Weekly News (December 9, 2013)

 Editor’s Note: Join Brooks, Patrick and I for the Craft Wine & Beer Holiday Pop Up Shop at FUMARE. Does this count as an Illusione event? Details here.

• Benji Menendez to Retire — Story here.
• Ashton Releases ESG 24 Year Salute — Here.
• Partagás Lusitanias Gran Reserva Arrives — Details here.
• Herrera Esteli Lancero Coming in 2014 — Details here.
• Padrón Ships 1926 Four-packs — Here.
• Aging Room Small Batch T59 Blend — Press release here.
• Viaje Announces Christmas Tree — Story here.
• La Aurora 107 Maduro Lancero Heads to Southeast — Here.
• Room101 Namakubi Ecuador Lancero Heads to Stogies — Story here.
• Herrera Esteli Gets Rebanded — Coming soon.
• Partagas Benji Homage 62 Announced — Here.
• El Mayimbe Returns in 2014 — Here.
• CRAFT 2013 Gets December Release — 10 days according to Skip Martin. Review here.

Craft. T- Minus 10 days. @ Esteli, Nicaragua http://t.co/OOOvFa5ITq

— Chief Hava (@ChiefHava) December 9, 2013

• La Aurora 107 Lonsdale Released for Texas + Surrounding Areas — Details here.
• El Catador de Los Perfectos Sampler Heads to Tobacco Locker — Aquitaine Mode 5 debuts. Details here.
• La Aurora Puro Vintage Sampler Coming Next Year — Details here.
• Pedro Martin Limited Edition Announced — Press release here.
• Paul Stulac Teases “No Dress Code” — Details here.
• Nomad Eyes Stronger Release:

And now for something completely stronger… #2014 #NowSmoking pic.twitter.com/PQDYRJw9JV

— Nomad Cigar Company (@GodFadr) December 3, 2013

• XIKAR Auctions 1,000 Mammoth Xi3 for Charity — Press release here.
• H.R. 792 Reaches 130 Cosponsors — Track the bill here.
• Berkley, Calif. Bans Smoking in Apartments — Here. UC Berkley is also about to go smoke free.
• New York Eyes Tobacco Break — Press release here.
• Vernon Hills, Ill. Adds Park Smoking Restrictions — Here.
• Bruce, Miss. Enacts Strict Smoking Ban — Here.
• Sampson County (NC) Bans Smoking on County Property — Here.
• Centre County (PA) Bans Smoking on County Property — Here.
• Franklin, Mass. Considers Stricter Tobacco Laws — Details here.
• Hopkinton, Mass. Rejects Age Increase — Here.
• Cambridge, Mass. Vote Delayed — Here.
• Healdsburg, Calif. Considers Raising Minimum Age — Story here.
• San Diego State to Go Smoke Free — Here.
• Western Michigan University To Go Smoke Free — Here.
• University of Toledo Faculty Eye Tobacco-Free Campus — Here.
• New Mexico State Could Be Next — Details here.
• Smoking to Remain at SUNY Potsdam — Story here.
• Hungary Bans Tobacco Sales in Grocery Stores & Gas Stations — Here.

Charlie Minato

I am an editor and co-founder of halfwheel.com/Rueda Media, LLC. I previously co-founded and published TheCigarFeed, one of the two predecessors of halfwheel. I have written about the cigar industry for more than a decade, covering everything from product launches to regulation to M&A. In addition, I handle a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff here at halfwheel. I enjoy playing tennis, watching boxing, falling asleep to the Le Mans 24, wearing sweatshirts year-round and eating gyros. echte liebe.