For Big Tobacco, South-East Asia is the final frontier

(The Economist) STRICT regulation and the success of anti-smoking campaigns continue to hit tobacco firms’ revenues in rich countries. In the biggest developing countries—China and India—governments are keen to protect local firms from Western cigarette-makers. That leaves Big Tobacco with few large markets that have growth potential and a relative lack of regulation. And of these, South-East Asia looks the most promising over the coming decade. Continued

Cuban cigars come to central Newcastle

(nebusiness.co.uk) A CIGAR shop is aiming to bring old-fashioned high street service back to the centre of Newcastle. The Cuban Cigar Club, which opened in Grainger Street last week, is a branch of the Carlisle-based family business which has been running for around 100 years. The shop, which sells 150-200 varieties of handmade cigars, pipes, lighters and gifts, has just opened after a long search for the right site. Continued

A Cigar for Japan

(Cigar Aficionado) La Aurora S.A. has created a new cigar meant to help the people of Japan who are reeling from a March 11 earthquake and tsunami that left more than 10,000 dead. La Aurora's Para Japón, which translates to "For Japan," will be shipped to Aurora cigar distributors soon. Continued

New Jersey Cigar Festival Comes to Newark April 3

(smokemag.com) Cigar enthusiasts interested in attending the New Jersey Cigar Festival, which will be held on Sunday, April 3, 2011, from noon to 6 p.m. at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium in Newark, N.J., have less than 24 hours left to purchase tickets in advance at the festival’s website, http://www.njcigarfestival.com/, prior to the Wednesday, March 30, 2011 midnight EST deadline. Tickets purchased in advance will be held for pickup at the festival, and purchasers can take advantage of a $25 advance ticket savings. General admission tickets are $100, which includes cigars, humidor, food voucher, and a raffle ticket. VIP tickets are $175 and allow early entry to the festival at 10:30 a.m., a buffet lunch instead of a food voucher, and an additional raffle ticket. Festival tickets can also be purchased at the door on the day of the festival, $125 for general admission, or $200 for VIP. A dozen premium cigar markers and local retailers will be participating in the The New Jersey Cigar Festival, including Alec Bradley Cigars, Barrister Cigars, Drew Estate, Joya de Nicragua, Los Blancos Cigar Co., Maraya, Martin Family of Cigars, Miami Cigar & Company, Reinado Cigars, Rocky Patel Cigars, Smoke N Lounge, Villiger Stokkebye, and Xikar. Continued

Zimbabwe: Congestion At Tobacco Floors to Ease

(allAfrica.com) PERENNIAL congestion problems at the tobacco auction floors are expected to ease with the coming into operation of a third tobacco floor, Millennium Tobacco Floors next week. Millennium is expected to start operating in Msasa from Monday next week. Its entry into the market, just days after the reopening of Boka Tobacco Floors is expected to relieve pressure at the Tobacco Sales Floor, which had been handling all sales since the beginning of the season mid-February. MTF spokesman, Mr Hillary Mombeshora said the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board officials had already carried out their inspections and were satisfied with the floors. Continued

Stad Ootmarsum Traditional Dutch Pipe Tobacco Review

My friend Dubinthedam sent me a packet of Stad Ootmarsum traditional Dutch heerenbaai pipe tobacco. To enhance the experience I purchased a Gouda clay pipe which I used to sample this interesting blend. Thanks Dub for providing me with this unique pipe smoking experience!

New Punch Cigar Made with New Wrapper

(Cigar Aficionado) You've probably heard of the Punch Rare Corojo brand, but have you ever heard of Connecticut Corojo tobacco? It's a proprietary wrapper that General Cigar will be using on its new Punch Rare Corojo 10th Anniversary, a 5-inch long, 50 ring gauge cigar that has just started shipping to retailers. Continued

Tobacconist celebrates 25 years with Baker Street Downtown

(napavalleyregister) When Brenda Roberts bought the tobacco store Baker Street, she didn’t smoke and never had. Now the store she bought 25 years ago, relocated and was rechristened Baker Street Downtown, is Napa Valley’s only tobacconist and full service smoke shop. The store is on First Street near Main, however, not on Baker Street. In fact, there’s no Baker Street in Napa. Continued

