The Stogie Guys

This week StogieGuys.com is in Las Vegas covering the 79th annual International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers (IPCPR) Association Trade Show—the convention where cigar makers from around the world come to showcase their products and debut new creations. Check back throughout the day for updates, and keep an eye on Twitter for even more.

Early Morning Update: Various cigar makers I spoke with all say that day two of the Trade Show was very successful, and that there was no noticeable drop off in sales from day one to two. It’s hard to say whether this was merely positive spin or actual sales, but it did seem that many more than a few booths were even busier yesterday. Everyone I spoke with was happy to back in Las Vegas (as opposed to New Orleans) and more than a few were a little worried about next year being in Orlando.

Yesterday I also visited with Andre Farkas of Viaje. He said he’ll continue to keep production low even though he has a waiting list of 150 shops who want to get Viaje Cigars in their stores. The next new release he plans is the Late Harvest.

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This week StogieGuys.com is in Las Vegas covering the 79th annual International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers (IPCPR) Association Trade Show—the convention where cigar makers from around the world come to showcase their products and debut new creations. Check back throughout the day for updates, and keep an eye on Twitter for even more.

Early Morning Update: Yesterday was a busy day for me, and it was also a busy one for cigar makers as they took orders from retailers. The real test will be if traffic and sales hold up, or if the strong sales were just a function of people getting their buying done quickly so they can enjoy a few days of vacation in Sin City.

As we reported in our Trade Show preview, Tatuaje has plenty of new releases. Highly anticipated is the Black Petit Lancero, which was displayed next to the recently released La Vérité 2009.

Fausto is based on the T110 blend and, by all accounts, is a real powerhouse. Avion is a box-pressed perfecto that features the same blend but the size makes it less powerful.

La Casita Criolla features a blend made entirely of Connecticut broadleaf tobacco. The 7th Capa Especial is the same blend as the Brown Label but with a Sumatra wrapper.

Every year Tatuaje puts out a special Halloween-themed release like “Boris,” “The Face,” “Frank,” and “Drac.” This year’s will be “The Wolfman,” a box-pressed torpedo with an unfinished foot. A limited number of special boxes will be available.

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This week StogieGuys.com is in Las Vegas covering the 79th annual International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers (IPCPR) Association Trade Show—the convention where cigar makers from around the world come to showcase their products and debut new creations. Check back throughout the day for updates, and keep an eye on Twitter for even more.

Early Morning Update: Yesterday I attended the IPCPR seminars conducted for members of the association (StogieGuys.com is a Online Media Member of the IPCPR). In the first seminar, IPCPR brought in an expert on social media marketing to help “de-mystify” social media (Twitter, Facebook, etc…). Some cigar makers and cigar shops have completely embraced social media (La Aurora, Tatuaje, and Drew Estate come to mind) and they’ve reaped the benefits, so it’s good to see the IPCPR educating its members on how to reach cigar smokers through social media, though I could have done without the constant sales pitches in the presentation. (I’m not sure whether this seminar was in the works already, but I should note that at one point we had discussed with the IPCPR leading a similar panel on social media and blog outreach, so obviously I thought the seminar topic was a good idea.) The second seminar featured an expert on productivity and increasing job satisfaction. This was also good to see because (as I’ve written) there’s nothing worse than a lazy or apathetic employee ruining what should be a great cigar shop experience.

The final seminar, and my personal favorite, was a tasting seminar lead by José Blanco (who we interviewed here). Last month Blanco announced his retirement from La Aurora after 30 years with the company, but he didn’t leave before leading his famous tasting seminar one last time. Attendees smoked one cigar (pictured above) with five different wrappers. The experience lets smokers experience the impact of each wrapper (Ecuadorian-grown Connecticut, Cameroon,  Ecuadorian-grown Sumatra, Brazilian mata fina, and  Dominican corojo) on the flavor.

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Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief verdict on a single cigar of “buy,” “hold,” or “sell.”

By the time this is published, I’ll be firmly on the ground in Las Vegas to cover the IPCPR Trade Show for the fourth straight year. But writing (still from Virginia) I figured I’d get a jump on things by smoking a cigar that won’t officially be released until the convention opens Monday morning. I’ve yet to confirm any details about the newest cigar from Sean Williams’ El Primer Mundo, except for the fact that I’m holding this tightly constructed, double-banded robusto in my hands. Epifania (Italian for “epiphany”) features medium-bodied woody flavors and subtle sweet molasses notes. It’s a well-rounded, balanced smoke with significant spice on the finish. It paired well with the spicy notes of an Elijah Craig 18 Year Old bourbon.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credits: Stogie Guys

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief verdict on a single cigar of “buy,” “hold,” or “sell.”

