fina tobacco. The owners of Brazil Cigars, Dana and Dennis Sheldon, received the U.S. distributorship from Menendez-Amerino less than two years ago, and are just now entering the U.S. Mid-Atlantic.

Their push into the region is being headed up by Mid-Atlantic Representative Paul Arneson, who recently ended 30-year career in the Air Force while smoking an estimated 20,000 cigars! “Brazil cigars thought that qualified me to sell theirs,” Arneson told the Stogie Guys.

Arneson will be covering DC, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. According to the manufacturer’s website, only six stores in the entire region currently carry Brazil Cigars (four in Virginia, one in Maryland, and one in Delaware). Arneson will look to expand that list. One way he is planning on doing that is through events “featuring, among other attractions, young ladies.” Good idea. A past event featured Brazil Cigars owner Dana Sheldon donating 500 cigars to American soldiers at Guantanamo Bay, accompanied by a young lady dressed in Brazilian decor (see photo).

The Stogie Guys have not yet tried Brazil Cigars’ flagship line, Dona Flor, but during a visit to Brazil I did try a few from their Alonso-Menendez line. That was a few years back and my memory might be a bit fuzzy from the caiprinhas I was enjoying at the time. I can say, however, that they were pleasant enough that I went back for more.

For more on Brazil Cigars, look for reviews in future Stogie Guys articles.

–Patrick S

On Monday night the New York Mets clinched their division for the first time since 1988. There is plenty of news coverage about that in the New York papers and accross the web, but only at StogieGuys.com can you discover which cigars the 2006 National League East Champions were enjoying.

Willie Randolph, Manager

Skipper Willie Randolph had already told reporters that he would be puffing an Arturo Fuente Opus X Forbidden. According to media reports, the cigar was a gift from assistant trainer Mike Herbst. And quite a gift it was…

This rare Dominican cigar retails at around $30 per stick as part of a DVD gift set. The Fuente Opus X line is known as a powerful and often spicy Dominican puro made from the most select tobacco produced by the famous Fuente cigar family. It will be difficult for Willie to find a better cigar should the Mets find themselves winning in the playoffs.

Carlos Delgado, First Baseman

Delgado is a powerful slugger and, judging from pictures, he picked a powerful cigar. While the pictures available make it impossible to know for certain, it appears as though he selected a La Gloria Cubana Series R, probably the monster sized (7 inches by 58 ring gauge) no. 7 with a Maduro wrapper.

La Gloria Cubana was first made in Florida by (and primarily for) Cuban exiles until being “discovered” when they moved their operation to the Dominican Republic to expand production. Unlike their milder original line, the “Series R” returns to La Gloria Cubana’s Cuban roots with a spicy, full-flavored Ecuadorian wrapper surrounding robust Dominican and Nicaraguan filler. These behemoths cost $7 to $10 apiece, a drop in the bucket for Delgado who is pulling in $13.5 million this year.

David Wright, Third Baseman

Mets poster boy David Wright was also spotted enjoying a cigar as he clinched his first appearance in the post season. Again, it is difficult to tell exactly which cigar he chose, but we’re sure it is a La Flor Dominicana, and likely the rare 6 1/4 inches by 54 ring gauge Limitada II.

This special La Flor was limited to only 2,000 boxes back in 2002. It featured a Ecuadorian wrapper with a Dominican binder and filler. Like many of the others made by the company, it is quite strong… but it is doubtful that David ever found out what kind of cigar this was given that it was so thoroughly drenched in champagne.

[Photos appear courtesy of Hot Foot.]

–Patrick S

In our September 7 post, we told you how readers could win two free tickets to Cigar Artisans 2006 at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino on in Tampa, Florida courtesy of StogieGuys.com. To win the prize to the Thompson Cigar-sponsored festival of big names, great smokes, and serious giveaways, all readers had to do was send us an email before September 15 stating why you should be selected as the StogieGuys.com special correspondent for the event.

After sifting through dozens of competitive entries, George Edmonson of Tarpon Springs, Florida came out on top. His sincere enthusiasm for stogies and impressive journalism experience guaranteed a spot for him and his wife on Saturday, September 30 at one of the year’s premier cigar events.

It’s my pleasure to introduce George to Stogie Guys Nation. As per our request, he wrote the following bio for today’s post:

My eyes sure lit up when I read the email from StogieGuys.com telling me I’d won two free tickets to the Cigar Artisans 2006. It’s hard to imagine an event that promises more fun for a cigar smoker.

