Battling Taxes and Political Correctness
Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 5:06AM BREAKING NEWS…1 July…Jose Ortega has resigned as Vice President of Sales at Reyes Family Cigars (Puros Indios, Cuba Aliados). Methinks he will join the Garcias’ My Family Cigar Company, and work in tandem with John Gonzalez, the present Vice President of Sales. I would not be surprised to see the rapidly expanding Garcia enterprise divide sales responsibility between the two, with one focusing on domestic sales and the other focusing on internation sales.
When Reyes Family Cigars will announce Ortega’s departure; I have no idea. Nor do I have any idea when My Father Cigar will announce that he has joined them.
Speaking of the Garcia family…they are working with Michael Herklots, General Manager of Davidoff of Geneva in New York City, on a private blend for the shops he runs in NYC. Of course, the work continues on the Limitada – 20,000 one-off cigars bunched by Jaime and ‘wrapped’ by Pepin. These will be sold in boxes of twelve. I would say that their distribution will be limited and those retail tobacconists that will be offered them should take as many boxes as they can get. Once they are gone; they are gone!
These are the things we know about; but, Pepin and Jaime are always creating new blends, conceiving new cigars. We just have to wait and see what the future brings from The House of Garcia…oops, My Family Cigars.
Political Correctness distorts history…The banner hovering over a London Museum featuring an historical exhibit, concerning World War II, shows an image of Winston S. L. Churchill, England’s wartime Prime Minister in his Air Marshall’s uniform, making his famous ‘V’ for Victory sign with his right hand. An as yet unknown individual chose to digitally remove Churchill’s equally famous cigar from the left hand corner of his mouth!
Churchill is reputed to have smoked 300,000 cigars in his 85 years. Lord Moran, Churchill’s personal physian, in his memoir, noted that the PM rarely smoked more than half of a cigar. Nonetheless, the cigar was ubiquitous. Almost every photo of Churchill shows him with a cigar.
Churchill smoked cigars! Now, the cretins, opposed to smoking and unaware of the sanctity of history are trying to alter history to conform to their skewed views and desires.
At the FDR Memorial in Washington, D.C., PETA, the anti-mink coat brigade, wanted Eleanor Roosevelt’s Stole Martin removed from around her neck, and others did not like the fact the FDR was portrayed in a wheel chair.
Mrs. Roosevelt, like Churchill with the cigar, was most often seen wearing a Stole Martin. Roosevelt was frequently, albeit not in public, in a wheel chair.
What is wrong with any of that? These people should be pilloried for their effort to make the past conform to their bizarre view of the present.
I was telling this story to a friend while at Sabor Havana (2600 N.W. 87th Avenue, Doral, FL – 305.436.8860 – www.saborhavana.com) and he told me that “PETA” means People Eating Tasty Animals…now I may join!
The story, in my last column, about the father and son reconciled over cigars, resonated with a lot of people. I had several requests from tobacconists and web sites, to reprint the story. Obviously, it was very appropriate for Father's Day. It is, nonetheless, just one of many stories associated with cigars...stories of friendships, adventures, travels and fellowship, all built around cigars. What with the response to the earlier story; I will, occasionally, include other such stories here.
William C. Paley hosted…a terrific Pre-Launch cocktail party on the roof of the Empire Hotel on Thursday, 17 June, for his La Palina cigar. The party, elegantly done, as one would expect of a gentleman like Bill and his vivacious wife, Alison, was well attended by cigar writers such as Greg Mottola, David Savona and many, many bloggers. The guests included a clutch of ‘society figures’, many related to, and all good friends of Bill Paley.
Everyone, well almost everyone, was smoking the La Palina 1896, the first of the extensive line to be shipped.
Albeit, I was only in NYC for the event, and breakfast Friday with my son, I got to see several friends, including Colin Ganley, Michael Herklots, George Brightman, Ron Melendi, Glynn Loope, Aaron Moses and many, many others, at the New York Tobacconists Association Press Conference on Friday, 18 June. It was held at De La Concha (1390 Avenue of the Americas, NYC, NY 10019 – 212.757.3167 – www.delaconcha.com).
The cigar ‘community’ truly includes some of the most interesting and most civilized people I know. And, most of these acquaintanceships began in the lounges of tobacconists all over the country and the world.
The New York State Tobacconists Association is headed by Ron Melendi of De La Concha. They were meeting as part of the effort to prevent the passage of a new, higher tax on OTP (75%), which was, unfortunately passed.
