Cigar Companero 2nd Editon March 2008 Future American Smoker

       Now that the end of 2007 is near, we look back and see where
we have been. Cigars have changed even more and the cigar industry
itself so far escapes oblivion. Everyone cringed at the thought of
having an enormous tax imposed on cigars. We looked forward to
see the new blends coming out. We watched as the cigar industry
pulled together to help the cause and keep the tax proposal in
Congress in check.
     The R.T.D.A. show had a lower turnout than normal. It could
have been the location or that everyone was in such fear of an
overwhelming tax that the government was trying to put into place.
Houston, Texas was the sight of the convention this year and it did
not have had all the glamour and gambling but the humidity was
right to help keep cigars a little fresher. Nothing stopped the
partying though, as cigar smokes do so well when they get together.
CAO threw a huge party at a local club, General Cigars threw
another huge party, and if you were lucky enough you invited to
attend one night with Rocky Patel as he took about 100 people or
so each night to a well hidden away restaurant in Houston and
served them food and drinks and partied the night away.
      The 2007 convention brought about some changes also.
Manufacturers banded together and started a lobbying party to
help fight the tax bill; they also changed the name to make it more
fitting. International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association
is what the RTDA is now called. Reasoning behind this is so to
draw attention to the idea that they are not just a tobacco
retailer's association and that cigar manufacturing is more a craft
not an industry or more on a layman's terms to separate the idea
that cigars and pipe tobacco are in the same class as cigarettes
and other tobacco. Adding the word Premium and the word
Premium exemplifying that the word means hand rolled. A
Premium Hand Rolled Cigar is an art form; cut tobacco that put
together cigarettes by machines is an industry.
      So nothing else shook the cigar industry like the SCHIP tax bill
that the US Congress laid out and almost was passed into law. It
passed the house and made it to the top of the hill where
George Bush vetoed the bill and then came back down the hill
and was re-voted on to overturn the veto and failed. Thank goodness
for the few such as Rocky Patel, Jorge Padron, Carlito Fuente,
the Newman's, and the rest of the now I.P.C.P.R.A. participants that fought so hard in a short period of time to make sure we don't have to pay $10 or more on a cigar. Right now they are still working on a new bill but form what I have heard they have the figure down to about maximum $3 a cigar and that is probably on a $30 to $50 stick. So they are not out of the water yet, but there has been a lot of negotiating so the industry would not be ruined by this tax . A $10 or better tax on sticks of cigars would have had an enormous negative effect on the cigar industry and sucked millions of dollars out of our pockets that the industry used to live on and help others that are employed by the cigar industry. Can you imagine having to pay $10 for a stick that now cost you $5, or worse a nice Opus X that cost about $40 could have been something like $75 or $80 and almost half of that being tax. So far we have dodged the bullet but it is coming back in 2008 and we better stick together on this one.
Well that is enough excitement for one year, the almost oblivion of the cigar industry as we know it has been avoided so far. So let's look forward on a more positive note. New cigars!
      The cigar that made the biggest impression on me was the Ashton San Critobal.
The maker of this awesome cigar for Ashton that rocked the RTDA this year is none
other than Don Pepin Garcia. For those who are not in the know, Don Pepin left Cuba
a few years ago and was in charge of most of Cuba's cigar manufacturing. He left Cuba
and now makes cigars for himself and a few others. The San Cristobal by Ashton is
completely made out of Nicaraguan tobacco and has a nice dark chocolate colored
wrapper. The taste is hearty, woodsy, and creamy. My favorite is the Maestro size,
a figuardo shape and the flavor rivals that of the best of Cuban's anytime. It has a
creamy cocoa and nutty flavor that gets stronger as you get about half way through
and then smoothes out to an excellent finish. I just happened to make the unveiling
of this cigar to the public in Phoenix, AZ at Shades of Havana with Manny towards
the end of 2007. If you have not had a chance to try this one you are missing out big
time.