Winery hosts master cigar roller

(Louisburg Herald) A small gathering of quiet, focused spectators gather around professional cigar-roller Corey Frisbee at Somerset Ridge Vineyard and Winery on Sunday afternoon. They watch intently as he meticulously massages five-year-old tobacco leaves into cylinders of nearly identical length and girth, ready to be enjoyed by his customers, who range from expert cigar-enthusiasts to people who just enjoy the occasional smoke. “Where are you supposed to cut a cigar?” asked one of the bystanders as he watched Frisbee finish assembling another of his products. Continued

Photo: Library of Congress

PG Symphony 20 Adds Short Robusto, Salomones Cigars

(Smoke Magazine) Paul Garmirian, Inc. has added two additional sizes to its Limited Edition Symphony 20. The new Salomones (6 7/8 x 57) and Short Robusto (4 1/2 x 52), which are both currently shipping to cigar retailers, join the Connoisseur (6 x 52) which debuted in 2010. “The 20th Anniversary 2010 Limited Edition production of 6 x 52 was such a success that we worked with the tobacco to produce additional shapes,” explains Kevork Garmirian. Continued

Andre's At Monte Carlo to Launch Whisky Wednesdays inside Signature Cigar Lounge

(Hotel Interactive) Beginning this Wednesday, March 30, Andre’s Restaurant & Lounge at Monte Carlo will host its brand-new Whisky Wednesdays inside its eponymous signature cigar lounge. Whisky Wednesdays will take place inside Andre’s on the second floor inside Las Vegas’ only cigar lounge to be connected to a Strip restaurant. The event will begin at 7 p.m. and conclude by 9 p.m. The first Whisky Wednesday will feature Highland Single-Malt scotch with three stations set upstairs in the private dining room and terrace with a different whisky at each location. Whiskies to include: Continued

Second Regional Cuban Cigar Arrives in Asia Pacific

(Cigar Aficionado) Pacific Cigar Ltd., the Habanos S.A. distributor of Cuban cigars for the Asia Pacific region, has finally received its second 2010 regional-edition release: the Por Larrañaga Encantos. Continued

JT Expects Near Normal Tobacco Supplies In May; Shortage Fears Loom

(Dow Jones) Japan Tobacco Inc. said Tuesday that tobacco supplies will approach normal levels in May after the suspension of domestic tobacco shipments by the company leads to a sharp drop in supplies in April. However, some stores even far away from the quake-hit areas have started limiting tobacco purchases by customers on fears that tobacco inventories are running out. Two of JT's six domestic plants in northern Tokyo that turn out one third of its overall domestic tobacco output were damaged by the massive earthquake, and there is no information yet on when operations will resume at the plants. Continued

Also: Philip Morris says business in Japan intact

What is hookah tobacco?

(Tobacco World) ... Hookah tobacco is different from the tobacco used in cigarettes or cigars, most hookah tobacco is traditionally blended from fresh tobacco leaves along with various additives such as honey, molasses or fruit pulp. This mixture is known as maassel or tobamel. Continued

Play brings life of iconic Texan Kinky Friedman to the stage

(chron.com) Jesse Dayton has a hard time shaking the voice. Without warning, he breaks into Kinkyspeak: "A happy childhood is the worst possible preparation for life," he growls. Back out of character he also admits that his cigar consumption has gone up since he signed on as one of three people portraying the titular subject of Becoming Kinky: The World According to Kinky Friedman, a new musical play that began a four-night run at McGonigel's Mucky Duck Monday night. Continued

Photo by Larry D. Moore (via Wikipedia), some rights reserved.

Cigar Accouterments: Butane Screw Thing

The Butane Screw Thing is a butane lighter tool specifically designed to purge the tank and adjust the flame. This tool, which comes with a storage pouch, is made of top grade stainless steel. It is also available in key chain form; the pouch is not included with the key chain tool. The "Butane Screw Thing" can also be used as a punch on smaller ring size cigars depending on your preference. - CSNews

Rocky Patel Releases Limited-Run Decade Cigar

(Cigar Aficionado) Rocky Patel Premium Cigars, the Naples, Florida, company that sells cigars made in Honduras and Nicaragua, has released a limited run of its Rocky Patel Decade Edición Limitada. The cigars shipped to retailers the first week of March and come in three sizes, all of them made in ring gauges of 52. Continued

Kentucky farmers target tobacco merchant in suit

(Bloomberg) Several Kentucky farmers have filed a class-action lawsuit claiming that a prominent tobacco merchant failed to honor contracts to purchase their burley tobacco. The lawsuit was filed against Universal Leaf North America last week in Harrison Circuit Court. The suit claims hundreds of farmers lost what amounted to millions from the 2010 crop year, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader. Continued

Photo: Barn full of tobacco on Russell Spear's farm near Lexington, Kentucky, 1940 (Library of Congress).