I’ve been smoking cigars for a few years, enjoying the hobby even more since last year’s move from Maryland to Tarpon Springs, Florida. Even with the Tampa’s rich cigar history, I didn’t know whether there would be as many great places to smoke as I had found in the DC area.

Well, I need never have worried. Within a comfortable drive from my new home there are so many wonderful places to buy cigars and enjoy a smoke. From the extraordinary selections at MJM in Palm Harbor and Cigars & Pars in New Port Richey, to the ambience of Cigar Central in St. Petersburg and the friendly atmosphere at Blue Smoke and Central Cigar – Tampa is a cigar smoker’s paradise. (And I didn’t even mention the rollers on the Tarpon Springs’ Sponge Docks. That’s one of their cigars I’m enjoying in the photo taken in my backyard.)

You asked about my favorite cigars and that’s tough. I’m constantly struck by how many really fine sticks there are these days. Fuente Sun Growns and Hemingways, Don Lino Africa, Toraño’s entire line, Padrons, Bolivar, Excalibur, CAO, Punch…And that’s really just a start off the top of my head. I’m sure I’m leaving many favorites out.

As far as my professional life is concerned, the move to Florida coincided with my retirement after nearly 35 years in newspapers. The last four or five were spent primarily covering the Pentagon for Cox Newspapers, experience I figure should come in handy when I get to talk to the cigar representatives at the event. Before that I was in Atlanta at the Journal-Constitution as an editor in a variety of roles. Earlier stops included about seven years as an editor at USA Today, beginning before the paper launched; the Rocky Mountain News in Denver; and the (late) Baltimore News American.

One of the primary issues I’m hoping to explore with the cigar experts at Cigar Artisans 2006 – and report back on – is the concept of aging cigars and whether manufacturers believe their cigars need time in the smoker’s humidor, or are ready to go as purchased. Another topic I hope to learn more about is how much of a threat cigar beetles really represent and whether manufacturers do the things we’ve heard about, such as flash freezing and irradiation. And, hopefully, I’ll be able to discuss even more.

So congratulations to George on winning the free tickets! We’re sure he will make a great StogieGuys.com correspondent to Cigar Artisans 2006. Be sure to keep it right here to read George’s report and see exclusive photos shortly after the event.

–Patrick A

In yesterday’s post we told you about Cigar Artisans 2006, a Thompson Cigar-sponsored festival of big names, great smokes, and serious giveaways. This year the event is being held on Saturday, September 30 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in beautiful Tampa, Florida.

Tickets normally run $110 apiece for this sure-to-be-kickass event, and each one includes some outstanding giveaways including: 25 premium handmade cigars (valued at $150), an embroidered travel bag, a polar fleece, backpack, ball cap, cutter, lighter, drawpoker, and – to top it all off – another eight-cigar sample pack. All this not to mention the fact that once you’re inside you get free food, free booze, a chance to meet the people behind major cigar brands, and you’ll automatically be entered to win a Harley Davidson motorcycle.

Interested? I thought so.

Well, you’re in luck. We want to send one loyal Stogie Guy (and one of his or her buddies) to Cigar Artisans 2006…FOR FREE.

All you have to do is make it there, have a blast, and shortly thereafter send us a brief write-up about the event for StogieGuys.com.

So if you’re going to be in Tampa on September 30 (or if you’re willing to make the trip), simply send us an email stating why you should be selected as the Stogie Guys special correspondent for the Cigar Artisans event. You don’t have to compose a ten-page essay or anything, but you may want to explain (1) a bit about your background in cigars and (2) what questions you’d ask the world’s leading cigar producers.

(Also, it probably wouldn’t hurt to gush about how much you love StogieGuys.com.)

Since our contest closes on Friday, September 15 at 5:30 PM EST – and since we’ll be reviewing applications on a rolling basis – be sure to get your submission in as soon as possible.

And be sure to keep it right here at StogieGuys.com, the only website where you can win two tickets to paradise!

–The Stogie Guys

Regular readers know most of the cigar events we publicize at StogieGuys.com take place in the Washington area, primarily because that’s our home beat. But we recently caught wind of Cigar Artisans 2006, an upcoming event in Tampa that sounds too good to not mention.

And, as an added bonus for our loyal readers, we’ve got two FREE TICKETS to give away! So be sure to drop by tomorrow when we announce the contest that will decide who scores this sweet prize.

