Steampunk cigars

(Cigar Aficionado) While some might be very familiar with the term “Steampunk” it isn’t a word that normally finds itself in the cigar world. But General Cigar Co. aims to change that with Foundry, a new brand that incorporates elements of the Steampunk genre into its packaging and even into its cigar blend. Continued

PDR Cigars to Release A. Flores Serie Privada, Reserva Superior Salomon

(SMO) Boutique cigar maker PDR Cigars USA will release two new cigars in August, both debuting at the 2012 IPCPR trade show in Orlando, Fla. on August 2nd.
The first addition to the current line-up, the A. Flores Serie Privada (photo above, right), will be released with either a Habano Ecuador wrapper and a Maduro Habano Ecuador wrapper. Both cigars will be comprised of Nicaraguan Habano binders as well as Nicaraguan Habano and Dominican Corojo filler.
The Habano Ecuador is a creamy medium bodied smoke with great complexity while the Maduro is a rich medium to full bodied smoke with a bold profile of subtle spice and light sweetness. Continued

Reynolds Tobacco developing new smokeless products

(Winston-Salem Journal) Reynolds American Inc. has touted for years its desire to be the tobacco industry's trailblazer for innovative mainstream smokeless products.
The importance — and priority — Reynolds places on that role was evident once again as the company released its second-quarter earnings report Tuesday.
Daniel Delen, the company's chief executive and president, provided an innovation update to analysts before discussing a 35 percent increase in net income to $443 million.
Although Delen provided limited details, citing competitive reasons, he said Reynolds is preparing within the next six months to carve paths in several categories, including vapor (likely electronic cigarettes), nicotine-replacement therapy (NRT) and nicotine extract products such as lozenges.
Reynolds also is preparing to launch new styles of heated cigarettes similar to Eclipse, which it introduced in 1996 and still sells upon request to wholesalers and retailers. Continued

Eighth Cigar Summit convenes at West Peoria pub

(pjstar.com) WEST PEORIA — Ross Davis doesn't consider himself much of a cigar person, but he felt right at home in the beer garden of Jimmy's Bar on Friday evening.
The 55-year-old Peorian stopped by the West Peoria pub for the Eighth Annual Midwest Cigar Summit and aptly blended in with many other cigar smokers ranging from aficionados to mere beginners.
"I'm a low-end cigar guy," Davis said. "I'm more of a member of Jimmy's than anything. But this is my first time and there's a lot more people than I expected." Continued

Re-Barn concept aims to save Maryland's endangered tobacco barns

(gizmag) With its Re-Barn concept, architectural planning consultancy autotroph has come up with a strategy to preserve not just one building, but a whole family: the endangered tobacco barn of Southern Maryland. The Re-Barn idea would see tobacco burns renovated into family homes, while maintaining their potential to run a working farm.
The need for to preserve tobacco barns stems from the Maryland Assembly passing the Tobacco Crop Conversion Program in 2001. The program effectively saw the state buy out tobacco farmers in an attempt to discourage cultivation of the crop. While it's impossible to quantify the precise number of tobacco barns that fell into immediate disuse, the fact that about 1000 farmers took the deal gives you some idea: abandoned tobacco barns number in the hundreds. The buildings which were once essential for air-curing Maryland's most lucrative cash crop became, in many cases, simply surplus to requirement. Continued

Ask The Tobacco Guru

(G. L. Pease) The weather has been strange. So much so that my typical summer smoking patterns have been interrupted by days of chill air and even near-rain surrounding the punishing heat of strong sunshine following moist mornings. Those who follow along closely know that my whim turns to different tobacco styles depending on the atmosphere, and on a daily basis, any attempt to predict what’s likely to find its way satisfactorily into my briars has been a multi-sided coin toss. One day last week, I decided that if I didn’t smoke up some of my longer-aged cigars, they’d probably incinerate themselves in order to escape the heat, so I enjoyed some fascinatingly mature smokes, but by that evening, I was back to the pipe. Continued

Photo: G. L. Pease relaxing on the deck of his yacht "Escooboo."