Cigar Review: Hoyo De Monterrey, Hoyo De Tradicion

(Toasted Foot) The Hoyo De Tradicion is produced by General Cigar in the famed Villazon factory in Honduras. The Rosado Honduran wrapper encases a three country filler that includes proprietary tobacco grown in Nicaragua. I have enjoyed these for a number of years and finally decided to take the time for a proper review. Continued

Stanwell in Italy

A slideshow of pictures from the new Italian production site of Stanwell pipes.

Boka Tobacco Floors Open

(allAfrica.com) BOKA Tobacco Floors yesterday successfully opened for business after completing renovations.
But there was a slight glitch at the start of business due to delays in the laying of tickets. This resulted in 1 652 bales being sold out of 3 252 bales that had been booked to be sold.
Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board chief executive Dr Andrew Matibiri said the first day of trading went well, despite the technical hitches at the start. Continued

Annual Midwest Smoke Out celebrates finer things of life

(nwitimes) The 2nd Annual Midwest Smoke Out, now billed as the largest cigar show and exhibition in the Midwest, is from 5 to 10 p.m. April 7 at The Venue at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond and Jurczak describes it as "the hottest ticket in town." ... But the biggest misconception is that this is only an event for smokers. It's really so much more. It has something for everyone and anyone who love to treat themselves to luxury, ranging from food and drink to travel and destinations." ... The $150 ticket price includes 16 premium cigars, a year subscription (or renewal) to the Cigar Rights of America, the chance to meet cigar celebrity Carlito Fuente, luxury gifts in addition to sipping and savoring samples from fine spirit companies and tasty eateries. Continued

Cuba Extends New Cigar Tobacco Variety

(Havana Times) Cuba will extend in its tobacco plantations a new variety of this plant known as Corojo 2006, more resistant to plagues, created in the Tobacco Experimental Station of the western province of Pinar del Río, reported IPS. That region is known in the world for the quality of its tobacco leafs, used to make the famous Havana cigars. Link

Millenium Tobacco applies for licence

(Zimbabwe Independent) A COMPANY linked to former Zimbabwe Industry Tobacco Auction Centre (Zitac) workers and a Zanu PF lawmaker have applied for a tobacco licence, businessdigest has established. The development could bring to three the number of tobacco auctioneers operating in the country.
It has emerged that Millennium Tobacco could soon secure an operating licence should it meet regulatory requirements set by the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB). Continued

St. Louis Tobacco Pipe Show 2011 Report

(Kevin Godbee) This year’s “St. Louis Pipe Show” took place February 19, 2011, and PipesMagazine.com Publisher, Kevin Godbee was in attendance to cover the show. The show is remarkably in it’s 23rd year, and the official name of the show is, “The Gateway Area Pipe Show and Swap“. Organized by The St. Louis Pipe Club, the show was held at the Heart of St. Charles Banquet Center, in St. Charles, MO. Continued

Japan Tobacco to halt domestic shipments of cigarettes

(AP) Japan Tobacco Inc., the world's No. 3 tobacco maker, says it will suspend shipments of cigarettes within Japan due to disruptions in supply following the devastating earthquake and tsunami. Continued

House of Cigars: Rolling Organic

(KDAF) These days you can find almost anything made organic. That includes meats, fruits, and vegetables. And for those of you who like a fine cigar, now you can puff on organic tobacco right here in North Texas.
Making a hand-rolled, aged to perfection cigar is an art form. Just ask Willie Martinez, owner of House of Cigars Factory in Farmers Branch. Continued

Move OK'd to Save Historic Cigar Factory

(theledger) Bartow's Community Redevelopment Agency pledged $75,000 Wednesday to mothball the community's historic cigar factory, inching the building that much closer to restoration. The county owns the 85-year-old building, and will transfer it to the city if Bartow meets certain conditions. One of those is assurance of funding to seal the building until a restoration plan can be drafted. Continued

Photo courtesy of the Thompson Cigar Factory Preservation and Restoration Project

The Mystery of Balkan Tobacco Blends

(Bob Tate) Balkan Blend. That term is very mysterious. Is there really such a thing? If there is, what is it? What distinguishes a blend as a Balkan Blend? These and many other questions arise from the mysterious term of Balkan Blend. This is one of the most debated and discussed subjects amongst pipe smokers when talking about blend genres. Continued

Photo: Lamarde

Cigar butts

A couple of short news stories from Cigar Aficionado. They're too short to ethically excerpt, so here's the links:

Quesada Cigar Just for Spain

Perez-Carrillo Rolls Connecticut Shade Cigar

Will Newport Non-Menthol Cigarettes Stick?