It is most unfortunate that hardly any industry group, not IPCPR; not CAA offered any real assistance nor even communicated to the NYSTA during their battle against this onerous and odious OTP tax – threatened at 90%; enacted at 75%.
Those two organizations need to open their windows, and let in some fresh air…and energy. Joel Rowe at IPCPR and Norman Sharp at CAA have sinecures, not jobs. If they had real jobs…they would be doing something on behalf of their constituencies; on behalf of the industry and on behalf of smokers.
I am happy to offer space here, at any time, for them to tell me what it is they do; what they have accomplished.
Ron Melendi and his tobacconist cohorts in NYS fought this battle by themselves, with only the help of Glynn Loope, Executive Director of Cigar Rights of America. It seems to me that if we smokers want to continue to smoke, as a matter of free choice; CRA is our only hope. Industry trade groups and their hired minions are just there to sit and put out the occasional press release bemoaning the state of our declining freedom to smoke. Do something? That would take effort and ideas; so, no thank you, they’ll take a pass on that.
I found this rather incongruous statement in the “About Us” section of the IPCPR web site:
The IPCPR:
- provides its members with assistance to fight repressive and onerous tobacco legislation at all levels.
I don’t think the New York State Tobacconists Assocation got anything that could be described as “assistance” from IPCPR!
The Cigar Association of America site pretty much says nothing; in keeping with what they and their Executive Director, Norman Sharp, do for the industry and the smoker.
Looks like my friend Abe Flores has managed to take some time away from his factory in Santiago, DR to do some Pinar del Rio events. I haven’t been able to make any of them yet, but, I told Abe this evening, in an e-mail, I would go anywhere in Florida in order to see him and smoke them.
I met Abe several years ago at Eddie Ortega’s office and we have been friends ever since. His early cigars were not for me. Not that they were not good; they were just not the profile I prefer and seek. I believe, firmly, today, Pinar del Rio makes cigars to suit every palate.
Talking about companies making additional blends, Mederos has just produced a cigar with an oscuro wrapper that is really excellent. I got my hands on a handful of the Churchills – exquisite to look at, beautifully constructed. The flavour in nuanced and complex (Although I didn’t taste tomatoes, wood, dirty socks, etc) and it all makes for a relaxing, enjoyable smoke.
Regrettably, I missed the La Palina Launch event in Washington, DC – on 24 June due to my longstanding commitment to show Mateo Posada NYC. But, my sources tell me it was a great event; William C. Paley, being a great host; and the La Palina cigars being the star of the show. It is certainly a proven fact that Goldie Drell Paley - the La Palina image for more than 100 years - could host a party. Now Bill Paley and Courtney Smith are buckling down to the task of selling the cigars. Admittedly, at $19.00 each for the 1896 Robusto, it is not a cigar for everyone; but I don't think Bill wants it everywhere. Only the finest tobacconists will carry La Palina; and only the most discerning smokers will make it their daily smoke.
I hope the production can keep up with the demand that those discerning smokers will create.
After spending Monday, 21 June with all three of the Perez-Carrillos involved in the new E. P. Carrillo Cigar Company, it was a surprise and a pleasure to catch up with Ernesto and Ernie, Thursday evening at the Carnegie Club, in New York City, where they were relaxing, imbibing and smoking, with Greg Mottola of Cigar Aficonado after dinner at Peter Luger's. Of course, EPC was imbibing a Virgin Mary!
I had had drinks with Michael Herklots at the Grand Havana Room and then proceeded to dinner with Christian Aliperti, CRA Ambassador Extraordinaire and my nieto, Mateo Posada (On his first ever visit to NYC). We were to dine at TAO, until I discovered it was more disco than restaurant and not worth the long wait, I sensed, it would be for our table – even with the booking. So, it was off to Rothman's Steak House for a terrific dinner of various cuts of excellent red meat! From there, Mateo proceed back to the hotel and Christian and I joined the gents at the Carnegie Club...until the wee hours of the morning.
After my Monday meeting with Ernesto and Ernie, Ernesto gave me a cigar to smoke, which I got to on Tuesday evening. Rather than recount my thoughts about it, I will insert the e-mail I sent Ernesto:
Exquisite to look at; beautiful to smoke. Enough spice and substance for me; not too much for anyone. Burned perfectly. The burn line stayed even (around the circumference) throughout the smoke.
