Archive for the ‘maduro’ Category

What Are Wrapper Shade Colors?

Tuesday, February 18th, 2020
We’ve put together a list of various wrapper shade colors along with an example of each, hoping you'll be able to point out these terms down the road.

IPCPR: AJ Fernandez – Bellas Artes Maduro

Monday, July 23rd, 2018

AJ Fernandez has been quite busy the past few years.  Not only does he have his own, name brand cigars, he has been doing a massive amount of work for other manufacturers as well.  He has several new releases with General, such as a new Ramon Allones and Punch, as well as Altadis USA with new Montecristo and Romeo Nicaraguan additions being announced at the 2018 IPCPR tradeshow.  This doesn’t even include his work with Foundation and Southern Draw, for which he is a major part of their manufacturing effort.  However, AJ has not forgotten his fan favorite lines and this year we are pleased to see a new addition to his beloved Bellas Artes line.

AJ announced the new Bellas Artes Maduro at the 2018 IPCPR tradeshow.  It is hand rolled at the legendary Tabacalera AJ Fernandez in the heart of Esteli Nicaragua.  It uses aged Nicaraguan filler tobaccos as well as a rich San Andres binder.  It is then cloaked in a spectacular Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper, which AJ does not normally use but felt was the perfect fit for this cigar.

It’s rich, powerful and almost perfectly constructed.  Each puff delivers a complex plethora of smoke with notes of dark chocolate espresso, and a delectable sweet spice.  This box pressed beauty showcases the versatility of AJ, using tobaccos he didn’t use to in order to create something new and exciting.

The 2018 IPCPR tradeshow has been a rollercoaster, with so many new and exciting cigars that it’s going to be hard to see which one would be my favorite.  However, its safe to assume that the new AJ Fernandez Bellas Artes Maduro is definitely going to be at the top of that list.  Check out this and all other new releases right here at JR Cigars.

Revisiting La Finca Cigars – A genuine JR Classic!

Tuesday, April 24th, 2018

Premium handmade La Finca cigars have been a top-choice with our customers since they made their inaugural debut way back in 1972. Think about it, When these cigars first lined our shelves, Nixon was the president, the Internet was still 20-years away, and your phone was still attached to a wall! And yet, this brand still delights cigar smokers who prefer even their everyday smokes to have outstanding construction and luxury flavors. The cigars get their name from La Finca Vigía in the San Francisco de Paula Ward in Havana, Cuba, this little slice of tropical heaven was one of Fidel Castro’s favorite getaway retreats, as well as being the summer home of Ernest Hemingway. First produced in an era long before “niche” brands and boutique style cigar came to fruition, the fact that La Finca still remains a top-seller is a true testament to its unwavering consistency. This brand also holds the distinction of being one of the least expensive cigars to receive excellent ratings in both “Smoke” and “Cigar Aficionado” magazine. And, speaking of CA, the 5.5 x 44 La Finca Corona was rated a 91 in Cigar Aficionado’s 4th edition buyers guide, making it one of the most highly sought-after smokes in the industry, even surpassing most of the big name high end brands, for a good part of the mid-90s!

La Finca cigars are expertly rolled in Nicaragua with the original recipe that includes both a deep brown and a darker Maduro shade Ecuadorian wrapper over the finest aged Nicaraguan long filler tobaccos. Medium to full in body, the cigars display thick clouds of sweet-smelling smoke and hearty notes of peppery spice, leather, cedar, cocoa, and a healthy dose of roasted nut flavors. The Maduro wrapped variety bring some chocolate, and sweet fruity components to the flavor profile.

The famous La Finca Corona is still alive and kicking along with all the other popular sizes, but the cedar lined boxes have been replaced with 25-count bundles to keep production costs down. Highlighting the lineup is the La Finca Ammo Box that made its debut in 2000 to more than just rave reviews—they sold out in just one day! This ingenious packaging, a first of its kind, features 91 (6.12 x 50) Toro cigars packed in a super-airtight, cedar lined genuine military Ammo box. 18-years later, this one-of-a -kind-offering remains in very high demand.

Today, the industry is thriving with a seemingly endless selection of exciting new brands, but the classic La Finca remains one of the best cigar deals out there. Why not go retro and give these nostalgic smokes a try— we think that you will be pleasantly surprised at how much quality you get for such a budget-friendly price.

 

Alcazar No. 3 Maduro

Friday, September 21st, 2012

I often overlook the lower shelves at the local cigar shop. A couple of weeks ago, I reached down and randomly grabbed the cigar up for review today. I could find very little information on this smoke, so let’s get to it.

