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.

Feature of the Week: Altadis and Boutique Blends Team Up to Create the Romeo by Romeo y Julieta Aging Room Small Batch F25


This week it was announced that Altadis and Boutique Blends are coming together for a collaborative project.  The Romeo by Romeo y Julieta Aging Room Small Batch F25 will be a limited production cigar created at Tabacalera La Palma and distributed by Altadis.

News and Previews

• A.J. Fernandez Cigars: The company announced a new AJ Fernandez Lounge at The Perfect Smoke in Salisbury, North Carolina
• E.P. Carrillo: The company will release its E.P. Carrillo Short Run 2015 this month.
• La Gloria Cubana: We took a look at the limited edition La Gloria Cubana Tres Puros series.
• Perdomo Cigars: We previewed the new Perdomo Small Batch Series.
• Punch: Details around the Punch Signature vitolas were revealed.
• Quesada Cigars: The company will release the  Quesada Seleccion Espana Beli-Lance and Fabulosos frontmarks as limited production shop exclusives to Casa de Montecristo in Illinois. Casa de Montecristo will have the national launch of the Quesada Reserva Privada. Finally, the new Casa Magna Colorado Gran Unico frontmark has recently shipped to retailers.
• Roberto P. Duran Cigars: The company has announced additions to its sales force.
• Rodrigo Cigars: The company will release the LMC Aniversario as a shop exclusive to La Marca Cigars in California.
• RoMa Craft Tobac: The company announced a new Gran Robusto sampler called El Catador de los Gran Robustos
• United Cigar: The distribution company announced a limited edition cigar produced at Tabacalera Leyandas called Pi.
• Warped Cigars: The company is planning an extension to its Flor de Valle line called “Sky Flower”.  Details are forthcoming this week.

Legislative News

• Federal: It was a big week for co-sponsors as 18 House members and 2 Senate members signed on to the proposed legislative bills.  First, Senators Jerry Moran [R-Kansas] and James Inhofe [R-Oklahoma] have signed on as a co-sponsor to Senate Bill (S. 441) bringing the total sponsors to 14.   Meanwhile , Rep. Keith Rothfus  [R-Pennsylvania-12], Rep. David P. Joyce  [R-Ohio], Rep. Michael R. Turner. [R-Ohio],  Rep. John R. Carter. [R-Texas], Rep. David Schweikert  [R-Arizona-]  Rep. Joseph J. Heck. [R-Nevada], Rep. James F. Sensenbrenner Jr. [R-Wisconsin], Rep. Charles W. Dent [R-Pennsylvania], Rep. Bradley Byrne  [R-Alabama], Rep. Rod Blum [R-Iowa,] Rep. Andy Barr [R-Kentucky], Rep. Thomas J. Rooney [R-Florida], Rep. Mark E. Amodei [R-Nevada], Rep. Mark Meadows [R-North Carolina], Rep.Mick Mulvaney [R-South Carolina], Rep Tom Graves [R-Georgia], Rep. Glenn Thompson [R-Pennsylvania], and Rep. David Rouzer [R-North Carolina] have signed on to House Bill (HR 662) bringing the total sponsors to 70.
• Kentucky:  The proposed smoking ban has stalled in the State Senate.  It appears dead for 2015.
• Pennsylvania: Governor Tom Wolf has proposed a 40% tax increase on cigars in his State Budget.

Assessments

• Cohiba Nicaragua N50 En Crystale
• The Corona Project Vol. 1 by Rodrigo Cigars
• Perdomo Double Aged 12 Year Vintage Connecticut Robusto

Editor’s Corner (March 2015)

• Our topic took a look at the “I Got This Package in the Mail” concept seen in many cigar reviews.

Stogie Geeks Episode 131

This week we welcome J. Glynn Loope, Executive Director of Cigar Rights of America as our special guest.  We also covered our smokes of the week and did a “Debonaire Ideal” segment on “Weather and Cigars”.  Video will be available in the next couple of days and posted on next week’s Cigar Industry Report.

Our smokes of the week included:

1502 Emerald Corona
Avo Limited Edition 2009 Companero (Part of Avo’s Greatest Hits Sampler)
Pepper Cream Soda Robusto (Supreme Cream) by Bellatto / Caldwell / Sears (Lost & Found Cigars)
Quesada Seleccion Espana Petit Belicoso
Senor Rio Anejo Toro

On this date March 7th…

• March 7th 2012: We assessed the Viaje White Label Project (WLP) Winter Classic
• March 7th 2013: We reported that the three additional sizes of Iconic Leaf Cigar Company’s Recluse Draconian would be released to five retailers prior to the 2013 IPCPR Trade Show.
• March 7th 2013: We reported on the release of the Punch Rare Corojo for 2013.
• March 7th 2013: We assessed the Alec Bradley Black Market Filthy Hooligan
• March 7th 2014: We reported on XIKAR’s PuroTemp Wireless Hygrometer System
• March 7th 2014: We did an Assessment Update on the Recluse Kanu #2 by Iconic Leaf Cigar Company.
• March 7th 2014: We reported on Kuuts’ Miro Momentos Line Extension.
• March 7th 2014: We reported on the initial plans for Drew Estate’s Herrera Esteli Norteno.