July 1, 2024

The new all-metal ashtray is designed with four cigar rests built into the edge, each of which will hold up to a 70-ring gauge cigar. Quality Importers states that the ashtrays have a bowl depth of three inches, which helps to ensure that debris stays put, even in breezy conditions.

Plasencia has changed the 5 1/2 x 54 Guajiro vitola from round to box-pressed. The new versions began heading to stores in mid-June.

The change isn’t drastic, saving customers a quarter or two per cigar. But it does move California down the list of states with the highest tobacco tax.

A voter-approved proposition in November 2020 set a series of tobacco tax increases in motion, including today’s and one set for 2027. Today’s increase makes Colorado the fourth-most expensive state to purchase premium cigars.

This is part of a five-part series documenting Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia, the main factory of Arturo Fuente. Post #1 focuses on the final parts of pre-industry, the last days before raw tobacco leaves are bunched and rolled into cigars.

Mac Baren is a nearly 200-year-old company best known for its pipe tobacco. For the cigar industry, this deal could affect Sutliff Tobacco Co., which handles logistics for around a dozen smaller cigar companies.

A look back at the news, reviews and more from the past week.