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 4, Number 39 (Edition 136 8/22/15)
Feature of the Week: Rocky Patel Premium Cigars to Release Ray Lewis Legends 52
It was a project that was announced just before the 2013 IPCPR Trade Show, but it never made it to the market. Now, over two years later, Rocky Patel Premium Cigars is bringing the long awaited Ray Lewis Legends 52 to market this October. This is the latest installment in a series of collaborations by Rocky Patel done with famous athletes.
News and Previews from the 2015 IPCPR Trade Show
This week we wrapped up our coverage from the 2015 IPCPR Trade Show. We may still have an article or two, but 2015 is a wrap. We were proud to deliver you more coverage than ever of the cigar industry’s flagship event.
- Alec Bradley: We took a look at the Alec Bradley Post Embargo – a project that will soft launch this year and have a full launch next year.
- Felipe Gregorio: The company launched the Felipe Gregorio Pure Dominican 2015
- Macanudo: We took a look at the company’s revamped look scheduled to debut next year.
- Villiger: The company launched Villiger San’Doro and the U.S. version of the Villiger Celebration 125th Anniversary at the 2015 IPCPR Trade Show.
Feature Stories
Other News
- Gran Habano: The company named Heather Payne its National Sales Manager
- Maya Selva Cigars: The company is releasing the Flor de Selva El Galan as a U.S. Exclusive at Underground Cigar Shop. The cigar had only previously been available in Europe.
- Ocean State Cigars: The company announced the J. Grotto Silk Petit Corona line extension.
Legislative News
- California: A series of anti-smoking bills has been introduced to the legislature. These include:
- Assembly Bill xx10 (Richard Bloom, D-Santa Monica): Would allow counties to impose their own tobacco taxes.
- Senate Bill xx7 (Sen. Ed Hernandez ,D-San Gabriel Valley) and Assembly Bill xx8 (Assemblyman Jim Wood, D-Healdsburg): Reintroduces legislation to raise the smoking age to 21.
- Senate Bill xx6 (Sen. Bill Monning, D-Carmel): Proposes closing some loopholes in the state’s workplace smoking laws
- Senate Bill xx8 (Carol Liu, D-La Canada Flintridge): Expands tobacco free programs to charter schools.
- 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 signed on. The total sponsor remains at 17.
- House Bill HR 662: H.R. 662 is House Bill to gain an exemption from the FDA on premium cigars. This week, no new co-sponsors signed on. The total number of sponsor remains at 132.
- 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. TThis week, no new co-sponsors signed on. The total number of sponsors remains at 27.
Assessments
- Avo 75th Anniversary (Avo Limited Edition 2001) (Part of Avo’s Greatest Hits Sampler)
- Caldwell The Last Tsar Belicoso
- Flor de Selva No. 20 by Maya Selva Cigars (Pre-Release)
- Recluse Amadeus Habano Reserva Toro
Agile Cigar Reviews
Stogie Geeks
We posted video from Episode 151 – this includes our interview with Emma Viktorssen from Las Cumbres Tabaco, the Debonaire Ideal on Las Vegas, and our Stogies of the Week.
This past week we welcomed Mike Bellody of MLB Cigar Ventures to our studio. Our Debonaire Ideal featured famous movie and television scenes featuring cigars. Finally we did our Stogies of the Week. Video will be posted in the near future.
Our Stogies of the Week did include:
- A.J. Fernandez Enclave Robusto
- Debonaire Toro
- Avo 75th Anniversary (Avo Limited Edition 2001) (Part of Avo’s Greatest Hits Sampler)
- Caldwell The Last Tsar Belicoso
- Coronado By La Flor Double Corona
- A Custom Roll
- Flor de Selva No. 20 Limited Edition Lancero by Maya Selva Cigars (Pre-Release)
- La Mission du L’Atelier 1959
- Recluse Amadeus Habano Reserva Toro
- Room 101 Uncle Lee
- Tatuaje RC184 Redux
- Undercrown Shade Robusto
- Viaje Summerfest 2015
On this date August 15th…
- August 22nd 2010: We did an IPCPR 2010 article called The Odd Couple.
- August 22nd 2010: We did an IPCPR 2010 article called Shoe Estate.
- August 22nd 2012: We assessed the Cuenca y Blanco by Joya de Nicaragua.
- August 22nd 2012: We had a cigar conversation with the ladies of Tres Reynas.
- August 22nd 2013: We did a feature story on Victor Vitale and Legacy Brands at the 2013 IPCPR Trade Show.
- August 22nd 2014: We did an Assessment Update on the Raices Cubanas 1941 by Alec Bradley
- August 22nd 2014: We took a look at Island Jim by Oscar Valladares Tobacco and Co.
