The Stogie Guys

With traditionally cigar-friendly locales like Dallas and North Carolina set to enact smoking bans soon, today presents a good opportunity to revisit our case against these unjust and tyrannical laws.

Regular readers will recall that, over the years, we’ve written a great deal about the lamentable spread of state and local smoking bans. While my colleagues and I try to keep our web magazine focused more on tobacco and less on politics, some issues—predominantly taxes and bans—cannot and should not be avoided.

So, here I intend to piece together many of the arguments we and others have made against the draconian smoking ban movement. My goals are threefold: (1) to potentially convince those who remain unconvinced, (2) to refresh our memories, and (3) to provide fellow brothers of the leaf with ammunition for their own debates on the subject.

Protect Whom?

One of our first commentaries on this subject was written back in May of 2006. It was prompted by city officials in Calabasas, California, who had approved a law that prohibits all smoking outdoors (except for in city-approved designated “smoking areas”). Given the complete lack of scientific data regarding outdoor secondhand smoke, I concluded that Calabasas officials weren’t trying to “protect” nonsmokers—they were trying to “protect” smokers, the very people who are consciously choosing to smoke.

That realization shouldn’t have come as a surprise. After all, the aim of every smoking ban, whether outdoors or inside private buildings, is for the government to control the actions of consenting adults.

The argument that bans are needed to protect the waitresses, bartenders, busboys, etc. who work in smoking facilities is also ill-conceived. As our friend Jacob Grier (a bartender) recently pointed out in an op-ed, there are many jobs that expose workers to riskier activities (such as Oregon’s requirement of full-service gas stations, which exposes attendants to harmful gas fumes). Besides, if secondhand smoke is a main concern, one can simply opt for a career or an employer that self-regulates tobacco use in the workplace.

Funny Science

In the open air or inside a bar, “health concerns” seem to be a mere ruse to disguise a movement of politicians, bureaucrats, and busybodies who would simply rather not smell, be near, or tolerate tobacco. Keep in mind that the notion of secondhand smoke as an epidemic is totally overblown.

While the AFL-CIO claims that “secondhand smoke is estimated to cause 65,000 deaths per year in the U.S.,” that number is just plain wrong. It’s 20 times the estimate of the Center for Disease Control, and even the CDC estimate was roundly rejected by a federal court. Thomas A. Lambert’s “The Case Against Smoking Bans” summarizes how various agencies and groups used biased “scientific” studies to make secondhand smoke appear to be risky enough to merit “a significant intrusion on the personal liberty of business owners and their customers.”

It’s Economics, Stupid

Famed George Mason University economist Walter E. Williams argues that smoking bans persist and spread despite common sense because “the cost to nonsmokers to impose their will on smokers, say, in a restaurant, bar, or airplane, is zero, or close to it.” The act of voting for politicians who will impose majority rule over minority rights is inexpensive, and zero-priced activities have sub-optimal outcomes.

Allowing the market to dictate smoking preferences, however, provides for choice. Some establishments will cater to smokers. Others, if demand merits, will spring up as profit-motivated business owners ban smoking to cater to desired preferences. Here in northern Virginia, in the absence of any smoking ban (though a statewide ban is forthcoming), many if not most restaurants are currently smoke-free.

Choose Liberty

The most compelling argument against smoking bans, in my opinion, is the notion that consenting adults have rights to do with their bodies what they so please, and private business owners have rights to offer the accommodations they so choose. Whatever the perceived social ill, government regulation and intervention is usually a “cure” worse than the disease.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Flickr

My first run-in with this Don Pepin Garcia line was, I’d have to say, not nearly as pleasant as the experience my colleague described about one year ago.

A product of Miami’s El Rey de Los Habanos factory, this five inch by 50 ring gauge Nicaraguan puro is covered in a slightly veiny “habano rosado claro” wrapper. The only information I could find on the filler is that it is a “Cuban-seed corojo 99 blend.”

The overall feel is spongy, but the perfectly applied triple cap clips off easily. The foot lights well and produces an abundant volume of smoke with a draw that’s a little on the loose side. While the initial blast of pepper is quickly replaced with strong flavors of cedar and leather, the first third is characterized by a finish that’s a little too harsh.

