Episode 168: La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor

La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor

La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor “Magnifico” – 6”X52; A cigar we’ve talked about at various times over the years, these run about $7.50 for singles in Tampa, and $6.75/ea by the box.  San Andres Mexican wrapper grown from Cuban seed with Nicaraguan fillers & binder.

Cigar News

* In a move that shouldn’t be unexpected to anyone, CAA, CRA, and IPCPR filed a motion for injunction against the upcoming FDA requirements.  The motion asserts that the labeling requirements are onerous and unconstitutional in their scope, as well as several other assertions.  Additionally, the groups allege that the omission of the same requirements on the e-cigarette industry violate existing law in the equal protection clauses – which are spelled out in the 5th and 14th amendment.  This assertion falls beneath 5th amendment protection in that rights may not be denied without due process (i.e. the requirements being enforced unequally).  There are other items listed in the motion, such as the inclusion of tobacco retailers who blend pipe tobacco as “tobacco product manufacturers.”  Specifically, the groups ask that the court:

* Vacate and set aside the:

Warning labels

Classification of retailers who blend pipe tobacco as manufacturers

FDA’s definition of “component or part” to include pipes

* Vacate and set aside the user fee

* Declare the deeming rule violates the first amendment

* Enter a permanent injunction on the warning label requirement

* Enter a permanent injunction from implementing or enforcing the other challenged aspects of the deeming rule

* Enter a permanent injunction against the user fees

* Award plaintiffs their attorneys fees

* Following the devastating damage left behind by Hurricane Irma, TAA is opting to relocate this year’s gathering to La Romana, RD.  It was slated to be in St. Maarten, but with the near certainty that the island will not be fully back in business by April, a decision was made to move the annual meeting.

* In a familiar storyline, Drew Estate has recently had a truckload of cigars stolen.  The scenario is very similar to a shipment of Arturo Fuente cigars that were stolen this past April.  Like the first time, this truck was taken in the Miami area.  Drew Estate put out the notice to inform the public – but also for retailers to be on the lookout for anyone offering discount rates on DE cigars.  The specific cigars taken on the truck were Tabak Especial and Undercrown Shade.

* Tatuaje has announced this year’s “Unlucky 13” retailers who will receive the bulk of the line’s dress boxes.  The cigar is the “Michael” this year, based on the Halloween series of movies’ protagonist Michael Myers.  Of course, if you don’t want the hassle of trying to track down and pay double or triple the MSRP for a dress box, there will be a number of regular boxes as well.  As always, there will be 666 numbered dress boxes – but the standard boxes will number around 5000.  The cigar will come in a singular 6.5” x 52 vitola this year, and feature an Ecuadoran habano wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler mix.  It is set to retailer at $13 per cigar.  I won’t drone on with the whole list here on the show, but will post the designated retailers in the notes…

What Else We’ve Been Smoking

Craig

RASCC– So so good. Such a fruit centric Ramon Allones. Fruity & Nuts (whose?). It’s like my own personal trail mix I light on fire!

Cab Maduro Guapos OR!

Kip

El Artista “Pulita” – a solid offering, probably my favorite ever from this factory (home of David Ortiz’s “Big Papi”).  That being said, I haven’t beaten down any doors trying to find more.  

I’ve probably had fewer cigars the past 30 days than any other month these past...