(cspnet) While the future of menthol has been cast into great uncertainty, there is a bright spot for Greensboro, N.C.-based Lorillard Inc. According to an exclusive CSP-UBS survey, trial and repeat levels for the company's non-menthol have improved since an initial survey conducted in December. Respondents rated initial trial levels at 5.1 on a scale of 1-10 back then, and now feel it is at 5.2. Repeat levels are at nearly 4.7, compared to 4.4 back then. Continued

Churchill's cigars go under hammer at Norfolk auction

(BBC) A cigar thought to have been discarded by Sir Winston Churchill on hearing Hitler's deputy Rudolph Hess had baled out of a plane over Scotland has gone on sale in Norfolk.
It is among a number of items under the hammer at Keys Auctions in Aylsham on Thursday.
Also on sale are a cigarbox and cigar, given by Churchill to a police officer. Continued

Star Scientific's latest tobacco products ineligible for FDA review

(Star Scientific) ... The FDA's determination that Ariva-BDL(TM) and Stonewall-BDL(TM) are not tobacco products that are currently regulated under Chapter IX of the FDCA clears the way for Star to proceed with marketing these products. Paul L. Perito, Star's Chairman, President & COO, commented, "We are pleased to have received a determination from the FDA on Ariva-BDL(TM) and Stonewall-BDL(TM). It is clear from the notices we received that the Center for Tobacco Products does not believe these products are subject to regulation under FDC Act Chapter IX at this time. We intend to move forward with marketing and distribution of Ariva-BDL(TM) and Stonewall BDL(TM), and these initiatives will be undertaken consistent with our belief that adult tobacco users should be able to have information about the toxin levels in all tobacco products." Continued

Quake sparks cigarette shortage in northeast Japan

(Reuters) The earthquake and tsunami that devastated northeast Japan this month have left some parts of the region without cigarettes, Japan Tobacco Inc said on Wednesday, a blow to smokers in a country where the habit is still popular.
A spokesman for the company told Reuters that some of its distribution centers in the region had been hit by the disasters, and some brands were out of stock in some regions. Continued

Tobacco shop opens in Colchester

Colchester, Conn. (norwichbulletin) The shop, at 103 S. Main St., held its grand opening Friday. ... The store carries cigars, cigarettes, pipe tobacco, lighters, ashtrays and accessories. In addition to pre-made cigarettes, Super Smoke Shop carries a line of tubes, filters and cigarette-making machines. ... But the focus of the store is cigars. Continued

Photo: Flowering tobacco near Berlin, Connecticut by Russell Lee, 1939 (Library of Congress).

Georgetown Tobacco hosts single malt scotch tasting Thursday, March 24

(thegeorgetowndish) Potomac Wine and Spirits and Georgetown Tobacco are hosting a cigar and single malt Scotch tasting, Thursday, March 24 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Five high-quality whiskeys, aged from 15 to 30 years will be offered. Participants must show proof of age and make a cigar purchase of $10 or more to partake in the tasting. Continued

Photo: Unidentified soldier of the 12th Illinois Volunteers, "The First Scotch Regiment" in greatcoat and tamoshanter cap (Library of Congress).