       CAO made a big hit with a cigar fashioned like a barber pole with a Connecticut and Maduro wrapper combined. The America by CAO just recently released in quantities and is not easy to find but getting easier as we head into 2008. There are few stores that carry them, but if you should see one pick one up and try it. Like the Arturo Fuentes - Between the Lines cigar you get that special flavor only found in combined wrapper cigars. The taste wraps around just like the wrapper from a dark bold taste to a smooth medium taste. These cigars are another must for those looking for a unique and wonderful tasting cigar.
       Another cigar that makes an impression on me is the recently
released Oliva Series V towards the end of the year 2007. The Series V
has a heavy nicotine content that makes this cigar very bold and a
huge hit with the heavy flavor smokers. It is relatively a strong smoke
that could be considered a less expensive Opus X type strength cigar.
Don't get me wrong the taste is nowhere like the Opus X, it is
comparable just in the strength. The heavy nicotine content is
evident when you smoke this cigar and builds of course to the end,
in fact, you may want to check your lips towards the end as it tends
to leave some nicotine oils behind.
       Rocky Patel, although known for his anniversary series, came
out with a cigar dedicated to his ten years in the cigar business.
Timely named the "Decade," this cigar in November was only
available through Rocky Patel Special Events throughout the country.
Now in 2008 it is readily available. I just happened to get myself a
handful and gave a few away and smoked a few of them myself.
It is a great after dinner cigar, not too mild and not too strong. In fact,
after a nice steak and lobster dinner this cigar was very fulfilling.
It is worth picking one or two up when you find one.
       Now there are some cigars that you will never find in a cigar store
and only on the catalog internet sites, one being the Pinar 2000. The Pinar 2000 is made of 40+ year old tobacco that was stored before the embargo somewhere in the US and someone happened to find recently. The Pinar 2000 is probably the strongest tasting cigar I have ever tasted tasted                                                                        and the tobacco was well kept so it is a very smooth tasting cigar also. These cigars sell for for                                                                             about $20 or more and are very limited due to the amount of tobacco there is to make them. them.                                                                         You will have to search through the internet cigar stores if you want to purchase one.
                                                                                        Then in February of 2008, Jose Blanco came to Phoenix, AZ and introduced his new barrel barrel                                                                         age cigar. Only available in Arizona until April, the new cigar had to be the most unique unique                                                                       tasting of all the new releases. With the wrapper being aged in a barrel for the first time time                                                                           outside of Cuban made cigars, what a treat it was. Dark, Rich, and full of taste, this cigar will will                                                                            go far. I compare this cigar to like the difference between Jack Daniels and other whiskeys. whiskeys.                                                                  Jack Daniels uses barrel aging to get that charcoal mellowing taste, that special sweetness. You You                                                                           get that same sweetness in the barrel age cigar. Great job, Jose.
                                                                                      Another great cigar is coming out the later part of March in which we cover in an interview interview                                                                   in this issue, is the Reyes Family Premiere Cigar. Formerly known as Puros Indios, the Reyes Reyes                                                                         Family is on track for new beginnings with new president, Carlos Diez. This is a great tasting tasting                                                                        cigar, and I have yet to know anyone that uses a Costa Rican Maduro for taste quite like this cigar has. Great Job, Carlos. You can read more about the Premiere in the interview with Frank Santos of Reyes Family Cigars in this issue.
       So looking forward now, there are a few mumbles here and there on new cigars. A few changes in the industry, such as Xikar acquiring Madelines Humidors, C.A.O. acquiring the marketing aspect of Torano Cigars, and a few other minor changes. The SCHIP tax bill is not going to just go away, we are looking at it coming back here soon and the cigar industry is right there every step of the way, thanks to people like the Fuentes', the Padrons', and the Rocky Patels'. And in July of 2008, we all converge on Las Vegas for the 2008 I.P.C.P. R.A. convention for all exciting news for 2008 and more.
See ya there in 2008.

Senior Editor Marc Cote