The Stogie Guys

On June 8, Patrick and I sent a proposal to Carleen Martin, director of marketing and promotions for the Washington Nationals, outlining a plan to designate a number of seats in the upper level of RFK Stadium for an upcoming home game as “cigar friendly”. Specifically, we propositioned the Nats to sell premium-priced tickets for an established cigar section where patrons would be able to enjoy stogies while watching a live baseball game.

Ms. Martin informed us yesterday that while the proposal – which can be read in its entirety by clicking here – may be reconsidered next year, the Nationals are going to take a pass on a StogieGuys.com Cigar Night this season.

Rebuffing a sure-fire, win-win marketing strategy like our proposed cigar event provides some insight into why Ms. Martin’s department is having such a hard time getting butts in RFK seats since the franchise moved from Montreal. According to ESPN, this year the Nats rank a lowly 17th in home attendance, despite playing in one of the biggest facilities – and one of the largest markets – in the majors. And just take a look at all the empty seats in the picture above, which was snapped by yours truly at a Saturday night game this year (perfect weather, plus it was free hat night).

The fact is, our unique and creative marketing technique would undoubtedly (1) boost attendance in the sparsely-populated upper-level of RFK, (2) increase revenue for the team via higher-priced tickets that otherwise would not be purchased, and (3) improve Nationals fans’ experience at the ballpark.

As our proposal outlines, there is an indisputable demand for cigar friendly sections at major league ballparks. The expansion of the stogie lifestyle into mainstream facilities, despite the advance of smoking bans across the nation, is evident in the highly-popular cigar sections at the Pittsburgh Pirates’ PNC Park, the Tampa Bay Devil Ray’s Tropicana Field, and the Detroit Tigers’ Comerica Park.

Additionally, Patrick and I graciously offered to use our website and extensive DC cigar contacts to help promote the potential event. Specifically, John Sullivan – manager of the JR Cigar store at 17th and L Streets, NW – kindly agreed to provide patrons who purchase tickets to the section through the Nats box office with free cigars from his store, as well as a humidor and subscriptions of Cigar Magazine to raffle during the game. (Next time you pay JR a visit, be sure to thank John.)

And we even discussed in the proposal how, if the proper section were chosen, cigar smoke wouldn’t be a “bother” to other fans.

But, at least for now, the Nationals have declined to implement what would certainly be a successful marketing tool. Looks like team management would rather have no fans in their upper deck than a section of enthusiastic, courteous, and contented Stogie Guys.

Note to our readers: If you’re interested in making StogieGuys.com Cigar Night at RFK Memorial Stadium for a Nationals home game possible, please consider signing this online petition. Thanks in advance.

-Patrick A

Well, we don’t quite have our own airlines yet, but we did find an airline that Stogie Guys might enjoy: SmintAir.

The airline will not offer economy-class tickets, but will target business people who enjoy smoking – and who are willing to pay for some extra pampering.

Smoking will be allowed in all 138 seats on board – and there will be extra leg room, because jumbo jets normally accommodate more passengers.

“The upper deck will be the passengers’ lounge and not be jammed with seats, as you can sadly find everywhere, nowadays,” the website says.

“Allergics against tobacco smoke or militant anti-smokers are asked to not apply,” Smintair says on its jobs page.

On the website Mr Schoppmann writes nostalgically about the old times when Lufthansa offered its passengers a vast selection of Montecristo cigars.

Unfortunately according to the BBC, so far there are only plans for a Dusseldorf-Tokyo route, but with all the news about smoking bans, it’s great to hear some good news for a change. Hopefully Smintair will be such a huge success that Americans will one day have the opportunity to enjoy a fine stogie while cruising at 30,000 feet.

-Patrick S

CAO seems to have a knack for marketing. (They also have a knack for making great cigars…In fact, I recently decided that CAO’s Brazilia Line may be my favorite stogie, though to be fair I change my “favorite cigar” almost once a month…but I digress.)

Last year at the RTDA, CAO unveiled the officially licensed Sopranos Cigar which comes in a very cool box that looks like the trunk of an old Cadillac. The CAO Sopranos Edition comes in three cleverly named sizes: ‘Associate’ (5” x 52), ‘Soldier’ (6” x 54), and ‘Boss’ (7” x 56).

And in 2004 CAO unveiled its Italia Line which introduced us to tobacco as another fine export from the country already known for great food and drink. And I’d be surprised if most of our readers haven’t had the Italia’s blue, green, and red box catch their eye next to all the brown and white boxes at your local smoke shop.

Now, just in time for this year’s RTDA, CAO is unveiling yet another line of cigars with another unusual cigar box. CAO Vision is the first CAO stogie made in the Dominican Republic, with tobacco from the DR, Nicaragua, and Brazil.

But regardless of how the cigar is – though I suspect it will be good – the box is the real eye-catcher. Instead of cardboard or cedar, CAO Vision comes in its own specially made humidor that is calibrated to keep CAO’s Dominicans at the optimal 68-70 percent relative humidity. And while it is hard to tell, looking at the video on CAO’s website, it seems like the futuristic box has a blue neon glow.

So in a few months, when CAO Vision hits the shelves, don’t be scared of that blue glow coming from your local cigar shop’s humidor. It’s just the latest unique marketing strategy from CAO.

-Patrick S

Would a cigar by any other name taste as delicious? Thanks to a move (or rather, lack thereof) by the U.S. Supreme Court this week, Cohiba-lovers won’t have to find out.