Camacho Signs Partnership With Mike Ditka

(PRNewswire) Camacho, the world's boldest cigar and a core brand in the Oettinger Davidoff Group portfolio, is pleased to announce a new partnership with legendary hall of fame football player and coach, Mike Ditka. Under this new partnership, the "Coach" and Camacho will develop a series of new cigar lines carrying the Ditka name, which will be made at Tabacos Rancho Jamastran in Honduras. Ditka will also serve as a brand ambassador at select nationwide events, beginning with the Davidoff Golden Band Awards, which are to be held during this year's IPCPR trade show in Orlando, FL. The first installment of the Ditka cigar line is set for launch in late 2012, with more releases set to follow in the early part of 2013. Continued

Figural tobacco jars can be humorous

(ctpost.com) Why would a tobacco jar from the 19th century be shaped like a lady in a long, full dress?
Tobacco jars were made in many unexpected shapes, and there are many figural tobacco-jar collectors today.
Most jars were made from 1850 to 1900 in Bohemia and nearby countries. Continued

General Cigar Setting Stage for C.A.O. Concert

(Cigar Aficionado) General Cigar Co. is preparing for the September release of a new headliner: C.A.O. Concert, a smoke meant to highlight the brand’s musical Tennessee roots.
The cigars will have a Rosado Ecuadoran Habano wrapper, a Connecticut broadleaf binder, and a mixture of Nicaraguan and Honduran filler tobaccos. There are four filler tobaccos in all, and blender Rick Rodriguez says they have never been used in this combination in any General Cigar product. Continued

New J. Grotto Silk Premium Cigar in Connecticut Shade Wrapper

(Smokemag.com) Paul Joyal, founder and president of Ocean State Cigars, has released the third blend in his J. Grotto series of premium handmade cigars—J. Grotto Silk, which joins his original J. Grotto and J. Grotto Reserve premium cigar lines.
The new cigar line, also handmade in Danlí, Honduras like his other lines, features a Connecticut-seed wrapper grown in Ecuador under the region’s characteristic high, thin cloud cover, which offers the perfect substitute to expensive shade netting.
Like fine silk, explains Joyal, the sleek and lustrous wrapper possesses a tissue-like delicacy and virtually unnoticeable veins, producing a razor-thin burn zone that progresses evenly to the band. Continued

Montecristo Epic Cigar Hits Store Shelves

(Cigar Aficionado) A bolder, artistically packaged Montecristo from the Dominican Republic is now in cigar shops. Montecristo Epic, a cigar made with tobacco dating back to 2007, began shipping to tobacconists earlier this month.
The brand extension comes in three sizes, with a third, limited-edition size following later in the year. Described as the fullest-bodied Montecristo in the entire Altadis U.S.A. Inc. portfolio ... Continued

Montgomery County Texas: World tobacco king - in 1893

(yourhoustonnews.com) In the eighteen-nineties, Spain inflicted restrictions upon Cuba’s tobacco trade. Coupled to US protective tariffs, this left open an opportunity for other areas to flourish in the business. In Texas was the primary opportunity. An 1893 document stated, “Montgomery County is the initial point where the successful test will be made in growing Cuban tobacco, and which from the peculiar adaptability of its soil, is to become the centre of the great tobacco industry of Texas” (J.S. Daugherty, Texas, The Lone Star State Book). Herein lies a story of our county’s enterprising mindset. Continued

Golden La Flor Dominicana Cigars

(Cigar Aficionado) The newest La Flor Dominicana cigars come packed in gleaming golden tubes, with a nod to Litto Gomez’s life before he began making cigars.
La Flor Dominicana Oro, a three-size cigar line wrapped in Nicaraguan cover leaf, will be revealed at the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers trade show that begins August 2. Oro is the Spanish word for gold, and each cigar in the La Flor Dominicana Oro line will come packaged in a golden tube. The move is a throwback to Gomez’s career as a jeweler. Continued

China's Cigar Bar Trend Hits Luxury Hotels

(Forbes) China’s taste for top-notch cigars has given rise to cigar bars in the country’s affluent cities—and now inside some of the best hotels. The swanky bars offer premium stogies, cocktails and a seductive vibe—plus, some have outdoor areas to clear the air. Forbes Travel Guide rounded up some of China’s best in-hotel cigar bars, all primed for business meetings or gathering with friends. Continued

Catch Pure Mint Snus Tobacco Review

(Snus Girl) I like to refer to catch as the ‘junk food’ of the snus world. Is it the best flavored snus on the market? No. Is it the best quality tobacco? No. Is it the best nicotine hit for your buck? No. Is it fun and a nasty little treat you can indulge in from time to time? HELL YES! Continued

Corona Cigar Co., Orlando, Florida

(Cigar Aficionado) When Jeff Borysiewicz decided to open a cigar shop, three words rang through his mind: big-box retailer. Instead of opting for the traditional cigar shop model, where some cigars are out on display and more are stacked in the back in inventory, he decided to put everything out for the customers to see.
“There’s no sense hiding it,” he says quite simply. “I humidified the whole store. It’s like a Disney World of cigars.” Continued

The Perfect Smoke: Fred Hanna answers nine questions about his new book

(P&T) 1. What is the purpose of the book?

