The Cigar Industry Report is a one-stop place to catch up on the activity here at Cigar Coop. It is a combination of the news reports, cigar reviews, and assessment updates we do throughout the week. In addition, each week we will look back at Cigar Coop history. Look for this report every Saturday morning at 8am Eastern Time.

Cigar Industry Report: Edition 310 (12/29/18)

2018 Cigar of the Year Countdown

For the ninth consecutive year, Cigar Coop is doing a Cigar of the Year Countdown. Through January 7, 2019, we will count down the Top 30 Cigars for 2018. This week we unveiled selections #10 through #15:

The criteria for the Countdown can be found here. We also announced changes to the 2019 Cigar of the Year in our Editor’s Corner.

News and Previews

Davidoff: The Davidoff Cuvee Selection 2012 Year of the Dragon became the latest Vault release.
Kafie 1901 Cigars: The company announced its Fifth Year Anniversary Sampler.
Richard Overton: Believed to be the oldest living man in the U.S. as well as the oldest U.S. veteran, Overton passed away at the age of 112. He was well-known for his cigar smoking.

Feature Story

This week we published the story “Remembering the Reinado Empire.”

Legislative News

House of Representatives: H.R. 564 is a proposed piece of legislation that calls for an exemption from FDA Regulation for premium handmade cigars. This week no new co-sponsors were added. The total number of sponsors remains at 150.
U.S. Senate: S.294 is the Senate companion bill to H.R. 564. This week no new co-sponsors were added. The total number of sponsors remains at 22.
House Bill 1136: H.R. 1136 is the legislation to change the Grandfather Date for Deeming Tobacco products subject to FDA Regulation from February 15, 2017, to 21 days after enactment of the regulations. This week no new co-sponsors were added. The total number of sponsors remains at 94.
Illinois: An Appellate Court upheld Chicago’s Tobacco Tax Ordinance.
Washington: State Attorney General Bob Ferguson is again (for the fifth time) trying to raise the tobacco purchase age to 21.