The High Court recently rejected a Havana-based company’s petition for review in the disagreement over ownership of the Cohiba trademark. The dismissal renders an appellate court’s February 2005 ruling final that General Cigar retains exclusive ownership of the Cohiba brand name in the U.S.

Cubatabaco filed the lawsuit in 1997 against General Cigar – producer of Macanudo, Partagas, Cohiba, and Punch – arguing it owned the Cohiba name under U.S. law and certain international treaties.

The High Court denial authorizes General Cigar to continue using the name it has put on its Dominican-made cigars in the U.S. for more than twenty years.

As you could have guessed (thanks to its searing, oppressive communism), the Cuban government – in other words, Fidel Castro – owns Cubatabaco. It follows that you also won’t be surprised to learn that the Bush administration successfully urged the court to refuse the case.

While the quality and craftsmanship of General Cigar’s Dominican Cohibas would have likely remained the same regardless of the outcome of this ill-fated lawsuit, company officials are still chalking up this home “court” win as a key victory.

-Patrick A

Winston Churchill without a cigar is like a beach without sand, yet the anti-smoking Nazis are taking the cigar out of Churchill’s mouth:

Because of the ban on smoking in public places, Britain’s greatest wartime prime minister will be without his trademark cigar when he is portrayed on stage at the Edinburgh Fringe festival later this year.Mel Smith, the comedian and actor who will play him in a production of Allegiance, a play about a little-known meeting between Churchill and Michael Collins, the Irish revolutionary, could be forced to use a plastic replacement.

Producers believe Churchill’s lit cigar and the cloud of smoke which permanently surrounded him are so integral to his character that they plan to appeal to the Scottish executive for a special dispensation.

And when I say anti-smoking Nazis, I don’t just mean their general fascist tendencies towards government control of people’s private lives. Actually, Hitler’s beliefs about tobacco were nearly identical to that of today’s anti-smoking zealots, and he even advocated for the same public policy measures:

In Nazi Germany, for instance, abstinence from tobacco was a “national socialist duty” (Hitler gave a gold watch to associates who quit the habit, though this didn’t stop them from lighting up in the Berlin bunker once they heard the Fuhrer had committed suicide). Armed with such senior sanction, anti-tobacco activists succeeded in banning smoking from government offices, civic transport, university campuses, rest homes, post offices, many restaurants and bars, hospital grounds, and workplaces. Tobacco taxes were raised, unsupervised cigarette vending machines were banned, and there were calls for a ban on smoking while driving.

Hmmm… that sounds a lot like somewhere I live.

This also sounds an awful lot like that woman who was smoking at the Mayflower Hotel bar, but refused to give her name to the Washington Post reporter because she works on anti-smoking ballot measures.

Fortunately, unlike Hitler, today’s anti-smoking Nazis have democracy and the Constitution to slow down their assault on our personal freedoms, though you get the feeling they wish such obstacles didn’t exist.

In the end one thing is for sure: Somewhere, Churchill is rolling in his grave.

-Patrick S

On June 8, we informed you that the Macanudo Ambassador, Signe, would be at Georgetown Tobacco that evening to promote General Cigar stogies. As you can see from this fabulous photo, Patrick and I attended – and we were not disappointed.

As soon as we walked in the door, the friendly Signe asked us if we wanted a complimentary Macanudo. Well, let me see, if you’re going to twist my arm…YES!

Even more outstanding, we were given the choice of one Rothschild (six and ½ inches, 42 ring gauge) from the Natural, Maduro, or Robust lines. Patrick indulged in a Robust, and I – seeking a mild smoke for a change – devoured a Natural.

In addition to graciously giving us free sticks, Signe – who was very knowledgeable – provided us with interesting and insightful cigar-tasting brochures, free Macanudo hats, and a buy-two-get-the-third-cigar-free deal on General Cigar brands. I picked up a Punch Grand CRU Robusto, a Partagas Black Label Magnifico, and a Macanudo Maduro Rothschild all for under $12 (reviews forthcoming).

All in all, Patrick and I were more than pleased we took the time to head up to Georgetown for this spectacular occasion. The lesson here is that these stogie events are mutually beneficial, helping the company promote their brand(s) while providing patrons with free merchandise and great deals. Check the Cigar World events page regularly to see what’s happening in your neck of the woods.

-Patrick A

Given that a large number of our readers are from the Washington, DC area, we would be remiss if we didn’t tell you that the Macanudo Factory Ambassador is in town.

Our friends at JR Cigars in Washington hosted the ambassador yesterday. John Sullivan,the manager there, told us he had a great turnout. He also said that “Signe, the Macanudo Ambassador, was well informed about cigars and was giving away Macanudo Hyde Parks. It also didn’t hurt that she was a knockout!”

Besides the Macanudos, they also had specials on many other fantastic General Cigar brands. John was also kind enough to send along a picture of Signe, the Macanudo Ambassador, telling one customer about Macanudo’s offerings. (See, what did we tell you about women with cigars!)

Also, be sure to mark you calendars for July 7th when John and JR host Partagas Roulette. Truth be told, we’re not really sure what that is, but since it probably means winning free Partagas cigars, we’re all for it!

Tonight the Macanudo Ambassador will be at Georgetown Tobacco from 4-8pm. (Yours truly may be making an appearance, though it would have to be on the late side because after all, some of us have to work for a living.)

To keep up with events all over the country, we recommend that you check the Cigar World events page regularly. Also JR Washington has an events page that you should keep an eye on.

-Patrick S