The rumours around the brand have been circulating for a very long time, and we have already accepted the fact that Cubans decided to stop the production of one of their best seling cigars – Trinidad Robusto T. It would be ok if they ceased rolling one cigar from the brand but to discontinue the production of the entire brand seems like a nightmare to me!

According to the La Casa del Habano, the exclusive distiributor of Cuban cigars in the world, they wanted to focus their main efforts on Cohiba and thus discontinue one of their most popular brands. However, it seems they have changed their minds because soon after the statement, a person in charge took back his words, stating that the Trinidad brand will continue its existence, while two of its vitolas – Robusto T and Robusto Extra – will be discontinued anyway, unfortunately.

Thanks God, it turned out to be either a false statement or a quick change of views, and neither of the Trinidad fansa have suffered – only those who prefer Robusto T and Robusto Extra. So you’d better stock up until they gone forever …..

Buying cigars online >>>

They say the anti-tobacco campaigns reduce adult smoking but some ads work better than the others.

The researchers have conducted a survey among adult smokers and their exposure to anti-tobacco TV
between 1999 and 2007. The ads were organized by various departments – from states to private foundations and drug companies.

According to the study lead author Sherry Emery, who is a senior scientist at the Institute for Health Research and Policy of the University of Illinois at Chicago, the smoking rates were lower and more smokers intended to quit smoking where there was higher exposure to the state-sponsored anti-tobacco ads.

As per the survey, the more the smokers were exposed to state-sponsored, private-foundation and drug-company ads, the less they smoked. And vice-versa, the more these people watched tobacco-industry publicities, the more they smoked.

Paraphrasing Ms. Emery, the tobacco-industry ads were associated with more smoking, though they didn’t seem to contain any promotion of the act of smoking.

The researching team was astonished at the fact that smokers in areas with more ads for smoke-banning products were less likely to give up smoking.

As per Emery’s words, the results of their survey proved that no matter what “you say to people, doesn’t matter until you don’t say a lot.”

The survey was published in the April issue of American Journal of Public Health.

But in my point of view, it doesn’t matter how much you smoke, the key is what you smoke

Buying cigars online >>>

In the petition, they ask that the Obama Administration puts an end to the FDA regulation of the cigar industry. They affirm that the FDA control over cigars would lead to the loss of 85,000 domestic jobs as well of 250,000 jobs in Latin America. The petition also states that cigars do not cause addiction and are produced for the use of adults only.

Glynn Loope, the executive director of the Cigar Rights of America, has recently addressed their supporters and cigar smokers in a press release: “It’s time for those that simply want to enjoy a great cigar to become a true political constituency. It’s an election year, and both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue need to know that there are thousands of voters, passionate about their cigars, that will vote this fall based upon who will stay out of their humidor. The FDA is controlled by the President’s administration, so it was time to send them a message.”

The petition won’t be reviewed by the Obama Administration until at least 25.000 people will sign it by May 11. Up to now, 3.268 signatures have been collected, that is why the CRA and IPCPR organizations are appealing to all cigar smokers to support the petition.

The conflict with the FDA takes roots in 2009 when it was granted the total control over such tobacco products as cigarettes, roll-your-own tobacco and smokeless tobacco after President Barack Obama signed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act into law. The FDA regulation had immediate influence over the cigarette industry – they banned all flavored cigarettes, restricting release of new production, advertising and banning the use of the word “light” – and other tobacco products. But the cigar industry remained untouched till recently.

In the 2010, the FDA announced its intent to control the cigars as well. However the CRA and the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers association didn’t want to wait for industry-threatening legislation to occur, and decided to do something until it was too late.

Both cigar organizations have been lobbying members of Congress to support the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Acts, also known as H.R. 1639 and S. 1461 which could protect premium cigars against being legislated by the FDA, if passed. Thus, more than 176.000 mails were sent to Congress, resulting in 160 co-sponsors from the House of Representatives and growing support from the Senate.

Buying cigars online >>>

The main suspect Ehab Ahmed owns the Panama City Wholesale Supply on Beach Dr. According to the law-enforcement authorities, they confiscated some strong evidence from Mr. Ahmed’s house that proves that this person is guilty of cheating the United States, mail fraud, laundering money, etc.

In 2010, a small group of undercover agents established contact with Ehab Ahmed willing to buy untaxed cigars. They told him they would sell them at a cheaper price in Georgia where there is a 14% cigar tax, and compete with bigger retailers. According to their report, Ahmed has been selling them large lots of cigars costing as much as $200000 per load. The operation was cancelled in October last year after the authorities caught him in the act.

The detectives think Ahmed gained circa 1 million dollars from October 2010 to August 2011 by illegally selling cigars. However, according to Ahmed’s bank records, the suspect has never deposited more than $10000 at a time; otherwise, the bank should have reported any transactions over $10000 to the IRS.

Am I the only one who thinks that the story didn’t take its end yet and we’ll probably hear of their characters once more in the future? Stay in touch, we’ll keep you informed of any news we get.

Buying cigars online >>>

The maker of elegant humidors Daniel Marshall and the legendary actor who’s able to play both a robot in the epic movie “The Terminator” and a cop-turned-educator in the “Kindergarten Cop”, Arnold Schwarzenegger have joined their forces to release something beautiful and powerful. It’s a gift set including a Tank Watch and a humidor.