Fewer Ontario tobacco growers in 2011

(delhinewsrecord) The Ontario tobacco growing sector will start the growing season with a drop in the number of licensed growers and total contracted crop, due mainly to a problem with one company that has yet to pay most of its bills from last year's crop.
The Ontario Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers' Marketing Board has approved 193 licenses for growers to produce 46.3 million pounds of leaf this year.
The amounts are down from the 251 licensed growers in 2010 approved to produce a little more than 50 million pounds.
Virtually all of the decline is due to the board not issuing licences to about 60 growers still owed payments from True Blend of Tillsonburg. Similarly, the board has not processed True Blend's application as a contracted buyer, due to the lingering problem, which is turning into a nasty legal dispute. Continued

Cigars for Indians of fine taste

(hindustantimes) If you’re a cigar lover then this is one desi treat you shouldn’t miss. ITC has launched, what is perhaps the first major Indian brand of hand rolled cigars, titled Armenteros. The cigars are manufactured especially for the company in the Dominican Republic, by the La Aurora Company, which is one of the oldest cigar companies in the world. Continued

Collection reflects Davenport’s days as a cigar capital of the Midwest

(qctimes) If you listed your occupation as "stripper" in the early 1900s, it didn't necessarily mean you peeled your clothes off for pay.
In Davenport anyway, it likely meant that you were employed by one of the city's various cigar manufacturers and that your job was to strip out the center stem from the big tobacco leaves and tear the leaf into smaller pieces that would then be used to roll individual cigars.
That's one of the interesting bits of information inveterate collector and Davenport history buff Merle Vastine has learned in gathering memorabilia related to the city's cigar industry and researching its history. Continued

Photo: Black Hawk Cigar Factory, Burlington, IA, circa 1907 (Library of Congress).

Bring Your Own Cigar?

(Cigar Aficionado) When going to a cigar lounge or bar, should you purchase a cigar from the establishment, or is it OK to bring your own? Continued

Zimbabwe Tobacco Farmers Call for More Selling Points

(allAfrica.com) Tobacco farmers have called on Government to establish more tobacco selling points to redu-ce pressure during the marketing season.
This season, the Tobacco Sales Floor is the only auction floor which is functional as the Zimbabwe Industry and Tobacco Auction Centre's licence was cancelled.
Boka Tobacco Auction Floor is undergoing some renovations. Continued

Mozambique Leaf Tobacco expects production of 65,000 tons this year

(macauhub) The Mozambique Leaf Tobacco (MLT), a company based in Tete province, in central, north-eastern Mozambique, this year expects to produce 65,0000 tons of tobacco, according to Rod Hagger, cited by Mozambican news agency AIM.
Hagger said that the company had started out producing 24,000 tons, “but given the high level of investment we have made in tobacco production in Tete, this year we want to reach 65,000 tons.”
Hagger said that the company is motivated to increase its production in the country because of the investment the Mozambican government had been making in the infrastructure sector, particularly roads and bridges, which make it easier to distribute the tobacco and other goods. Continued

Studio Tobac to make a Padilla Cigar

(Studio Tobac) Today Studio Tobac’s Jose Oliva announced that The Studio will make a cigar for The Padilla Cigars Company. The cigar will be a full bodied, Nicaraguan puro. It will be a figurado shape grown from Habano seed. Production will be strictly limited to 1000 boxes of 10 cigars each. Continued

Edie Adams made smoking sexy and fashionable

(citizensvoice) For more than a decade, Edie Adams appeared in magazine ads and television commercials as the pitch-lady for Muriel cigars. Clad in a sequined, low-cut dress, the blonde temptress taunted men with her scintillating come-on line, "Why don't you pick one up and smoke it sometime?" More popular was the commercial in which Adams pitched the 10-cent cigars by breathily singing, "Hey, big spender, spend a little dime with me." Continued

Cigar store opens in Berlin

(delmarvanow) Two entrepreneurs are hoping to appeal to people's leisurely leanings with their new shop.
Johns Premium Cigars, which opened last week on Broad Street, offers customers an array of the finest cigars -- which that they can smoke inside, in the comfort of a lounge with plush leather chairs, wood paneled walls and a big-screen TV.
"We wanted more of a lounge so people could go there to relax," said Jamie McDonald, who opened the shop with friend Jeb Deickman. Continued

Photo: Berlin, Maryland (Squelle, some rights reserved).