To explore, explain and extol the glory and grandeur of pipe smoking at its very best. Along the way, I examine the characteristics of the great smoking pipes, exquisite tobaccos and the proper smoking and tasting skills necessary to recognize, appreciate and produce the perfect smoke. I am attempting to share what little knowledge I have acquired with my fellow pipe enthusiasts. I do this with the hope that perhaps it can increase and elevate, perhaps just a bit, their enjoyment of pipes and tobaccos, and possibly enhance the overall attractiveness of the pipe hobby in the process.
Continued

Cigar making kept alive in Philippines

(Malaya Business Insight) Tabaqueria de Filipinas, one of the two remaining companies making cigars in the country, is keeping the tradition of hand-rolling cigars, competing favorably with world leaders Cuba, Dominican Republic and Mexico.
Tirso Ripoll, sales manager of Tabaqueria and son of the company’s founder Gabriel Jr., said the world is looking at the Philippines for mid-priced cigars.
“Every cigar we make is lovingly handmade,” he said. “Most of our rollers are women. They go through a special training and apprenticeship before they can handle the more premium brands like the Independencia,” he said. Continued

A New Cigar: Ezra Zion Inception

(cigarcraig) This week I was presented with a unique opportunity, to try a new cigar from the guys at Cigar Federation, the Ezra Zion. Kudos to them for dreaming of producing a cigar line and doing it, it’s not nearly as easy as it sounds! There isn’t a lot of information on their site, and the promotional info they sent doesn’t say anything about the blend either, but these are apparently made at the ... TABSA factory in Esteli Nicaragua. Continued

Tobacco's Out, but Pot's OK in San Francisco Smoking Ban

(newsmax) San Francisco is looking to outlaw smoking tobacco in public places — but the famously liberal city won't extend the ban to marijuana.
New legislation would prohibit smoking anything other than medically-prescribed marijuana at street fairs, festivals and other outdoor events held on city property, KCBS of San Francisco reported. The city’s board of supervisors is weighing the new rule. Continued

Native American inmates fight tobacco ban with U.S. support

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) The U.S. Department of Justice is supporting Native American inmates in their lawsuit challenging South Dakota’s ban on tobacco in religious ceremonies.
Inmates Blaine Brings Plenty and Clayton Creek in their 2009 federal lawsuit against the South Dakota Department of Corrections contend that a prison policy that bans the use of tobacco during religious ceremonies is discriminatory. The state said ceremonial tobacco inside the state penitentiary was becoming increasingly abused, and the policy is not overly restrictive because it allows other botanicals such as red willow bark to be burned. Continued

Honduran cigar vendors visit Taiwan, eye Asian markets

Taipei, July 21 (CNA) A group of cigar vendors from Honduras, one of Taiwan's diplomatic allies in Central America, is now in Taiwan to assess business opportunities in the country while eying the island as a gateway to emerging Asian markets, including China. Asia has emerged as a huge market for luxury goods such as wine and high-end leather, said Raxa-Tzel Leitzelar, manager of Don Humo Cigar Co., one of the cigar companies represented in the delegation.
... Luciano Stefani, representing the Lempira Puros company, expressed a similar view, adding that cigars from Honduras have an edge over the more popular cigars from Cuba because they are more affordable.
Oscar Valladares of Rockey Patel said that cigars from Cuba are losing ground in Europe and the U.S., ceding market share to products from countries such as Honduras, Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. Continued

Photo via Lamarde.com 

A Short History of the Herrmann Fendrich & Bros. Cigar Company

(Cigar History Museum) At one time or another, H. Fendrich made the following cigar brands:
La Fendrich, Charles Denby, Diamond Joe, Little Fendrich, Smoke Dreams, Red Ruby, John Jenning, Lady Carmen, Mrs. Fiske, El Cuto, Five Brothers, Little Gun, Casa Nova, Globe-Democrat, Courier Journal, La Cubavana, Aaron Burr, Black Hawk, White Slave, Lone Jack, Plantation, Bankers Choice, Tampa Cubs, Cuterine, All the Go, Ben Davis, Big Heart, Burro, CO-BA, Cranes Londres, El Paxo, General Movey, Craps, Cuban Buds, Della Concha, Diamond Eye, Harvey, Durand & Kasper Co’s 1851, F.C.A., Germania Club, Governor Bagley, Hauptmann’s, Hulmanita, Havana Judge, Kilheiifers, La Memoria, The Fad, Levor’s 77, Oakford & Fahnestock’s, Our Monogram, P. & G. Handmade, Ragland’s Extra, Royal, Royal Brand, Spanish Chief, Pasco, The Angelus, The News, and others. Continued

Republic Tobacco for sale, may get over $2 billion: sources

(Reuters) - Republic Tobacco, a privately held company that makes the Drum brand of loose tobacco in the United States, is seeking a buyer and could fetch more than $2 billion in a potential sale, according to people familiar with the matter.
The Illinois-based maker of tobacco and rolling papers has attracted interest mostly from private equity firms, said the three people, who declined to be identified because the process is not public.
Republic, which could be worth as much as $2.3 billion according to one of the people, is being advised by Credit Suisse Group (CSGN.VX) on the process, they said. Other brands Republic owns include Top tobacco and Job rolling papers. Continued

The Return of Mr. Tobacco

It's good to see Glynn back on YouTube, after a relatively long absence.