 

Wrapper: Connecticut Maduro

Binder & Filler: Nicaragua

Size: 6 x 50

Price: Around $3.00

1 Alcazar_Maduro cigars

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The wrapper was a little rugged looking, but overall no major flaws were noticed. I could detect no smell off of the wrapper and foot. Squeezing the cigar revealed some lumps, but nothing extreme. The draw was a bit stiff, and the pre-light flavor reminded me of hay and earthiness.

The ash held firmly for an inch, and the burn required two minor corrections.

2 Alcazar_Maduro cigars

Flavor:

The first half was earthy and had a touch of leather and hay. A slight pepper was noticed when retrohaling, and it stuck around in the aftertaste. The smoke feel was crisp, but to my surprise, it didn’t leave me craving water.

3 Alcazar_Maduro cigars

The last half developed a slight bitter sweetness. It leaned more towards the bitter side though. Like before, earthiness, hay, and a slight leather rounded things out. Pepper remained the same, as did everything else.

4 Alcazar_Maduro cigars

Conclusion:

What can I say… It was a $3.00 cigar. Construction, burn, and ash were good. The flavor was one dimensional. Basically, this is your run of the mill yard gar. As Ed would say, “It was just another cigar…”

Cigar Tobacco Legislation: Chalk One Up for Us by Tommy Zman

Friday, March 2nd, 2012

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon is a man who knows common sense, and more importantly, knows a propaganda filled, spineless agenda when he sees one.

This past week in a ruling that effects the entire tobacco producing world, Judge Leon told the FDA & the US government that their proposed grotesque graphic labeling of cigarette packaging was indeed: UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

67373892_310335571_Unconstitutional_answer_1_xlarge_xlargeHell, yeah… Here Come Da Judge! (Showing my age with that one right there.)

Several months ago I wrote about Judge Leon’s decision to put a temporary injunction on the FDA’s labeling effort, but now it has come to a head and the gubmint has been given an official smack down – FINALLY – by a guy who understands the Constitution of the United States, and doesn’t take crap when it is doled out in extra-pungent proportions.

In his official 19-page ruling, Leon wrote, “The graphic images here were neither designed to protect the consumer from confusion or deception, nor to increase consumer awareness of smoking risks; rather, they were crafted to evoke a strong emotional response calculated to provoke the viewer to quit or never start smoking.”

Good Lord… someone in Washington actually possesses a brain AND a soul. Somebody get me a JR BRUTO!

It has come down to the fact that the FDA has been found in violation of the First Amendment and even though the ruling was for cigarette packaging, you have to know that if the FDA had won, cigar packaging was to be next in line – desecrating the industry’s ornate boxes and bands while destroying 150 years of tradition in an instant. I think this landmark decision also takes away some of the FDA’s ammo in trying to regulate the cigar industry, showing the public that many of their motives are unscrupulous with an agenda far reaching outside the boundaries of their jurisdiction: meaning the elimination of all tobacco products from the face of the earth (which btw, is my own personal and humble opinion, but you know that I damn-well speak the truth.)

p10b“Although the FDA conveniently refers to these graphic images as ‘graphic warnings,” Leon cited, “characterizing these graphic images as ‘warnings’ is inaccurate and unfair as they are more about shocking and repelling than warning.”

Seriously guys, can you even believe that there’s someone like this even alive in our nation’s Capital? (Hmmmm… maybe a La Gloria Cubana Serie R would be a worthy celebratory smoke…)

Last November, five of the major tobacco manufacturers filed suit against the government, accusing them of violation of their freedom of speech. And, make no mistake about it my Brothers and Sisters of Leafiness, this is indeed a victory in the cigar world’s continual fight against the clueless anti-smoking tyrants who use questionable logic and suspect data to further their “take no prisoners” agenda.

One more very frightening thought to ponder if the Judge had ruled in favor of the vile and offensive labeling is that it would have opened the door for the government to attack other industries in the same manner, such as meat, snack food, desserts, soft drinks, and liquor. And while I applaud the decision of this magistrate, I wonder if he REALLY knows what a profound effect that his ruling has when it comes to Americans rights and freedoms, now and for the future. This is truly HUGE, my friends, and while it is a victory for those who exercise their constitutional right to enjoy a legal adult product, we must all continue to stay vigilant and fight for what we believe to be rightfully ours.