'Tobacco Moon' harkens back to old days on the farm

(GoDanRiver) Back when Pittsylvania County native Vernon Giles was growing up, his daddy, Jack Giles, used to drive him crazy talking about growing tobacco.
“My daddy was always talking and if you would listen, you would learn something. In my teenage years, though, I let his talk go in one ear and out the other, for I had other things on my teenage brain, like girls, horses, playing ball. But after he died, like a recording, all of his talk started playing over and over in my mind and I knew that I had to write a book,” Giles said. Continued

Dating Cigar Boxes

(National Cigar History Museum) There are two kinds of information on every cigar box:
information that is [1] optional and [2] that required by law.
Optional information includes advertising, guarantees, slogans, ingredients lists, copyright and registration dates, type of labor, type of tobacco, source of tobacco, retail price and the like. Everything optional was exactly that. Pictures were optional, Text was optional. Truth was optional. The latter was abused unmercifully by this creative and opportunistic industry.
When it came to decorating a box with claims, there were no restrictions or guidelines. Anything went. “Key West Favorite Cigars” (according to the label on the inside lid) were made by the “New York Cigar Factory” (according to a label on the bottom) but the cigar maker’s I.D. (required by law) identifies the cigars as having been made in Factory 978, 9th tax district of PA, a tiny one-man factory owned by Fred Runkle in Red Lion, the heart of the nation’s cheap cigar district. Continued

Photo: Wikipedia

Farmers benefit from tobacco firm's agribusiness training

(IPPmedia) Farmers from Tabora and Kigoma are the latest recipients of agribusiness training being conducted here by Tanzania Leaf Tobacco Company (TLTC), which has seen 280 locals benefit from its programme on production and crop management techniques.
According to TLTC reports, the company has been conducting these sessions since 2002 and between then and last year, over 4,042 farmers have been put through their paces at one of the firm’s training farms. ... As he opened the training session earlier in the day, USF Manager Emmanuel Soko promised farmers that they will not only learn the basics of preparing, cultivating and managing tobacco plantations, abut will also acquire important information on seed selection techniques and be taught practical, world-class methods for drying and storing tobacco leaves. Continued

A Smoke with Camacho Cigar’s Christian Eiroa

(Cigar Aficionado) Christian Eiroa, president of Camacho Cigars, dropped by the Cigar Aficionado office on Friday. I've known Christian for years, but his visits up this way are few and far between. It had been a while since I had seen him in Manhattan. He brought something new with him, a triangular box of Camacho cigars with a shiny, black exterior. He asked for a little screwdriver, the type you use on a pair of eyeglasses. Continued

Bricks and Mortar and Greed

(CSP) A controversial new tobacco contract that would impose price ceilings on what operators could charge is leaving a foul taste for retailers. Numerous retailers, from independents to some of the country's largest convenience-store chains, are criticizing Altria's Marlboro Leadership Price (MLP) Option. "We feel philosophically when a supplier tries to dictate how much you can sell a product for, it's inherently not a good policy," said Steve Loehr, vice president of operations support at Kwik Trip, operator of more than 400 stores in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. Continued

Zimbabwe: Tobacco Sales Floor Decentralises Bookings

(allAfrica.com) The Tobacco Sales Floor has established offices in different parts of Zimbabwe for pre-sale bookings of the crop that will be sold.
This follows an increase in incidences of farmers delivering a crop that has not been booked for sale. Despite this decentralisation, some farmers have continued bringing their crop to the auction floor without advance bookings. Continued

Fall River smokeshop hosts famous cigar makers

(heraldnews) What if your family made a product sold all over the world? You’d come to Fall River to meet some of your customers, no?
You would if you were Jaime and Janny Garcia, the son and daughter of Don Pepin Garcia, a cigar maker whose roots in Cuba included rolling cigars and, family legend has it, playing baseball against a young Luis Tiant, whom Don Pepin Garcia maintains could not strike him out. Continued

Hearth & Home Rolando’s Own Tobacco Review

(Bob Tate) The pouch aroma of this blend reminds me of dry grass/hay with some sweetness and a noticeable amount of spiciness. I detect some tang to it as well. It smells quite nice. The moisture content is perfect for smoking right away. I loaded up my pipe and proceeded to the charring light. Continued

Photo: Portrait of Dizzy Gillespie [smoking pipe], Tadd Dameron, Hank Jones, Mary Lou Williams, and Milt Orent, Mary Lou Williams' apartment, New York, N.Y., ca. Aug. 1947 (LOC).

The Fenian's comfort smoking tobacco

The Fenian's Comfort smoking tobacco, circa 1858 (Library of Congress).