Are you a Tobacco Customer or a Hoarder?

(TobaccoDays) Much has been said of late concerning the “hoarding” of popular, hard to come by, brands of tobacco. It seems to have come to somewhat of a crescendo with the significant price increase of Samual Gawith bulk tobacco by some e-tailors. It may be a result of an increase in the wholesale cost or e-tailors are simply responding to the huge demand.
The fact is that Samual Gawith is just one of several companies where demand currently exceeds supply. The new Balkan Sobranie by Germain and Sons, Stonehaven and Penzance from Germain’s Esoterica label, and not so long ago, some of the Dunhill blends and blends from Dan were in short supply. Recently I witnessed the sale of four new, Germain made tins of Balkan Sobranie for one hundred and ninety eight dollars! Continued

First Edición Limitada Cigars of 2012 Coming Soon

(Cigar Aficionado) Cuba’s trio of Edición Limitada cigars—eagerly anticipated smokes bearing dark wrappers—typically don’t arrive until September or later, but the Cuban cigar industry is saying that the H. Upmann Robusto EL 2012 should be on sale in August.
The H. Upmann Robusto will measure 4 7/8 inches by 50 ring gauge, the standard dimensions for a Cuban Robusto. Continued

Local woman recalls tobacco farming fun in 1966

(Lakeexpo.com) When Ann Gainey Tucker was 15 years old, during the summer of 1966, her mother allowed her to travel to Granby, Conn., to work at a tobacco camp. It was that summer that she gained the best memories of her life, she said.
“It was one of the most exciting times of my life. I was 15 and on my own,” said Tucker, recalling her first trip away from home without her parents.
The director of Camp Manitook came to her hometown of Orlando, Fla., looking for recruits to work at the tobacco camp. He recruited her, signed her up and told her to be at the bus station early one July morning. Continued

Pioner Snuff (snus) Review

(Snus Girl) ... Hmmm an Asian Tobacco, and a good one at that! I wasn’t too sure about this one. The only snuff I have ever heard of is a powered variety my father kept in a small antique ivory snuff bullet and administered into his nose with a tiny spoon. It never looked really appealing to me and tobacco residue is the last thing I want in my nasal cavity. I was happy to see that when I opened the lid (which was really difficult due to my lack of fingernails), there was a fine thick black snus that had a really earthy delicious odor. This got me both curious and excited.
I read that it comes from Swedish Snus makers who moved to Laos, to cater to the myriad of European travelers who frequent South East Asia each year. Continued

EL Tiante: Staying in the Game

(SmokeMagazine) Luis Tiant leads a charmed life these days. As an instructor with the Boston Red Sox, one of six teams he pitched for during his illustrious 19-year major league career, Luis Tiant (nicknamed Looie or, more famously since 1972, "El Tiante") shares his vast knowledge and experiences during spring training while also making the occasional public relations appearance on behalf of the club.
As "El Patriarca" of the Tiant Cigar Group, he gets to combine two of his passions. A cigar smoker since he was 17, the 71-year-old Cuban native works alongside his son, Danny, the founder and CEO of the company that released two new blends of El Tiante cigars in the fall. The senior Tiant seems as comfortable at a cigar tasting as he did on the mound, working the room like a seasoned politician; he moves easily, whether signing autographs, posing for photos, or discussing the finer points on how his cigars are rolled. Continued

Tanzania: Lack of Rural Banks Dogs Tobacco Growers

(AllAfrica.com) FARMERS in Lupa area, Chunya District in Mbeya Region fail to save sustainably due to lack of banks and are forced to keep money at home, it was recently said here.
Lupa is a remote part of Mbeya Region that is surrounded by thick evergreen forests blanketing a vast area, where people mostly depend on cultivation of tobacco as their main cash crop.
"We need to promote a saving culture that goes hand in hand with promotion of rural banking ", said Richard Andrew Sinamtwa, the Tanzania Tobacco Leaf Company's (TTLC) Director of Legal and Corporate Affairs, when donating building materials to residents of the area for construction of a dormitory for Kipalala secondary.
... He said farmers were forced to travel from Lupa to Chunya, some 100-km to get banking services, adding that customers of CRDB Bank have to go to Mbeya (175-km) for the services. Continued