Daniel Marshall, who is known for his refined humidors, has released a limited edition kit consisting of 100 Tank Watches and Humidors. They have been released for a special charity event After School All Stars – a national charity devoted to ensuring after-school programs to help children stay safe and successful. The After School All Stars organization has various programs in reserve that are serving more than 80000 children.

The gift set includes an engraved, indexed Arnold Schwarzenegger Tank Watch No. 1, fabricated from a black stainless steel case and a black leather band; a limited-edition Daniel Marshall Precious Wood humidor intended for storing 125 cigars, containing 10 memorable cigars and an engraved badge of Schwarzenegger’s personal M47-331 tank; a signed Schwarzenegger’s photograph sitting in front of his own tank and wearing the watch; and, finally, a leaflet telling the story behind the watch.

The entire set costs $2.795, the money going for the After School All Stars. However there are only 100 specimens available, so hurry if you want to wear a piece of your beloved Terminator with you. The cost might bite you a little but is worth it

Buying cigars online >>>

According to the executives, the line will come into the market in the end of September, and will consist of three LE cigars: the Partagás Serie C No. 3, H. Upmann Robusto and Montecristo 520. The three vitolas have the parejo size, or in other words, they have a cylindrical shape and are straight-sided. These cigars are thick which means smokers tend to preferring fatter cigars rather than thinner in both non-Cuban and Cuban cigar world.

The H. Upmann Robusto LE is a usual Cuban robusto being 7/8 inches long with a 50 ring gauge.

The Partagas Serie C No. 3 LE is an upgrade of an older vitola known as the C No. 3. Its length is 5 1/2 inches with a 48 ring gauge.

And the third cigar, the Montecristo 520 named in honor of the 520th anniversary of the discovery of tobacco in Cuba, has a vitola Maravillas No. 3. It measures 6 1/8 inches long and has a 55 ring gauge. The only vitola, except the new Montecristo LE 2012, that has the same ring gauge among Cuban cigars is Romeo Y Julieta Wide Churchills .

Well, let’s hope we’ll have enough patient  to wait for the new limitadas to come to our town, and sample them. I’m sure these are good cigars, and some of them may even get into the regular production line. Time will show.

Buying cigars online >>>

The two of them met at a cigar trade show, and have immediately decided to make something together.
Booth’s company specializes in producing artisan and specialty cigars, but also jewelry and handbags – for those who are not interested in cigars.

The Good Karma owner Todd Dailey expressed interest in Booth’s brand, and welcomed him to the store. Booth, in its turn, made a little research of the store and noticed that Dailey was very supportive of the boutique brands. He gladly accepted the offer, this trip being the first to this region. According to Booth, he has visited cigar shops in Dallas, San Antonio and Houston at least twice in the past few years.

The Room 101 founder said he would love to see the city, showing respect to the Good Karma store and his owner, Todd Dailey.

Buying cigars online >>>

The fresh vitolas promise to be a hit since the two sizes of the Macanudo cigars were released in the very popular sizes – 6 by 60. These are called the Macanudo Café Gigante and Macanudo Maduro Gigante, coming in boxes of 25 cigars, at the price of $7.99 each.

As for the CAO new vitola, it is called the Luminoso and is 4 1/2-inch-long with a 50 ring gauge – shorter and thinner than the Macanudo’s cigars. According to Ed McKenna, C.A.O.’s brand manager, the C.A.O. La Traviata Luminoso was one of their top-sellers and it was natural they would give their fans a fresh view on one of their beloved cigars.

The price on a C.A.O. Luminoso cigar would go as far as $5.10 for a stick, and will be released in boxes of 30 cigars.
Well, let’s hope these cigars reach us soon, and won’t be just mere duplicates of their older brothers.

Buying cigars online >>>

The global financial crisis hit all fields of life, including Cuban cigars manufacturing. It was reported that despite the 4% rise on Cuban luxury cigars last year that didn’t help saving the situation this year.

The UK-based Imperial Tobacco holds the half of the Corporación Habanos S.A. joint venture that has duplicated its gains last year. According to their annual report, their income has set US$55 million, after they have paid taxes in the amount of 10 million US$15.72 million. This is considered a successful year, as in comparison to the 2010 outcome with revenues of US$61.3 million after paying taxes in the amount of US$7.8 million.

The Imperial Tobacco is very optimistic about the results of their annual report. They declared their luxury Habanos Cigar branch has showed another good performance thanks to the high demand on Russian, Chinese and Brazilian markets. This happened due to the new limited editions of Cohiba and Montecristo cigars. However they didn’t say a word about the situation on the European cigar market.

Imperial Tobacco has the global marketing monopoly for Cuban cigars of first degree due to the Habanos joint venture with Cuban state company CubaTabaco.

Buying cigars online >>>

Snoop Dogg is considered an amateur of tobacco and tobacco products. According to him, he has traveled the world and tried different types of tobacco, and finally found something he wanted to bring back with him to the United States.

The singer was so impressed with the quality of their cigars, he decided he must bring the company “Executive branch” that was situated in the Caribbean region into the United States. They plan on launching new vitolas and flavors with the highest standards and releasing them to the US market.

The first joint cigar of Snoop Dogg and “Executive branch” company to be released – the Executive Branch cigarillos. They are expected to be sold for $0.99 a pouch, with 2 cigars per pouch. The cigarillos are rolled by Dufort Holdings SA and sold by Good Times USA.

Snoop Dogg is going to present his new brand at the Coachella Festival where he will be the leading host together with Dr.Dre.

Buying cigars online >>>