Normally the tickets run $110 apiece, but given the $300 in free giveaways included with each ticket – including $150 dollars worth of cigars – the lucky winner will receive a prize worth $820. Here are the details:

Cigar Artisans 2006, sponsored by Thompson Cigar of Tampa, brings together the most prestigious names in the cigar industry, such as Arturo Fuente, Padron, CAO, Torano, General Cigar, Altadis USA, La Gloria, Rocky Patel, JC Newman, Camacho, Gurkha, La Perla, Acid, Cusano, Oliva and more.

“It’s a rare opportunity to meet the people behind the major cigar brands and to meet them all at once is exceptional,” said Joe Silvestro, Senior Buyer, Thompson Cigar. “We really loaded the ticket holders with enough freebies and prizes to fill their humidors and enjoy the experience long after the event is over.”

The event consists of two sessions with identical prizes and giveaways including custom painted Harley Davidson Motorcycles, poker tables, golf bags and sets of Razor golf clubs. Ticket holders will receive 25 premium handmade cigars with a value of $150, plus other prizes worth more than $125: including an embroidered travel bag, polar fleece jacket, backpack, ball cap, cigar cutter, lighter, drawpoker and another 8 Cigar sampler. There will be food and an open bar during the event.

Tickets are $110 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster or by visiting this website: www.cigarartisans.com.

Cigar Artisans 2006 is taking place on Saturday, September 30. But we’ll announce how you can score two FREE TICKETS tomorrow…Right here at StogieGuys.com. See you then.

–The Stogie Guys

While CAO has lately been the most creative company as far as cigar marketing is concerned, other brands are now putting new spins on old products to try to get more of their stogies into your humidors.

Take H. Upmann, for example. In cooperation with Michael Argenti, the manufacturer recently released a new version of two old lines – the H. Upmann Signature Series and the Por Larrañaga Cuban Grade.

The Signature line is really Argenti’s take on the esteemed Upmann label with a new tobacco blend and a new box. While the Por Larrañaga Grade is also a new blend, the most noticeable change is the unique silver box – a product of Argenti’s obsession with design.

Another current example of cigar manufacturers putting fresh twists on old stogies is that Rocky Patel’s unbanded cigar is slipping out of its birthday suit and into a tiny band. The Edge, which has been naked since its debut in 2004, will now have a thin, pastel yellow band around the foot of each cigar. The first of these newly-packaged stogies are scheduled to arrive in America by early September.

But as fancy boxes, new bands, and other creative marketing tools begin to flood your tobacconist, remember that new advertising strategies can be helpful in prompting you to try new cigars – but they should never dictate your preferences. A great cigar in a new box or band is still a great cigar…and a piece of crap in a new box or band is still a piece of crap.

–Patrick A

In a cigar industry full of characters, there are only a few who can rightfully be called icons. With the passing of Stanford J. Newman on Thursday, August 17, the industry now has one less legend:

Newman was a cornerstone of the American cigar industry, and spent more than 70 years in the business. He bore witness to revolutionary changes in the way cigars were sold and made, and had to transform his company several times to ensure its survival. He entered the business in the days when cigars sold for a nickel, and a one-cent price increase could destroy a brand; traveled often to Cuba to buy millions of dollars worth of tobacco on nothing more than a handshake, and changed his blends when the Cuban leaf he used became illegal due to the U.S. embargo; and finally lived through the cigar boom of the 1990s, watching his cigar brands reach heights undreamed of in decades past.

Newman’s company, the owner of Cuesta-Rey and Diamond Crown cigars, makes cigars by machine on the highest floor of its sprawling headquarters in Tampa, Florida, and it distributes the cigars made by Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia., which rolls the company’s premium brands in Santiago, Dominican Republic.

An indomitable spirit, Newman remained active in his family business up until his final days, and was at work when he fell ill.

“He was a pioneer,” said Marvin R. Shanken, editor and publisher of Cigar Aficionado magazine. “Stanford was a true leader in the cigar industry and a man of great class. We shall all miss him.”

Newman took great pride in owning a successful, enduring family business — J.C. Newman Cigar was founded more than 110 years ago — and took special pride in working alongside his two sons.

With the Fuente family, Stanford Newman founded the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation, which is working to improve the lives of the people of the cigar-producing areas of the Dominican Republic.

For more insight into Stanford J. Newman and the important role he played in the American cigar industry, see this extensive interview with Cigar Aficionado from 1997.

–Patrick S