John Hay Cigars Opens a Store

(John Hay Cigars) We have been growing over the years and felt that opening up our own store was the next step in our growth process. So, we recently opened a retail location within Kitchen Kettle Village in Intercourse, PA. This is a wonderful place for us as it is in the heart of Amish country and our PA Statesman Series cigars are grown here. We not only get locals but we get tourists from all over the World, as Kitchen Kettle Village is one of the best tourist destinations around. It is amazing how far people come to see Lancaster County--and Intercourse, PA. If you want to take a wonderful and relaxing vacation and see the tobacco being grown, come see us. Our store hours are Monday through Saturday 9:00am to 6:00pm.

Custom-Painted Cigar Boxes

(Cigar Aficionado) Art and cigars has always shared a certain kinship, and now Manhattan tobacconist Cigar Inn is offering a novel product that strengthens their ties: custom-painted cigar boxes.
Customers who purchase a box of cigars from the shop can, for an extra $20, have an image of their choosing painted onto the box’s top. Continued

Appeals Court Resurrects R.J. Reynolds Camel Cash Lawsuit

(CSN) The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has revived a possible class action lawsuit against Reynolds American Inc. regarding its "Camel Cash" program.
According to Reuters Reynolds American subsidiary R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. (RJR) encouraged consumers to purchase Camel cigarettes, save Camel Cash certificates included in the packs, enroll in a loyalty program and subsequently redeem the certificates for merchandise featured in RJR catalogs.
RJR halted renewing the certificates in 2006, making unredeemed Camel Cash worthless, the news outlet reported. Continued

USDA projects U.S. Flue-cured Production Up 25%: Tobacco Farmer Newsletter Mid-July 2012

(Tobacco Farmer Newsletter) Could 400 million pounds of flue-cured be on the way? The U.S. Department of Agriculture projected on July 11 that flue-cured production in the U.S. this year will reach 432 million pounds, up a whopping 25 percent from the hurricane-damaged 2011 crop and nearly as much as the 488 million pounds projected last year before the hurricane. Planted area for harvest is four percent below last year at 199,000 acres. Yield per acre is forecast at 2,173 pounds, up 507 pounds from a year ago. By state, the USDA reported: Continued

Photo: Flue cure tobacco barn on Irwinville Farms, Rural Resettlement Administration project at Irwinville, Georgia, 1936. (Carl Mydans/FSA). 

Zino Platinum Cigar Turns 10, Celebrates with Urban Art

(Cigar Aficionado) The Zino Platinum series of cigars turns 10 years old this year and brand-owner Davidoff of Geneva is commemorating the event with a special, limited-edition cigar packaged in edgy, eye-catching boxes designed by urban artist collective UR New York. The art project is called “The Make” and is a series of boxes adorned in graffiti prints stylized to represent New York City’s street art and, at the same time, the spirit of Zino Platinum. Continued

Win a Trip to Augusta National Via Macanudo Cigars

(Cigar Aficionado) Grab your camera and head to the golf course, because Macanudo wants to send you and a buddy to Augusta National, home of the famous Masters golf tournament, next year for a six day, all-expenses paid golf-themed trip.
The Macanudo Ultimate Round Contest, sponsored by General Cigar Co., maker of Macanudos, is actually giving away two grand prize packages, one to the winner of its photo contest and one to the winner of its national sweepstakes. Continued

Carreras Tobacco Celebrates its Jubilee

(Jamaica Gleaner) Carreras Limited is celebrating 50 years in Jamaica and has had a rich history. From as early as the 1930s Carreras United Kingdom (UK) had been selling some of its cigarette brands in Jamaica. In the late 1950s to the early 1960s, those cigarettes were distributed by Bonitto Brothers.
In 1962 Carreras of Jamaica was registered, "to carry on business as tobacco and cigar merchants and importers of and dealers in tobacco, cigars, cigarettes, snuff, matchlights, pipes and any other articles required by or useful to smokers ..." In 1963, the company was the first Jamaican company to establish a manufacturing plant in post-independent Jamaica. Continued

Mind the Credibility Gap

(G. L. Pease) ... Whilst true that a pipe made with care and skill, with great attention paid to every detail, has a higher probability of becoming a wonderful smoker than one haphazardly constructed from random briar and consigned to the basket on the counter of a local mall tobacconist (if there is such a thing anymore), it has not always been the case that the high-grade acquisition will smoke like aces, or that the basket briar would have been better left behind. The rules guarantee nothing beyond decent smouldering of the shredded leaves we stuff our pipes with. Continued