Progressing into second half, the cedar-like flavor remains prominent. The harsh finish fortunately mellows into the sort of sweet finish that I’ve grown to expect from cedar-flavored cigars. At this point, the burn starts to go awry and several corrections are needed before the smoke is complete.

It’s also worth noting that the label is adhered too firmly to the wrapper, which ultimately results in cracks. That setback, however, doesn’t seem to affect the cigar at all because the combustion malfunctions start before the band needs to be removed.

Ultimately, while the flavors are consistent throughout, they don’t seem to ever evolve. What’s more, the burn problems and the wrapper cracks combine to present a subpar smoking experience.

That’s why this blend, launched in 2005 before Don Pepin Garcia was a household name, isn’t one of my favorites. And the $7 per stick price point makes it easy to pass up on. For that, the Vegas Cubanas Invictos earns only two and a half stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

–Patrick M

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.

This Robusto (5 x 50) is made by Rocky Patel—though you wouldn’t know it from the simple orange band that doesn’t bear his name. It has an attractive, vein-free Cameroon wrapper that surrounds binder and filler tobaccos of unknown origin. Once lit, I find a mild- to medium-bodied taste with plenty of the sweet spice and cedar that is often associated with Cameroon tobacco. It doesn’t provide much in terms of complexity but, for a bundle cigar that sells for $2 per stick, it offers a lot of bang for your buck.

Verdict = Buy.

–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.

This ultra oily, habano oscuro-wrapped stick was outstanding when I reviewed it back in December 2007, but 15 months of humidor time improved the La Fuerza considerably. Gone are the occasional bitter notes that once stalked this cigar’s powerful flavor. Instead, the flavors of coffee, roasted nuts, and cocoa bean blend more harmoniously to yield more balance and slightly less strength. So while this five and ½ inch by 54 ring gauge stick remains full-bodied, age seems to have imparted a noble maturity—a big payoff for a $7 investment.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

In our ongoing effort to make StogieGuys.com as entertaining and informative as possible, each Friday we’ll post a mixed bag of quick cigar news and other items of interest. We call ‘em Friday Samplers. Enjoy.

1) With the federal government’s 700% tax increase on “large” cigars taking effect this week, families in America and across the Caribbean are bracing for the worst. Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood, as reported by the Associated Press, worries that SCHIP will devastate the profits and jobs that have already been hit hard by the recession. Likewise, many of the 185,000 families who depend on cigar exports from Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic—as showcased in this video—may be forced to find alternate sources of income as the U.S. responds to the tax hike by decreasing its cigar consumption.

2) According to Newsweek, Gurkha Cigars is claiming that “several inside sources” say the cigar used by Monica Lewinsky and Bill Clinton was, in fact, a Gurkha. We’re not sure why the company would want to tout its role in this sordid Oval Office incident, which is completely unverifiable anyway.

3) A documentary about famed Major League pitcher Luis Tiant (whom we interviewed about his line of “El Tiante” cigars) will be shown next month at the Tribeca Film Festival. The film documents his life (thus far) and his return to Cuba after 46 years of exile. It features interviews with Carlton Fisk, Carl Yastrzemski, and Peter Gammons.

4) Inside the Industry: The “CAO eLements” tour kicks off on Tuesday with Tim Ozgener traveling to retailers across the country for tastings of the new LX2 blend. We hear Alec Bradley is preparing a new release described as “just as complex [as the Tempus] with a little more kick.”  Cigar-related April Fools jokes are nothing new, but you may have missed Famous’ offering of five-cent “pre-owned” (i.e. pre-smoked) cigars. Cigar Rights of America is throwing a party just for members at the Big Smoke in Connecticut.

5) Around the Blogs: Stogie Review reviews a Padilla Habano Burberry. Cigar Jack smokes a Marco V.  Cigar Inspector inspects a Santa Damiana. Cigar Command dresses down an Avo LE 09.