Marketplace Globalist Quiz: Tobacco Production King

(theglobalist) ... Which country produces more tobacco than any other? Continued

Cuba Introduces New Technologies in Tobacco Plantations

(cadenagramonte.cu) The introduction of new technologies such as the double-row planting method will allow Cuban farmers to increase efficiency in the cultivation of what many people regard as the best tobacco of the world.
Oscar Basulto, director of the business group TABACUBA, told ACN that this technique is being successfully implemented in the westernmost province of Pinar del Rio as it allows to make the most of the cultivable land. The method also reduces the appearance of weeds and it favors the works of irrigation, fumigation and harvesting. Continued

Photo: Library of Congress

Travel Well with a High-End Cigar Trunk

(Cigar Aficionado) If you could swim to the bottom of the ocean, explore the sunken ruins of the Titanic or Lusitania, and wade through the first-class cargo hold, you’d no doubt descend upon piles and piles of steamer trunks crafted by Louis Vuitton, Goyard and T.T.Trunks. Well, maybe not T.T.Trunks. While Louis Vuitton and Goyard have been outfitting high-society since the 1800s, T.T.Trunks has been doing it for less than 10 years, but you’d never know it judging by its classic construction. One can quibble over which house of design is the most exclusive, though all three produce customized cigar trunks dedicated to the well-being of your cigar collection and at the same time they make sure your smokes travel in higher style than you do. Continued

New Mac Baren HH Highland Blend Tobacco Preview

(Pipes Magazine) ... According to Per Jensen, Mac Baren Product Specialist and spokesman, "The difference between Highland Mixture and Highland Blend is the following. We took the great idea from the Highland Mixture (the topping with a 30 year old Glenfarclas, Latakia and the mix of Virginias, Burleys and the Cavendish), however I have adjusted the blend a bit. The result is a slightly more smoky taste (more Latakia which goes excellent with the whisky) and I have reduced the irritation by changing some Virginias and replacing them with some excellent Burleys." Continued

Photo: Library of Congress

Renewed Optimism for Cigars

(csdecisions) Not much been predictable about the tobacco category over the past 18 months.
Huge taxes increases have renewed questions about just how much money smokers are willing to invest in their habit, and whether cigarette smokers would merely switch their nicotine fixes to other tobacco products (OTP), such as cigars and moist smokeless or even electronic cigarettes. However, FDA regulations on labels and access to tobacco products have made it difficult to predict what smokers will do.
Amid the upheaval, the cigar category has thrived, and in a most consistent way. Continued

Swedish Snus Tobacco: A review of a few favorites

Talking a bit about the traditional Swedish oral tobacco, snus.

Cuban Partagas Cigar House to Celebrate Anniversary in April

(cadenagramonte.cu) More than a hundred businessmen, distributors, entrepreneurs and specialists from different parts of the world will meet in Cuba in April for the 21st Encounter of Clients-Friends of the Partagas Cigar House.
The director of the Partagas House in Havana, Abel Exposito Diaz, told ACN that the event will coincide with the celebrations for the 166th anniversary of this Cuban cigar brand, one of the favorite ones among cigar lovers worldwide. Continued

Photo: Lamarde

Red Auerbach’s Cigar Humidor Will Be Auctioned

(Bloomberg) Red Auerbach’s championship rings and a team-signed cigar humidor are among the personal memorabilia of the late Boston Celtics Hall of Fame coach to be auctioned online. ... Known for often having a cigar in his mouth and lighting one up on the bench when victory was assured, Auerbach’s presentational humidor from the 1954-55 season, engraved with team signatures, is also up for auction, as is a 1950 Bob Cousy game-worn rookie jersey that belonged to Auerbach. Continued

Photo by Steve Lipofsky, some rights reserved.

Malawi Opens Tobacco Season; Farmers Complain of Low Prices

(Bloomberg) Malawi, the world’s biggest producer of burley tobacco, opened the 2011 season yesterday with President Bingu wa Mutharika asking buyers to offer better prices. ... “The buyers should realize that farmers can only continue growing tobacco if they are paid prices beyond the cost of production,” said Mutharika.
... Prices averaged $1.90 per kilogram(2.2 pounds), higher than the $1.88 received in 2009, with prices declining in the second half of the season because of delayed confirmation from the buying companies’ customers and increased production in Zimbabwe. Continued

Also: Malawi 2011 tobacco output seen down y/y

General Cigar Sorts Superior Connecticut Tobacco Crop

(Cigar Aficionado) General Cigar Co., maker of Macanudo, Partagas and various other premium cigars and a major grower of tobacco in the Connecticut River Valley, is sorting the 2010 crop of Connecticut shade tobacco in its cigar factory and tobacco processing facility located in Santiago, Dominican Republic. So far, the results are far better than average—so good that the company is certain to declare it a vintage year. Continued

Photo: The Welden House cigar. Manufactured by Z.P. King, Hartford, Conn., circa 1869 (Library of Congress).