White Owl and Game Cigars introduce The Darker Side of Smooth

(PRNewswire) White Owl and Game continue to lead category innovation by expanding their mild flavored cigarillo lines with the introduction of Black Cigarillos. Mild flavored cigarillos are outpacing the mass market cigar category by a 10 to 1 margin.
Responding to the growing demand in this segment, Swedish Match is, for the first time, launching a line extension across both the Homogenized Tobacco Leaf (HTL) and Natural Leaf Mass Market cigar brands. Continued

Santa Clara, Inc. to Launch Brick & Mortar Cigar

(PRWeb) Noted wholesale cigar distributor Santa Clara, Inc., will introduce its Brick & Mortar brand at the annual International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers 80th Annual Convention & International Trade Show beginning August 2. Brick & Mortar is brand-new, yet classic, smoke available exclusively to tobacconists.
Crafted in Honduras with a premium blend of Cubita, Honduran, and Nicaraguan tobaccos, Brick & Mortar is expertly assembled with a Nicaraguan binder and finished with a very attractive Habana Criollo leaf in both maduro and EMS. Continued

In the Beginning, Was the Calumet

(Eric Squires) The calumet, a catch-all term for the original tobacco pipe indigenous to North America, was an object of singular significance. Though often referred to simply as "peace pipes", there were in fact ceremonial calumets specifically created and adorned for numerous roles, including the declaration or prosecution of war.
Though a good pipe, being an object of some considerable labor investment (especially when shaped only by non-ferrous hand tools) would be a natural choice for the ceremonial occasions of tobacco use, it's also important to note that the tobaccos available were much harsher than those products of careful selective breeding that we enjoy today - not to mention that one common leaf, Nicotiana rustica, contained three times the nicotine as our strongest popular variations of Nicotiana tabacum. Furthermore, they were often mixed with other dried herbs as well. Continued

Ron Swanson: Fighting for his Right to Party

Mmmm, "turf and turf," whiskey, and cigars. (via Joffre the Giant) 

Mobile cigar lounge rolls through Valley

(Morning Call) ... Ron Riedi always wanted a mobile cigar lounge after hearing about one rolling around the Tampa Bay region years ago.
The Riedis started the venture more than a year ago, counting the year it took Ron Riedi and friends to retrofit a 1973 Airstream trailer into a space with leather seats, wood details and a built-in entertainment unit bookended by humidors.
Clients can rent the lounge for hours, using it for everything from tailgating to parties and corporate events. Continued

Cigar Wrapper Color Chart

Cigar Wrapper Color Chart Courtesy of RMRCigar/Wikipedia, some rights reserved. 

Most U.S. muni tobacco bonds will default - Moody's

(Reuters) The majority of tobacco bonds sold by U.S. states, counties and cities will default if cigarette consumption keeps falling at a 3 percent to 4 percent annual pace, Moody's Investors Service said on Thursday. Municipal tobacco bonds are backed by the more than $200 billion in payments cigarette-makers agreed to make over time to states to help pay for the costs of treating ailing smokers.
Under the scenario of declining smoking that Moody's projected, "Bonds constituting 74 percent of the aggregate outstanding balance of all the tobacco settlement bonds will default," the Wall Street credit agency said in a statement. Continued

First Look: Inch by E.P. Carrillo Cigars

(Cigar Aficionado) The newest smoke from EPC Cigar Co. takes the thick cigar trend to a new level. Inch by E.P. Carrillo, a line of three cigars with ring gauges no thinner than 60, have just been completed and will be on their way to cigar stores over the next two weeks.
The cigars are adorned with bands made to look like old rulers (see photo), and the fattest of the trio has a ring gauge of 64, making it one inch thick.
They come in two wrapper varieties: maduro, made with Connecticut broadleaf wrappers, and natural, which is made with Ecuadoran wrappers grown from Sumatra seeds. Continued

Hot, dry weather exacerbating black shank in Kentucky tobacco

(Southeast Farm Press) In the past few weeks, plant pathologists at the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture have seen numerous cases of black shank.
Hot, dry conditions this summer likely are to blame.
Black shank is the biggest annual disease threat to Kentucky tobacco. The black shank pathogen attacks a plant’s roots and stem and causes dark-brown to black lesions. While the black shank pathogen is most active during wet, warm weather, dry weather can exacerbate the disease. Continued

Fred Hanna's "The Perfect Smoke"