Released in 2008 to commemorate the year Ramón Cifuentes began producing Macanudo, the 1968 line is blended with a dark Havana-seed Honduran wrapper, a Connecticut binder, and Dominican and Nicaraguan filler tobaccos. The Robusto (5 x 50) commanded a price of about $8.50 when it first debuted, but now it can be found for around $5. That makes this medium-bodied cigar a good buy, especially given its fine combustion and tasty profile of dry wood, licorice, spice, and cashew.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

As we have since July 2006, each Friday we’ll post a mixed bag of quick cigar news and other items of interest. Below is our latest Friday Sampler.

1) Back in 2008, Boston bureaucrats adopted sweeping extensions of the city’s smoking ban, ordering all cigar bars to close by 2018. Before that move, even supporters of the city’s ban, which was four years old at the time, were calling the proposed legislation too severe. “The new regulations go too far,” wrote the Boston Herald. But on Monday, a provision attached to the Massachusetts budget that would have saved Boston’s cigar bars was vetoed by Gov. Deval Patrick.

2) Next week, Patrick S will be in Las Vegas to cover the 78th annual International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers (IPCPR) Association Trade Show—the convention where cigar makers from around the world come to showcase their products and debut new creations. Check back often on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday for live updates from the Trade Show floor as we get the skinny on new products. And feel free to leave a comment on this post if you have a question you’d like us to ask a cigar maker.

3) Inside the Industry: In its annual survey of American tobacco retailers, Cigar Insider found that this year’s best selling cigars brands are, in order, Padrón, Arturo Fuente, Rocky Patel, and Davidoff. The “hottest” brands (those most requested by consumers) are Padrón, Tatuaje, Arturo Fuente, and Rocky Patel. The survey also cites that over 67% of shops are reporting higher sales over the previous year, even though consumers remain price-sensitive.

4) Around the Blogs: This week’s “Around the Blogs” segment is dedicated solely to the 4th Annual Smoke a JJ for JJ Day, which is July 22nd (next Friday). Jerry Cruz, co-founder of Stogie Review, friend of this site, and all around good guy, started the tradition to remember his late son JJ who passed away due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Details here.

5) Deal of the Week: With platinum at over $1,700 per ounce and gold at over $1,600, this Platinum and Gold Sampler is the closest you’ll get to a bargain on the precious metals. Just $35 gets you five each of the Montecristo Platinum Vintage 1999 and CAO Gold (both in the robusto size). Grab your sampler while supplies last.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr

The other day I spent the afternoon at a local smoke shop. My wife was out, and I was whiling away the time. I lit up an inexpensive La Traviata Intrépido, drank coffee, and read the paper, glancing occasionally at ESPN on the TV.

Nothing special. And that’s really what made the day stand out. Whether you’re looking for company or solitude, relaxation is just a cigar store away. It also got me to thinking about an experience several weeks earlier.

I was on jury duty for a fairly involved, week-long civil trial down the road in Clearwater, Florida. I knew that a shop I’d visited in the past had moved since my last smoke there, but I didn’t know its new location. Unfortunately, it didn’t occur to me to check on the address until the third day of the court proceedings.

But better–much better–late than never. Cigar Central is now on Chestnut Street, just a short stroll from the courthouse. So, when we were let out for lunch on Wednesday, I passed up food for a smoke. I picked up an Arturo Fuente Sungrown robusto from the humidor room and settled in. The owner, Ron, was every bit as cordial and welcoming as I remembered. We chatted a bit, I relaxed in a nice chair, and enjoyed the cigar. I finished at just about the time I needed to return and walked back refreshed.

It was hard not to compare that with the previous day, when I had traipsed up the street for some not-so-good pizza and a watery soft drink. I ate perched on one of those uncomfortable high chairs at a tiny table amidst the restaurant din.

So, of course, there was no question about where to go on Thursday. This time I had an HC Series, my first from that line. (An excellent smoke, by the way.) I had a fine lunchtime.

I’m sure it is difficult for those who don’t smoke cigars to appreciate what a wonderful pastime it is. Trying to explain what they’re missing doesn’t seem to do it justice. But perhaps I can help those who do understand and end up in court in downtown Clearwater. Among the forms the clerk asked that we fill out was a request for businesses that should be added to the annotated map supplied to jurors.

I strongly suggested they add Cigar Central. You couldn’t find a better place.

–George E

photo credit: Flickr