Weekly News (Jan. 23, 2023)

halfwheel extends our condolences to the friends and family of J. Paul Tucker, owner and operator of Oxmoor Smoke Shoppe in Louisville, Ken., who passed away last week after being in the cigar business for more than 50 years. Numerous members of the cigar industry reached out to halfwheel with news of his passing, and we join them in celebrating his contributions and legacy. — PL

Cigar News

• Bespoke Co. Ends U.S. Distribution Of Casdagli Cigars
• Casdagli Setting Up Its Own U.S. Distribution Company
• Cohiba Siglo de Oro Celebrates Year Of The Rabbit
• Indiana Ortez Launches Casa De Ortez, Announces First Line Will Be Called Primavera 
• La Flor Dominicana Special Football Edition 2023 Heading To Arizona Stores Next Week
• Lisa Sigler Joins PCA As Director Of Membership Development & Industry Relations
• Macanudo Inspirado Orange Cigarillos Coming In February 
• Ohana’s New Mo’olelo Limited Edition To Benefit Hawaii’s Trails System 
• PDR Cigars Moves German Distribution To Kohlhase & Kopp
• Pacific Cigar Co. Gets Special Diplomáticos For 30th Anniversary
• Punch Rare Corojo Returns In February With Nine Vitolas
• Registration Opens For Festival Del Habano XXIII
• Viaje Releasing New Batch Of Shotgun Shells Super Shot And Buckshot

Regulations 

State

• Bill Sees To Ban Sale Of Flavored Tobacco, Vape Products In New Mexico
• Georgia’s New Speaker of the House Says Tobacco Tax Increase is Possible — WABE.org
• Hawaii’s Keiki Caucus Says a Flavored Tobacco Ban is Among Its Top Priorities This Legislative Session — via Honolulu Star-Advertiser
• North Dakota Legislators To Once Again Consider Allowing Smoking In Cigar Bars And Lounges 
• Oregon Legislature To Consider Ban On Flavored Tobacco Products
• Wyoming Senate Passes Cigar Tax Cap, Bill Now Heads To The House

Local

• Waco, Texas Overturns Ban On New Cigar, Hookah Lounges 

Reviews

• StillWell Star LE Holiday Y2022
• Weller By Cohiba 2022

2022 Awards

• 2022 Awards: Company Of The Year
• 2022 Awards: Factory Of The Year
• 2022 Awards: New Company Of The Year
• 2022 Awards: Packaging Top 10
• The Top 25 Cigars Of 2022

Editorials

• 2022 Reviews In Review

Deals From Our Sponsors

• Atlantic Cigar Co. — Cavalier Genève BII Viso Jalapa Limited Release 2022 (Box of 10, $117.95)
• Cigar Hustler — Los Statos Toro (Box of 20, $162)
• Cigars Direct — Flor de las Antillas 10th Anniversary 2022 (Box of 12, $500)
• Corona Cigar Co. — La Flor Dominicana Solis (Box of 20, $263.95)
• Famous Smoke Shop — Deadwood Sweet Jane (Box of 24, $139.95)
• Gotham Cigars — Leaf by Oscar Maduro Lancero (Bundle of  20 Cigars, $172.98)
• JR Cigars — 25 Percent Off (CODE: 25NOW)
• LM Cigars — Joya de Nicaragua Número Uno (Box of 25, $415.62)

Brooks Whittington

I have been smoking cigars for over eight years. A documentary wedding photographer by trade, I spent seven years as a photojournalist for the Dallas Morning News and the Fort Worth Star Telegram. I started the cigar blog SmokingStogie in 2008 after realizing that there was a need for a cigar blog with better photographs and more in-depth information about each release. SmokingStogie quickly became one of the more influential cigar blogs on the internet, known for reviewing preproduction, prerelease, rare, extremely hard-to-find and expensive cigars. I am a co-founder of halfwheel and now serve as an editor for halfwheel.