(PfP) Fred Hanna’s recently released book, The Perfect Smoke, was written by a pipes and tobacco gastronome. I use the word “gastromome” quite intentionally as its implications are that a gastronome’s perspective arises from an extensive study of the history and rituals of haute cuisine or, in Dr. Hanna’s case, haute tobacco.
Hanna’s significant experience participating in and conducting fine and rare wine tastings have influenced his approach to pipes and tobacco tasting. He approaches the pipe like a gourmet approaches the dinner plate: with appetite, affection, patience, and a certain skepticism. Continued

New Dominican Romeo Cigar Gets Some High Marks

(Cigar Aficionado) The newest Romeo y Julieta from the Dominican Republic is off to a strong start.
The Romeo by Romeo y Julieta Piramide, a powered-up version of the traditionally mild Dominican Romeo, took the top score in the last issue of Cigar Insider, the twice-monthly newsletter from Cigar Aficionado magazine.
The 92-point showing for the 6 1/8 inches long, 52 ring gauge smoke also earned it the accolade of Humidor Selection. Continued

Half Corona H. Upmann Cigars Arriving in Tins

(Cigar Aficionado) Cuba’s tiny and relatively new H. Upmann Half Corona, a 3 1/2-inch long, 44 ring gauge smoke, has been on the market for some time, but only in boxes of 25. Today, Habanos S.A., Cuba’s cigar export organization, announced that it was commencing shipments of the little smokes in metal tins, each containing five cigars.
The little H. Upmann made its first appearance in Havana, in February 2011, when it was previewed to attendees of the Habanos Festival. Continued

AKA Cigars Announces Lower Prices and New Sizes

(Smoke Magazine) It isn’t often that cigar consumers hear about prices changes that work in their favor, but Dallas-based AKA Cigars has some good news. The company announced that because it has beaten all of its sales projections for the past year, it is rolling out an across-the-board price decrease on all of its cigars. Each cigar in the company's Hybrid and Respect lines will now have a suggested retail price of one dollar less per stick.
"We wanted to bring not only the best cigar but also the best value to our customers,” says AKA President Jay Lundy “As a result of surpassing our sales targets in the first year, we went back and renegotiated our pricing with the factory and now are passing those savings onto our loyal fans." Continued

E-Pipe Anyone?

(Liberro) ... The e-pipe is a beautifully made instrument that looks, feels and performs like a traditional pipe; with its stylish mahogany bowl, gleaming black mouthpiece and prestigious finish, it really is the perfect gift for all pipe-lovers. It comes with a bottle of its specifically created Holmes Blend e-liquid, which is made in the UK and guarantees to deliver a delicious robust woody tobacco ‘flavour to savour’. Continued

Last minute plantings swell burley tobacco acreage 9%

(Tobacco Farmer Newsletter) The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued its first acreage report for the 2012 tobacco crop at the end of June.
Burley plantings increased noticeably since the Prospective Plantings projection in march, from 94,700 acres, which would have been a seven percent from last season, to 96,800 acres, up nearly nine percent. Much of the increase for this season is coming from the two leading burley states. Continued

Jack’s Blind Tobacco Review #2

(Talking Tobacco)I wanted to mention how pleased I am with the number of guesses on the Solani Festival from our first blind review. I’m sorry that no one won the tin, but you still have a chance by guessing on this new review.
Jason provided me with a new sample, assuring me that it was a tinned tobacco. And here is what I found:
First of all, this is a very unique tobacco. I’ve never seen it before… so I couldn’t even hazard a guess. It’s a coarsely broken flake, with very thick slices (1/16 – 1/8”), though not at all wide. Continued

Scanty rainfall reduces tobacco area in Karnataka

(Hindu) Bangalore, July 9: Erratic and poor rainfall has reduced area under tobacco cultivation nearly 17 per cent to 90,000 hectares in Karnataka.
“Due to insufficient rains and lack of moisture, the planting area has seen sharp reduction this crop year,” Mr K.N. Vishakantaiah, Regional Manager, Tobacco Board, told Business Line.
“Tobacco growing taluks of Hunsur, Peryapatna, KR Nagar and Hassan are experiencing dry weather condition. The area had good rainfall up to May and had few showers in June,” he added.
Rains in May facilitated early plantation in about 60,000-65,000 hectares. Rains in June, saw another 25,000-30,000 hectares being added. Continued

Casa Magna Colorado Cigar Gets Pressed

(Cigar Aficionado) The Casa Magna Colorado brand from S.A.G. Imports Inc. is adding three new box-pressed sizes to its portfolio of otherwise straight-sided parejo cigars. Made for brand-owner Manuel Quesada by Nestor Plasencia in Nicaragua, Casa Magna Colorado was released in 2008 and gained notoriety when the Robusto took Cigar Aficionado’s Cigar of the Year award shortly after.
The brand is made entirely of Nicaraguan tobacco, and the new sizes will be the first box-pressed cigars in the line. Continued

