The Cigar Industry Report is a one stop place to catch up on the activity here at Cigar Coop and Stogie Geeks. It is a combination of our news reports, cigar reviews, and assessment updates we do throughout the week. We will also recap what happened on our Stogie Geeks show. Finally, each week we will look back at Cigar Coop history. Look for this report every Saturday morning at 8am Eastern time.

Cigar Industry Report: Volume 5, Number 4 (Edition 153 12/19/15)

Feature of the Week: Cigar Exemption Not Included in Omnibus Spending Bill

In what was a blow to the cigar industry, the language that would have exempted premium cigars from U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation was not included in the Omnibus Spending Bill put together by Congress. In addition, language that would have shifted the proposed grandfather date for cigars subject to regulation was not included. What this means, is the cigar industry now must play the waiting game and see what the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) comes back with in terms of the regulations proposed by the FDA.

Cigar of the Year Countdown

Box_Worthy_Thirty

For the sixth consecutive year, Cigar Coop is unveiling its daily Cigar of the Year Countdown. This year we have a new theme, “The Box Worthy Thirty” and have implemented a large set of changes in terms of the criteria.  This week we unveiled Cigars #19 through #13.

#19 Recluse Amadeus Habano Reserva Toro
#18: Avo Classic Covers 2015 (Volume 1)
#17: Falto 20th Aniversario Los Procesos
#16: Senorial 65th Anniversary Perfecto Elegance by Las Cumbres Tabaco
#15: Felipe Gregorio Art of Power Lord Byron 2015
#14: Davidoff Escurio Robusto Tubo
#13: Las Cumbres Tabaco Senorial Maduro Natural Robusto Digno by Jose Blanco

News and Previews 

Feature Story

Legislative News

  • Senate Bill S. 441: S. 441 is the Senate Bill to gain an exemption from the FDA on premium cigars.  This past week one new co-sponsors was added as Senator David Perdue [R-Georgia] has signed on. The total sponsor count is now at 20.
  • House Bill HR 662: H.R. 662 is House Bill to gain an exemption from the FDA on premium cigars.  This week, two new co-sponsors, Ted Poe [R-Texas] and Mike Bost [R-Ilinois] were added. The total number of sponsors is now at 153.
  • House Bill 2058:  H.R. 2058 is the House Bill to change the effective date for cigars subject to FDA regulation from 2007 to 21 months following any proposed regulations are put into effect. This week, one new co-sponsor, Ryan Zinke [R-Montana, at Large] was added . The total number of sponsors is now at 37.
  • Massachusetts: The Boston Board of Health has voted to increase the age to purchase tobacco to 21. In addition the age to for admission to adult-only tobacco stores and smoking bars has increased to 21. The change goes into effect February 15th.

Assessments

Stogie Geeks

 

 

This week for Episode 168, Omar de Frias of Fratello Cigars returned as our special guest. We also did a Debonaire Ideal on Gifts and covered our Stogies of the Week. Video for this show should be up next week.

This week’s cigars included:

Aging Room Bin No.1 D Minor by Boutique Blends Cigars
Swag Brown Connecticut Lavish by Boutique Blends Cigars
Asylum 13 Ogre Lancero
Asylum Dragon’s Milk
Espinosa Especial No. 4
Famous Smoke Exclusive Immortal Robusto
Herrera Esteli Tubo by Drew Estate
Las Cumbres Tabaco Senorial Lancero by Jose Blanco
Padron 50th Anniversary Maduro
Viaje Jalapeno (2015)

We apologize for delays in video publishing. We have hit some unexpected delays in post-production.  This week we caught up on Episode 166 with our Debonaire Ideal on Cigar Communities Stogies of the Week.

Stogie Geeks News

This week we covered the decision to not include the exemption for premium cigars in the proposed Omnibus Spending Bill. We also covered new releases from Oliva, Fuente, and La Flor Dominicana.

On this date December 19th…