In the closing of U.S. District Judge Richard Leon’s ruling, he says with absolute conviction, “The government has failed to carry both its burden of demonstrating a compelling interest and its burden of demonstrating that the rule is narrowly tailored to achieve a constitutionally permissible form of compelled commercial speech.”

TRANSLATION: Up Yours, Dude.

Stay Smoky My Friends,

TZ.Sig.2

JR Cigars Blog with the Zman

Perdomo Estate Seleccion Vintage 2002 Maduro

Tuesday, February 7th, 2012

After slacking off and missing a review, it was time to try another cigar or two. This blend is the follow up to the Estate Seleccion Vintage 1991. The tobacco is said to be grown in Perdomo’s own farms in 2002, hence the name. As always, I paired this cigar with water.

 

Wrapper: Habano Maduro

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Size: Epicure 6 x 54

Price: $7.60

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The shiny wrapper had no visible flaws, and had some small veins. The smell of the wrapper was sweet and woody. The foot was woody with a slight pepper. The cigar was rock solidly packed, and felt harder towards the foot. The pre-light draw had some resistance, perhaps a little too tight for my liking, and had a dark sweet flavor.

The ash held for about 1.5 inches, and the burn required no corrections.

1 Perdomo_Estate_Seleccion_Vintage_2002_Maduro cigars

Flavor:

The first third started off with a simple coffee flavor. A woody and almost nutty component was noticed after the first inch. Passing smoke through the nose revealed a bit of pepper. At about 1.5 inches a nice maduro sweetness joined in. The smoke feel was very dry, causing me to drink a lot of water. Otherwise the dry feeling wasn’t

2 Perdomo_Estate_Seleccion_Vintage_2002_Maduro cigars

The second third stayed right in the medium bodied range. The main flavor was still coffee. Up next was a sweetness that was like dry cocoa. The pepper remained present but didn’t cause any burning or discomfort. In the background were earthy and woody notes. At the half way point, cocoa took it’s position as the dominant flavor. The dryness eased up a bit and I didn’t feel as parched as before. The draw also loosened up a little, making it more enjoyable to smoke.

3 Perdomo_Estate_Seleccion_Vintage_2002_Maduro cigars

The last third kept that dominant sweet cocoa flavor. The pepper calmed down but kept a little of it’s zing. Actually it was like cocoa and coffee mixed. The sweet spicy aftertaste drowned out the earthy and woody notes I picked up before. While simpler and more straightforward, I enjoyed this third the most.

4 Perdomo_Estate_Seleccion_Vintage_2002_Maduro cigars

Conclusion:

This was a good medium bodied cigar. It was a bit complex and simple at the same time. The flavors were pretty straight forward. I did enjoy the ones I smoked, despite that parched feeling and snug draw in the first third. There was no wow factor here, but I may try this one again from time to time. I think it’s worth trying for a simple and good smoke.

Pig-Skinning-Out on Premium Hand Rolled Cigars! by Tommy Zman

Friday, January 20th, 2012

Last week we talked about ANY excuse to smoke a cigar, but there’s one HUMUNGOUS excuse I’ll always have, and that’s NFL Playoff football. Cigars and football… damn guys, it’s like mac n’ cheese… Starsky n’ Hutch… mashed taters n’ gravy… beer nuts and… well, um… beer. Now being a lifelong New York Giants fan, you can only imagine how I’ve been enjoying the gridiron action so far. With the reaming of Atlanta and the pummeling of the 15 – 1, heavily favored Green Bay Packers, I have admittedly been a horror for anyone to be around who doesn’t bleed blue.

Men with cigars and a football, and a woman with football pads.Now I always break out the premium smokes when there’s hot playoff action on the telly, but when it’s my team winning, I will pass the good stuff around like a proud papa celebrating the birth of a child! And these past two weeks I’ve been like Santa on a month-late run handing out the likes of the Camacho Triple Maduro, Jaime Garcia Reserva Especiale, Montecristo Red, El Rey Del Mundo Real, and some Oliva Cain Daytonas! What am I nuts? No, just a generous BOTL who is enjoying the pigskin madness that only the National Football League can provide.

The unfortunate problem we will forever have up here in northern New Jersey is that it is just frigid outside this time of year, and even heading to the garage for a halftime shortie will undoubtedly freeze some important parts of the anatomical structure. Now come on guys, we’ve been thru this crap for over four years now, and you KNOW that I don’t smoke in the house. Yeah, go on tough guy, call me a wuss, girlie-man, or any kind of insult you’d like, but it’s not gonna change things for me. And I tried getting a really good heater for the garage, but I still freeze my little bag of onions off so I can only really go to a friend’s house where smoking is accepted, or a local cigar shop – and thank God, there are a few by me that I frequent for just these kind of occasions.

So this weekend we have two stellar match-ups: the NFC has My New York Football Giants on the road to take on the defensively tough San Fransisco 49ers, and the AFC has the Baltimore Ravens trying to take down the Patriots Brady Bunch in Foxborough, Massachusetts. If you’re a football hound anything like me, you’ll be glued to the flat screen, tossing epithets at opposing players, coaches, and referees, all while noshing an assorted mix of man-food goodness. (I’ve got a rootbeer pulled pork recipe that’ll knock your taste buds off into another stratosphere. Let me know if you want me to send it.)

tyreeNow these match ups are going to call for some special play selections direct from the JR CIGARS humidor. For the AFC game, your friendly neighborhood Polack is taking the New England Patriots along with a the Alec Bradley American Blend Classic with its Connecticut-seed Honduran wrapper intermingled with a flavorful binder and hearty blend of long fillers from the town of Condega, located in the province of Estelí, Nicaragua, to create a mild-to-medium-bodied, smooth, and creamy smoke with great balance and a sweet cedar finish. As for the NFC, well, you KNOW I’m picking the road dog Giants paired up with a Macanudo Cru Royale GIGANTE! Don’t let the Macanudo name fool you because this dark stick is packed with with a long-filler blend of Brazilian, Nicaraguan, and Dominican Mata Fina tobaccos, a smooth La Vega Especial binder, and a deep, dark, oily Ecuador Habano-seed wrapper. Plus the Blue band goes perfect with a Big Blue victory. (Sorry, dude, I told you I was an obnoxious snob.)

So, I guess what I’m saying is that it’s gonna be a rematch of the 2008 Super Bowl, Patriots vs Giants and I’ll be looking for a repeat of that amazing game. (Can anybody see where that David Tyree fella is at?) Hey, don’t let me get ahead of myself, because it’s only Friday and we’ll see on Monday if the Zman is a champ or a chump. But no matter what happens, I’m gonna be smoking up some serious premium goodness, courtesy of our friends at JR CIGARS! Ahhhh… football and cigars… say, it’s just a hunch, but I bet some ice cold beer would work with this whole shindig, whaddya think?

Stay Smoky My Friends,

TZ.Sig.2

JR Cigars Blog with the Zman

ANY Excuse to Smoke a Cigar… by Tommy Zman

Friday, January 13th, 2012

If you’re anything like me (whoa that’s a scary friggin thought, you’ll have to agree) then you will basically make any excuse whatsoever, anytime, any place, to smoke a good cigar.

Z.BBQ“Hey honey, I’ll be barbequing for 20 minutes,” and that’s all I need to break out a shorty and herf away while I’m grilling up the mid-section of some four-legged carcass. Gonna be in the garage for a little bit? I don’t care what the chore is because my leafy buddy is there by my side, stinkin’ up the joint and keeping me good company. An hour ride in the car alone is excuse enough to grab a big burly stick from the humidor and use it as my navigational device! Any ride of an hour or more requires a kettle sized mug o’ java, some rockin’ tunes on the radio, and a smoldering double corona to signify the passing of every single yard marker.

A few neighbors of mine smoke cigars and what a great excuse to partake while they walk their dogs. When I see one of my buds strolling by their pooch, I quickly throw on my shoes and coat and join in on the festivities. I’ve actually lobbied for a dog for this very reason, but the reality of taking bowzer out and picking up his steaming pile in two feet of snow is not my idea of enjoyment… but at least a good cigar would make it somewhat more enjoyable.

Z.SD_2If my son wants to have a catch or pitch to me, that’s good enough reason to have a stellar stoag hanging from my face. If my neighbor or pal is returning a tool he borrowed, well, I will ALWAYS coax him into kicking back with a single malt and a tasty hand rolled treat from a variety of Latin American countries. Twenty minutes later his nagging wife will be screaming out the door, wanting to know where he mysteriously disappeared to, and unfortunately for him, all the lies in the world can’t cover up the luscious scent of premium aged tobacco lingering from every fiber of his being.

Then there are the blatant made up stories I use, and no matter how much bullshit I toss out as a smoke screen, the wife will always know the real deal. “Hey honey, Jim needs me to help fix his mower, so I’m heading over there for a little bit.” “FIX HIS MOWER?” she’ll yell out in a ‘you’re completely full of Shinola’ voice. “You don’t know how to change a god damned battery in a flash light! You’re going over there to smoke cigars so don’t even try to pull one over on me!” Busted… like every single time. Of course I’ll then get pummeled for being a lazy-ass who just wants to smoke cigars and escape from performing any of my household chores, which is basically true, but why the hell does she have to make me feel so bad about my love for the aged leaf?

photoNow nothing is more enjoyable than a celebration smoke, like when your team wins a big game. The past few weeks I’ve been celebrating the New York Giants latest victories including their decimation of the Atlanta Falcons in round one of the NFL playoffs. Of course this weekend is a MONSTER challenge for my G-men as they take on the Cheese Heads of the Frozen Tundra, but I believe in my team and I’m about to choose some major league celebratory smokes like the Alec Bradley Tempus, Camacho Corojo, or the Bolivar Cofradia. Yeah, I know, decisions, decisions. And if by chance my team doesn’t happen to win, well, you can bet your sweet ash I’ll find some kind of an excuse… ANY kind of an excuse to smoke them anyway!

So hey, share in the comments section here and let me in on YOUR favorite excuse to smoke a cigar! We’re all Brothers (and Sisters) of the Leaf, and your favorite cigar is ALWAYS the one you’re smoking at that very moment. Okay, I can’t take credit for that last one, but it was good enough to repeat!

Til’ net time, Stay Smoky My Friends,

TZ.Sig.2

JR Cigars Blog with the Zman

CIGARS: Why We Like What We Like by Tommy Zman

Friday, January 6th, 2012

I would imagine you guys know me long enough, where it goes without saying that I freakin’ love cigars. (Gee Zman, what a revelation… did your inner Polack just kick in?) Now I’ve been smoking long enough where I know what I like. I know the blends, the wrappers, the flavor profiles and the strength. But for the life of me I can’t figure out why I like what I like. That may sound a little dopey and your answer may be, “who really cares, just STFU and enjoy your stogies, ya fat bastid.” But I’ve been wondering why I like a certain cigar and another guy thinks it dog shmootz.

4479654741_97b4994b39_zI guess you could wonder this about anything: food, alcohol, taste in women, yada, yada, yada, but this query has led me to think about how personal cigar smoking really is. If a guy tells you that he doesn’t like scotch, or liverwurst, or even red heads, no offense is taken whatsoever. (Let me just say that if you don’t like red heads, you are mentally challenged, but please don’t let me stray from the subject at hand.) You just figure it’s his personal choice and that’s all there really is to it. But offer up say perhaps one of your prized stellar maduros to someone and that knuckle-dragging ingrate tells you that it sucks, well you take great offense as if it were a serious personal affront. I’ve seen this on many an occasion in online cigar forums where a guy says he loves a certain brand and then someone else will reply that it’s a hunk of excrement, and suddenly a war of words begins. I even get mad at my own dad when I give him what I think is a nice stick, and if he tells me he didn’t care for it, I get all pissy and tell him to go buy his own friggin cigars!

So when it comes to cigars, why do we like what we like and why are we SO goddamned particular and uppity about it? Hey I don’t know, I’m asking you! You have any concrete thoughts? Cuz I don’t. I know one guy that smokes the strongest cigars on the planet and eats triple maduro / triple ligero for breakfast. He thinks everyone else is an out an out puss for smoking anything less. Then I know an older dude who’s been smoking for 45 years – mild delicate Connecticut shade wrapped cigars, the kind most newbies start off with. I’ll ask him why he doesn’t try bumping up in flavor to a medium bodied cigar, something with a little more depth, complexity, and flavor. And you know what he says to me? “I like what I like.” I know as a fact that the guy dines on a variety of tasty foods and fine wines, but when it comes time to lighting up, it’s that same golden yellow wrapper cigar every damned time.

Picture 8Now for me, personally, it’s all about flavor. From medium to very full bodied is what I like and if I do smoke a lighter wrapper cigar, it’s usually in the morning or before I’ve eaten. Years ago, like most stogie lovers, I dug the mild stuff, but my palate has changed a lot and I just don’t get the flavor I need from a mild cigar. I’m sure many of you reading this are the same, yet, did you know that the basic Macanudo brand is the best selling premium hand rolled cigar in America? That’s because the casual smokers and newbies who smoke on the golf course, while camping, playing poker, etc., those guys want something mild that’s not going to leave them with Satan’s breath the following morning. Complexity means zilch to those guys, as where it means a lot more to us full time leaf-ionados. (That’s some writer’s license used right there, keep on reading….) Although I will say that complexity is definitely not as important to me as a cigar just having good flavor. There are certain sticks, like take the Cain Habano for instance, that really just has a nice medium to full flavor profile straight through and I’m totally fine with that. But then there’s times I have an expensive scotch or full bodied wine and I’ll reach for maybe an Ashton VSG to compliment the complexity of what I’m drinking.

Hey, I guess when it comes down to it, there really is no right or wrong answer, we really do just “like what we like” when it comes to cigars and I have to say upon final reflection that I’m totally cool with that. But if you tell me you don’t like red heads, I can assure you that you do indeed have some sort of mental blockage.

Happy New Year, Home Boys & Gals,

TZ.Sig.2

JR Cigars Blog with the Zman

A Smoky Goodbye to 2011 by Tommy Zman

Friday, December 30th, 2011

First off, wish me a happy birthday, ya slugs! Yeah, it’s today, December 30 and I don’t smell a day over 40.

Okay, I seriously ask you guys, how can it possibly be the end of another year? I remember celebrating the new millennium like it was yesterday and now that’s a dozen years ago? This is crazy! And now we’re facing a glitch in the Mayan calendar, hoping and praying that these ancient knuckleheads simply ran out of paper.

goodbye_2011-saidaonlineA hell of a lot of crap happened during the course of 2011, way too much to talk about in detail, so I might as well just stick with the cigar happenings. First off, the good people here at JR Cigars gave Steve Nathan and I our own YouTube show where we get to entertain and spread the cigar knowledge to the world. The feeling of power is somewhat overwhelming, and gratifying all-the-same. Of course when you mix a ranting, psycho Polack with a chemically imbalanced Debbie Downer of a cigar training manager, you’re going to create a chemistry that is horribly unpleasant, yet for some unexplainable reason, you just can’t stop looking at it. I’ll take that as a compliment, thank you.

As far as cigars go, JR went completely bonkers bringing in a plethora of new brands to the company, the brands you’ve been asking for, ie; Rocky Patel, My Father, Don Pepin, Jaime Garcia, NUB, La Flor Dominicana, Alec Bradley, Oliva, VegaFina, EP Carillo, CAO OSA Sol, Macanudo Cru Royale! Yeah, the list is long and deep and I personally couldn’t be happier. I am definitely gonna celebrate the new year in JR style with more smokes than I could have ever imagined enjoying. Sweet!

cra-logo-colorNow, while the good stuff was certainly good, the bad stuff was incredibly annoying. The Food and Drug Administration decided they wanted to regulate the cigar industry, treating our precious smokes in the same way that they scrutinize cigarettes. If these politico nightmares get their way, an entire industry that employs some 85,000 people will be in for the fight of their lives – so it’s up to us to fight these clueless numbskulls with every last ounce of smoke that we’ve got! January 19 is now the date that the FDA will stop taking feedback from the public on this matter and it’s up to us to make as much noise as we possibly can until then!

And now you’ve got these stooges on the Orange Bowl committee who have been bamboozled by the ancient and out of touch Frank Louseyburg of NJ and his smoke Nazi cronies. Our good friends at Camacho Cigars had a 3-year deal with the Orange Bowl to be an official sponsor of the game which included outdoor smoking lounges at the event. But three holier than thou senators stirred up a bunch of health organizations and bullied the Orange Bowl Committee and the NCAA, getting Camacho tossed out as a sponsor! Of course the Bowl organizers used the lame and shameless excuse of what a poor message a cigar company would send to kids, but somehow it’s okay for collegiate sports to advertise alcohol, fast food, and the pill that makes you call the doctor after 4 hours. From what I understand, a rum company is an official sponsor of the game, which is a hypocrisy that has us all shaking our heads. What kind of message does consuming alcohol send to our children? The message is simple: when enjoyed responsibly by adults in moderation, all of these grown-up products should be allowed to do business under the name of freedom in these here United States of America.

So what’s up for 2012? Well this FDA thing is looming and we need to educate, get the word out, and fight these fascist legislators with everything we’ve got. And while the crap keeps hitting the proverbial fan with new anti-smoking laws and continual tax hikes on our cigars, new brands will continue to come out this year as our industry will stick together like never before.

So, that’s it from the great state of Jersey, guys. You and I will be talking again next year for sure!

TZ.Sig.2

JR Cigars Blog with the Zman

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