Renegade Tobacco Executives Revamping Company

MOCKSVILLE (Winston-Salem Journal) Executives and employees at Renegade Holdings Inc. wish the shedding of its legacy and stained name was as simple as a snake shedding its skin. But after more than 3½ years in Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, they know that only hard work, transparency and some regulatory breaks will give them the chance to succeed without the company's owner, Calvin Phelps.
... The goal is for Renegade to exit bankruptcy in early 2013 focused primarily on filtered cigars, including international contract sales, and taking its discount brands national. ... In June, the company launched a new website, www.abibrands.com, to get the word out about its products. Continued

Sniffing victory, tasting defeat at Snuff World Championships

(KENS5) How much powdered, smokeless tobacco otherwise known as snuff tobacco do you think you could snort within 60 seconds?
Well, 290 participants from Austria, Germany, Switzerland and the USA gathered outside of Munich, Germany on Saturday, July 7, 2012 to compete in the 18th running of the Snuff World Championships. Continued

The Varieties of Tobacco Experience

(Granger on tobaccoreviews.com) ... Uncle Bill smoked Cap. Black White and sliced apples into his humidor. Uncle Charlie mixed SWR, Middleton Apple, and something else into a blend. Uncle Frank smoked Captain Black Blue and White mixed and bought some brand of Cigar that he ground up and put in there too! Uncle Ernie smoked Half and Half that had a peeled orange and put in the humidor that he would shake around every few hours on his desk.
Uncle Bill smoked, as far as I can tell, a mishmash of whatever he happened to buy in a pouch and then dropped into a large humidor. He never bought more than 2 ounces of anything, and never took tobacco with him anywhere, he just bought a bag (I mean almost daily) and smoked some and put the remainder in a large jar. When at home he just dipped into that jar and packed his pipe.
Dad smoked SWR when "doing things" but his sitting down to enjoy smoke came from where he and the tobacconist created, over a 10 year period, "Bob's Blend" that the store still sells, a mix full of perique and latakia with something aromatic because the smell is mild for something that should smell like a burning cat. Continued

Highway bill is expected to put an end to roll-your-own cigarette parlors

(cleveland.com) The federal highway bill signed Friday will do more than help build bridges and roads: it is expected to put an end to the roll-your-own tobacco industry, causing customers of the cheaper smokes to howl.
... The businesses are a small but growing niche with their cabinetlike machines that roll 200 cigarettes in about 15 minutes. The prices hook customers: a carton of roll-your-own cigarettes made with loose tobacco costs under $25. A carton of brand-name cigarettes costs nearly $60, a difference based primarily on manufacturing costs and taxes.
In simple terms, the bill took dozens of small businesses across Northeast Ohio -- and hundreds across the country -- that have the machines and lumped them into the category of major cigarette companies on the issue of taxes. Continued

Cigar review: Oliveros Aging Room M356

(Examiner) ... The M356 is a blend that materialized from the blending efforts of Oliveros’ SWAG line. Since Oliveros did not have the quantity of tobaccos needed for the SWAG line, this blend was shelved.

While M356 may sound like a random number assigned to just another tobacco blend, it actually stands for Monday, December 22nd (the 356th day of the year) 2008, when the blend was conceived. Continued 

Cigar Academy: The Ligero Trap

(Talking Tobacco) I recently wrote about powerhouse cigars. I’m a real devotee of stogies with a serious kick, and at the center of the fast growth of this genre are ligero tobaccos. We’ve heard the term bandied about quite a bit, and we know that it has to do with spice and strength, but what exactly is ligero?
The short and the long of it is (in most cases), ligero leaves are from the uppermost part of the tobacco plant, usually the top five rows. The two highest rows are often referred to as corona ligero, and this is where the real punch comes from. So, this begs the question- Are ligero leaves always powerful? Continued

Filipino tobacco: From sunset to sunrise

(Sun Star) MORE than a decade ago, local tobacco farmers were producing the salty and off-type variety of tobacco which most cigarette manufacturers started rejecting in 2003. By that time, local tobacco farming was already being dubbed as a “sunset industry,” with production levels reaching its lowest from 2004 to 2006.
This was in stark contrast to the glory years of the tobacco industry in the 1990s when the Philippines was a major exporter of Burley and Virginia tobacco.
“We have reversed the trend of deteriorating quality and accelerated the pace of quality improvement,” said Winston Uy.
From producing salty, low-grade rejects, Filipino tobacco farmers now grow world-class tobacco that command high farm-gate prices in the local market. For instance, Universal Leaf Philippines Inc.’s Isabela burley used for domestic manufacturing and for export is now renowned worldwide, according to Uy. Continued