6) Deal of the Week: To combat higher taxes, Cuban Crafters is slashing prices. Included are highly-rated sticks like the Don Kiki Brown ($33 for box of 25!), Cabinet Selection ($50 for  box of 25) and Cameroon ($60 for box of 25). Grab yours here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr

With the economy still struggling and the SCHIP taxes taking effect this week, I’ve been thinking what the future might hold for the cigar industry. Here are a few of the questions I have:

1. Will General and Altadis move to increase their market shares? The two giants already control a large share of the market and have expanded their reach in recent years to include huge retailers, a magazine, distributors, and who knows what else. I would be flabbergasted if we don’t see more buyouts, especially of boutique manufacturers.

2. Will more states seek revenue by collecting sales taxes from online transactions? This, too, seems likely. Cigars are a miniscule component, but such a move would probably serve the interests of B&Ms, who’ve always had to collect the money.

3. Will Florida and Pennsylvania impose taxes on cigars and will low-tax states ratify increases? Taxes in Pennsylvania and Florida—both of which are considering taxes—would have an extraordinary impact on major online operations, as would boosts by low-tax states, such as North Carolina. Just think of how many operations are in those states (Cigars International, Famous Smoke Shop, JR Cigars, Holts, Thompson). Again, this would at least somewhat level the playing field for local shops and Internet sellers, but the end result would be higher prices for consumers.

4. Will cigar makers begin to pare back? Fancy boxes and intricate bands would be my candidates for extinction as costs go up. More limited editions could supplant introductions of new lines because of the need for less inventory.

5. Will the industry and its related organizations work to change the image of cigar smokers? The perception that cigar smokers are $10,000-watch-wearing, first-class-flying, Wall-Street-worshiping, wine-sipping snobs makes it easy to single them out for taxes. Getting out the truth about the vast majority of people who actually enjoy cigars would certainly help.

–George E

photo credit: WordPress

The 700 percent excise tax increase on “large” cigars that Obama signed into law on February 4 goes into effect today. The tax is part of a series of increased tobacco taxes raised for the controversial State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

Under SCHIP, large cigars will be taxed at 52.75 percent, with a cap of 40.26 cents per cigar. This enormous increase, up from the previous rate of 20.719 percent with a cap of 4.875 cents per cigar, has many worried that it will devastate an industry already under siege due to state tax hikes and smoking bans.

Along with the tax on premium “large” cigars, the following tax increases will take effect on April 1:

• –Cigarettes: $1 per pack (up from 39 cents)
• –Small cigars: $50 per 1,000 (up from $1.80)
• –Snuff: $1.51 per pound (up from 58.5 cents)
• –Pipe tobacco: $2.831 per pound (up from $1. 097)
• –Chewing tobacco: 50.3 cents per pound (up from 19.5 cents)
• –Roll-your-own tobacco: $24.78 per pound (up from $1. 097)
• –Cigarette wrappers: 1.2 cents per 50 (up from 1.2 cents)
• –Cigarette tubes: 12.4 cents per 50 (up from 6.3 cents)

Despite the tax increases, studies show that millions of new smokers will be needed for the SCHIP hike to produce the revenue needed to meet funding requirements.

Industry Braces for Impact

While the exact affect on the industry remains to be seen, retailers and consumers are bracing for the negative impact of the massive tax increase.

In an interview earlier this year, CAO President Tim Ozgener told StogieGuys.com that the SCHIP tax increase had the potential to devastate not only cigar retailers, manufacturers, and consumers, but could also lead to widespread unemployment and crime in the Dominican Republic, Honduras, and Nicaragua—the three main sources of premium handmade cigars. He also told us that taxes, even more so than smoking bans, could devastate retailers since cigars are a “non-addictive luxury item,” which smokers could easily cut back on in response to higher prices.

Ultimately, the fear is that taxes could end the cigar industry as we know it. That’s why Rocky Patel of Rocky Patel Premium Cigars said, “I don’t worry about the competition. Every night I go to bed and I worry about the government putting us out of business.”

Is today the day that the government puts cigars out of business? Or will the industry take a hit but eventually weather this SCHIP storm? Only time will tell.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys