2013 – A New Year for Enjoying Our Beloved Cigars, by Tommy Zman
I had boldly claimed on several occasions that the ancient Mayans enjoyed a little too much fire water and that their hokey calendar was basically stolen from the design on the Oreo cookie. End of the world, my ash - hey, they didn’t account for Leap 
Year, so according to those crazy savages the world should have imploded seven years ago. Now they know what Harold Camping feels like.
So now that we’re past that annoying twenty-twelve doomsday crapola, it’s time to move onto 2013. There’s no denying that the end of this year presented us with some painful events that not only shook our country, but the entire world. While many enjoy looking ahead to a new year filled with hope and ambition, many others revel in the fact that the present year is about to go away forever, and sometimes that’s what we need, enabling all of us to move forward. But no matter how you look at it, 2013 is upon us and I say we embrace it with the lighting of a good cigar.
I think this past year was a great year for the cigar industry as many new blends hit the market while Cigar Rights of America made some tremendous headway in their fight against the FDA. Their petition hit the 200,000 mark as cigar smokers have sent a loud message to our government that clearly says to leave our beloved hand-rolled sticks alone. We’ve had enough with over intrusive political putz’s messing with our rights and personal freedoms, and the CRA has gallantly rallied cigar lovers from Maine to New Mexico, sending the message that ENOUGH is definitely ENOUGH!
As far as excellent new cigars that have entered the JR line up this past year, I have a couple of personal faves and recommendations for you right here…
The San Lotano Oval is one hell of a flavorful smoke and if you haven’t tried it, I suggest that the time has come. This interestingly shaped premium cigar is made with the finest leaf grown and patiently aged by A.J. Fernandez, a third-generation cigar maker whose roots began in Cuba. Featuring Honduran and Nicaraguan fillers combined with a special secret ingredient, and a four-year-old Habana 2000 wrapper, the Oval has become a favorite for many experienced smokers and has drawn high marks and praise from basically all of the cigar lifestyle publications.
Another great new cigar at JR that surprised the bejeezuz out of me was the CAO Concert Series. This medium bodied stick features various Honduran and Nicaraguan filler tobaccos that work in perfect harmony with an eye-catching Ecuador Habano Rosado wrapper. With its initial note of pepper followed by a mellow sweetness, this cigar has complexity, a long finish, and a heck of a lot of delicious tobacco flavor. A must try, if you like well rolled cigars with unforgettable taste.
So goodbye 2012 and hello 2013. And while Dick Clark will no longer be ringing in the new year, we move onward and upward with the hope and ambition that has always driven us forward in our lives. Keep moving your feet and I believe that good things are bound to happen.
I wish all our friends and fans an excellent New Year and may we all continue to enjoy the hand rolled leafy pleasures that hail from Latin America. When I say “Smoke ‘em cuz ya gottem”, I mean it, people!
A Happy New Year to You All,
JR Cigars Blog with the Zman
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