Communal tobacco growers stymied by curing challenges

(thezimbabwean.co.uk) ... Mugauri and other hopeful tobacco growers mistakenly thought growing the golden leaf was all about producing a good crop. It never crossed their minds that firewood, coal or electricity would be needed to cure the harvested crop. Tobacco quality is a result of curing expertise which requires standard leaf drying logistics. He narrated his sad story to The Zimbabwean: Continued

Photo: Ten year old son of tobacco tenant tends the fire which is curing the tobacco in the barn, 1939 (Dorothea Lange/FSA/Library of Congress).

More Turkish Tobacco Soon?

ANKARA (hurriyetdailynews) The Agriculture Ministry has announced payment rates for former tobacco farmers, with an aim to encourage them to once again cultivate the plant.
Within the framework of a program to support farmers who abandoned tobacco farming and shifting to alternative crops which yield better profits, the ministry will issue a 120 Turkish Lira payment to farmers per tobacco cultivated decare in 2011. Continued

Photo: Lamarde

Padilla Series '68 Robusto Cigar

According to Wikipedia, "A worldwide controversy was sparked when Herberto Padilla was placed under house arrest for his award-winning 1968 anthology Fuera del Juego (Out Of the Game) that expressed dissatisfaction with the Castro regime. The book was then taken out of circulation."
Years later, his son, Ernesto, commemorated the occasion with a cigar, the Series '68, an all Nicaraguan, medium strength cigar, with a Habano wrapper.
I don't know what it is about Padilla cigars, but they never fail to keep my interest, and the '68 is no exception. There seems to be something new in every puff. Smoking this cigar reminded me of that line in Soylent Green, when Charlton Heston looks wistfully at his cigarette and says, "You know, if I had the money, I would smoke two, three of these every day." Highly Recommended.

Cigar Review: Kristoff Sumatra

(Toasted Foot) On a recent business trip to the Baltimore/DC area, I had an evening to kill and had had a week-long desire for a NUb Maduro. After a quick search on CigarFriendly.com I couldn’t find a local B&M close enough. But after asking around, I found Faders Tobacco in Towson MD was relatively nearby. Once there, Andrew introduced himself and asked me about what cigars I liked, as he gave me a tour. With a Nub Maduro safely in hand, Andrew also talked me into trying a Kristoff Sumatra pigtail, as well. Continued

Photo: Kristoff Cigars

Historical Treasures: Cigar store Indian in Easton

(lehighvalleylive) The Indian maiden shown here stood in front of Moses Menline's Cigar Store at 11 S. Third St. in the Porter Building of Easton.
In 1873, Moses sent his brother, Emanuel, to New York City to purchase an advertising sign to place in front of his retail and cigar manufacturing facility. At the time, Menline employed 18 or 19 men producing "Planter's Delight" and "Nectar" cigars. Continued

English Tobacco Blends and Latakia Blends - One in the Same?

(Bob Tate) ... English blends were originally called English blends because they were made in Great Britain and also because of the old, now repealed, Tobacco Purity Laws that had to be adhered to in Great Britain at the time. Because of the purity laws, all additives to tobacco blends were very restricted and very limited. You could not add much, if any, flavorings to the tobacco; and additives such as preservatives, humectants, etc. were not allowed. Therefore all of the English blends back then were considered pure tobacco blends. All blends that were produced in Britain at that time had to fit within the parameters of the purity laws and were all considered English blends. Continued

Photo: Mr. Weller Senior Illus. in: The Characters of Charles Dickens pourtrayed in a series of original water colour sketches by "Kyd".

Cigar Club a smokin’ oasis for soldiers

CAMP PHOENIX, Afghanistan (Omaha World-Herald) In the middle of this base is a little box of a clubhouse that started out years ago as a place for the medics to grab a quick smoke.
It has since evolved into a getaway where anyone on base can retreat to unwind and relish a fine cigar.
Members of the Nebraska Army National Guard’s 1-134th Cavalry Squadron have been visiting this small oasis and said it’s the kind of place that makes a difference when serving far from home. Continued

Photo: National Cigar History Museum