Stogie Guys Friday Sampler No. 242
10 Jun
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) Lawmakers in Connecticut have passed legislation that caps the excise tax on premium cigars at 50 cents per cigar. Once Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signs the bill, Connecticut will become the seventh state to adopt a cigar tax cap (the others being Iowa, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin). “After six and a half hours of debate, the House voted, 83 to 63, on a mostly party line vote,†reports the Hartford Courant. “About a dozen fiscally conservative Democrats, including those who had voted against the original budget and tax increases last month, broke with the party and voted with the Republicans.†Connecticut is a key cigar state given its unique ability to produce high quality wrapper leaves.
2) In May’s “Question of the Month,†we asked readers, “Where are your favorite cigars made?†Nicaragua came in tops with 49% of the vote, followed by the Dominican Republic (24%), Cuba (18%), and Honduras (8%). Be sure to weigh in on this month’s question by voting in the sidebar to the right. And feel free to contact us if you’ve got a suggestion for a future month’s poll.
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The blend, San Lotano, was once a pre-Castro Cuban line. “Retired for decades, the line is being reintroduced by A.J. Fernandez, whose grandfather first started the brand in San Luis, Cuba,†reads a press release. Fernandez says that “San Lotano has been a project many years in the making for me, and it is made to honor the tradition of cigar making that I learned from my father and my father’s father.â€
The latter is not to be confused with the original 5 Vegas Series ‘A’, which sports a Costa Rican maduro wrapper, a Nicaraguan binder, and a three-country filler blend. For starters, it isn’t mentioned on 5 Vegas’ 
Born in Cuba where he worked with the legendary Alejandro Robaina, Fernandez has quickly gained fame making cigars for other cigar companies including Rocky Patel, Padilla, Graycliff, and Gurkha, as well as making exclusive cigars for catalog giant Cigars International (for whom he makes Diesel, Man O’ War, La Herencia, and other smokes.) At the 2010 industry trade show, Fernandez introduced his first solo national brand, San Lotano. (For more on San Lotano, read our reviews of the 
1) One week after politicians in New York voted to criminalize smoking in the city’s parks, beaches, and other outdoor areas, two Boston city councilors are proposing a similar law for their city. “Mayor Thomas M. Menino [pictured], a strong supporter of smoking bans in bars and restaurants and of the elimination of cigarette sales in pharmacies, has not taken a public position on the councilors’ proposal,†reports the 
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