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 21 (Edition 170 4/16/16)
Feature of the Week: House Agriculture Appropriations Bill Clears Subcommittee With Premium Cigar Exemption
This week, House Appropriations Subcommittee for Agriculture released its proposed Agriculture Appropriations Bill. As a part of the bill, it includes language that includes an exemption for premium cigars. This means no funding can be used to finalize, implement, administer or enforce the proposed U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations for anything related to premium cigars. We got further details on the bill here.
News and Previews
- 1502 Cigars: The company has begun distribution to Germany and Slovakia.
- Boutique Blends: The company announced it is bringing back the Black Knight brand. The new Black Knight features a new blend, new sizes, and will be an exclusive to JR Cigar and its distribution arm Santa Clara Cigars.
- Gran Habano: This week the company announced La Coleccion de Elegancia – a sampler of the Corojo #5 line that also includes three all-new vitolas in the blend.
- Jas Sum Kral: The company is adding three new sizes to its self-titled line.
- La Gran Llave: We previewed the new LGL Limited.
- Nat Sherman: The New York based cigar company has ended its relationship with the Knickerbocker Hotel. Nat Sherman had been operating a rooftop lounge for the hotel.
- Padron: The company has released a line extension to the 1964 Anniversary line known as the Padron 1964 Anniversary Hermoso.
- RoMa Craft Tobac: The company will produce a limited edition line extension to its CroMagnon line for Two Guys Smoke Shop. The cigar will be an extension to Two Guys’ Firecracker series and will be called the CroMagnon Firecracker.
- Southern Draw Cigars: The company is launching its first Connecticut Shade cigar, the QuickDraw Connecticut
- Viaje: The company is introducing a new small batch line extension to its Exclusivo line known as the Viaje Exclusivo Reserva. The Viaje Jalapeno will also be returning with a 2016 small batch installment.
- Warped Cigars: The company will launch its new Maestro del Tiempo line at the 2016 IPCPR Trade Show.
Legislative News
- Senate Bill S. 441: S. 441 is the Senate Bill to gain an exemption from the FDA on premium cigars. This week, no new co-sponsors were added. The total sponsor count remains at 21.
- House Bill HR 662: H.R. 662 is House Bill to gain an exemption from the FDA on premium cigars. This week Sean Duffy [R-Wisconsin] signed on as a co-sponsor. The total number of sponsors is now 163.
- 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, no new co-sponsors signed on The total number of sponsors remains at 52.
- Indiana: The Indiana Supreme Court upheld a smoking ban for the City of Indianapolis. The decision comes several months after the State Court of Appeals found the nonsmoking ordinance unconstitutional.
- Louisiana: This week a comprehensive smoking ban was defeated in the Capital City of Baton Rouge. Retailers Louis Molina of Habana Port Cigar Merchants and Sarah Betz of Bayou Tobacco were among many people who spoke before the City Council combating this proposed bill. The vote on the bill was 6-6 resulting in a defeat for the proposed Smoking Ban.
Assessments
- Liga Privada Unico Serie Year of the Rat by Drew Estate
- MBombay KeSara A
- Cattle Baron Stockyard’s
- E.P. Carrillo Federal 95th Anniversary
- Gotham Heroes Alec Bradley Robusto
Agile Cigar Reviews
Stogie Geeks
For Episode 182 we welcomed J. Glynn Loope, Executive Director for Cigar Rights of America. Our Debonaire Ideal segment was on Cigars and Golf and we had our Smokes of the Week which included:
- Liga Privada Unico Serie Year of the Rat by Drew Estate
- Avo Classic Robusto Tubo
- Casa Magna Colorado Diadema
- Cattle Baron Stockyard’s
- Davidoff Winston Churchill Limited Edition 2016 The Raconteur
- E.P. Carrillo Federal Cigar 95th Anniversary
- Montecristo White Vintage Connecticut No. 3
- MoyaRuiz Pickle Juice
- Pardon 1964 Anniversary Hermoso Maduro (Pre-Release)
- Viaje Collaboration 2015
We published Episode 181 – which included:
Our Throwback Feature is from Episode 29 – Smokin’ In Your Birthday Suit
Stogie Geeks Shorts
In this episode we cover a rare vintage cigar – the Montecristo – Le Cigare des Arts
Stogie Geeks News
On this Episode of Stogie Geeks News, we talk about the AJ Fernandez Cigars Portfolio Series, the La Aurora 1962 Corojo and 1987 Connecticut Released, Drew Estate Lounge and Year of the Rat, and the General Cigar Hoyo.
On this date April 16th…
- April 16th 2011: We assessed the E.P. Carrillo Core Line
- April 16th 2012: We previewed the Romeo by Romeo y Julieta by Altadis USA
- April 16th 2013: We re-published a press release on the “Nat Sherman Terraces Cut and Cork Package”
- April 16th 2013: We assessed the Sosa Underground.
- April 16th 2014: We previewed the CAO Flathead Sparkplug.
- April 16th 2014: We took a look at La Sirena Cigars’ plans for 2014.
- April 16th 2014: We previewed the Room 101 Daruma Gold.
- April 16th 2014: We reported on the release of the Viaje Trifecta.
- April 16th 2014: We reported on Alliance Cigars’ distributing Reinado Cigars.
- April 16th 2015: We reported on Caldwell Cigar Company adding four new sizes to the Caldwell Collection.
- April 16th 2015: We reported on theTatuaje TAA 2015.
- April 16th 2015: We reported on the TAA Exclusive Padron Serie 1926 No. 47.
