Weekly News (August 2, 2010)

It’s only a week before IPCPR and the news just keeps rolling in. Five major cigar announcements this week:

• I previewed Pete Johnson’s IPCPR offerings, yes go crazy my Tatuaje-loving friends
• The Padrón Family Reserve No. 46 was announced on something besides Twitter
• I posted a proposed list of the Habanos S.A. RE 2011 releases
• Habanos S.A. also formally announced the 2010 Habanos Collection Bolívar Gran Belicoso
• And the San Lotano from A.J. Fernandez was announced

Xikar released a new limited edition cutter, they should have two new models out at IPCPR next week. La Cardidad del Cobre had an announcement regarding IPCPR. Bruce Lewis was named VP of Sales for Toraño Family Cigar Company.

The other big story was the aftermath of the CCA. I posted my thoughts here, which were critical of the Congressional Cigar Association. Patrick S, from the Stogie Guys, took a different approach defending the CCA’s legitimacy and questioning HuffPo’s intentions. All and all, make sure you read Patrick’s and of course the original article.

In legislation and law news. Cigarette smokers in Iowa are turning to small cigars because of taxes. It remains unclear as to whether Columbia, SC will go through with a smoking ban, a vote still has’t been taken. Nick Perdomo is getting sued over some comments he made. Kendrick Meek, a Senate nominee in Florida, is being attacked for his ties to the cigar industry. Mr. Meek is cigar friendly and got the Pardróns a meeting with Nancy Pelosi and other top Democrats before SCHIP passed. Meek has always been friendly to the cigar industry and was seen as being instrumental at making sure SCHIP’s proposed $3 tax was greatly reduced. I can’t speak to anything else, but that’s the cigar facts. And my friends at Dallas City Hall decided to show you how to roll a blunt.

Finally, if you haven’t read this piece from Skip Martin, do it and, as promised the IPCPR cigar of the week will be the La Palina Alison. In case you have missed it, I previously have mentioned the Arturo Fuente My Story, Alec Bradley American Classic and E.P. Carrillo Elencos as part of my IPCPR guesses.

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.