I had to use my roach clip to finish it!
As always,
G~
Gary J. Arzt
Mobile: 561.212.5104
I’ve got an interesting little story about a little man who headed a nascent cigar company, or so we thought.
He was to meet me one evening at a South Florida cigar emporium and lounge, where there was a Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial event that included the presence of Pepin Garcia, the pater familias of that extraordinary family, Jaime Garcia, Pepin’s son as well as the effervescent Janny…Pepin’s daughter.
The gentleman in question had just resigned his position at the cigar company. Instead of showing up, he called and left a voice message (I couldn’t hear my phone ring in the din that 150+ people at the event created) as follows:
“I am not going to make it. I fielded 1,000,000 calls today. Everyone wanted to know what happened. And, it's Pepin’s moment, I don’t want to steal the spotlight. I know everyone in the industry is there, and they’ll all want to know what happened.”
My thoughts came at break neck speed: What has he been smoking! If I am, per se, in the industry, then I was the “everyone…” he was referring to. Steal the spotlight from Pepin Garcia – not likely! Not many were aware of his presence in the industry; hardly anyone will notice his absence.
Is that chutzpah? Cojones? Just plain old egotism?
If anyone can guess the name of this gent and the brand he was involved with, drop me an e-mail (GJArzt9801@aol.com) and, if you are correct, I will send you a box of Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial cigars!
My friend, Christian Aliperti, a CRA Ambassador, and a very active and dedicated one at that, sent me his comments on the new Cohiba Behike 52. As I won’t bother to obtain and smoke one, I thought I would include them here, for those of you clamouring to smoke it and unable to obtain it. In the past, I have found Christian’s assessments to be very reliable.
Dry draw gave off rich tobacco and some spicy notes. Upon lighting initial tastes were toasty/nutty flavors with a creamy texture. Interestingly as I progressed to the second third of the smoke it developed into a fuller flavored cigar with rich tobacco notes and an underlying spiciness on the tongue. This is much different than most of the regular line Cohiba's I have smoked. The last third I picked up that nutty flavor again along with more subtle tobacco and that creaminess which started the cigar. The finished smacked of fresh tobacco and I smoked this cigar to the nub. I enjoyed this cigar and glad the hype wasn't total BS. Worth the price? Well you know that is always debatable but I liked it and that's what it's all about, right? Talk to you soon!
In spite of the fact that I no longer consider Cuban cigars to be the benchmark, I have decided to attend the 2011 Festival de Habanos. It has been several years since I was in Havana for a Festival. I suppose I am going, as much, to see old friends as I am to smoke myself silly on Havanas!
Drew Estate’s Cigar Safari has become a very popular way to visit Nicaragua, learn about cigars and tobacco and have a terrific time.
Bob McDuffee, of CigarMedia.tv and Colin Ganley, of European Cigar Journal shepherded a group of people on one last year. I was told by several people on the trip how terrific it was, and how great they were as hosts/guides, whatever.
I think I can do it better!
On 7 November through 10 November a small group of my friends, and I (Should be ‘me’ but I hate the way it sounds) will be going to Nicaragua and doing the Cigar Safari. Anyone, well not just ‘anyone’, who might wish to join us, can get in touch with me at GJArzt9801@aol.com and I will send you the details.
I once made a cigar, in conjunction with Augusto Reyes. It was, appropriately enough, called Arzt de los Reyes. That was in 1997 and due to poor timing on my part; the cigar was doomed to failure, in spite of initially placing it in 144 retail tobacconists. For the moment accept that it was a good cigar. I now have one thirteen year old cigar left! It has been properly stalled all these years – it is the last man standing, so to speak.
I am constantly thinking of smoking it. Then I think I should just hold on to it.
Do you have any suggestions or thoughts on the question?
THIS AND THAT...thinking about those Cigar of the Year ratings, it occurred to me; how exciting would the Nobel Peace Prize be, if the same person won it every year?
The La Palina blog at www.lapalinacigars.com has a very interesting commentary by William C. Paley and his thoughts on cigar smoking.
As if there wasn’t enough that seems bizarre about Illusione and Dion Giolito’s ‘beliefs’, and graphics, we now have an ad with images of the reputed Roswell, New Mexico ‘aliens’ of 1947.
Someone told me that the Padilla Lounge and factory finally has rollers. Not so. The Padilla Lounge and factory still has hardly anyone there…not even Ernie Padilla.
New York City’s Department of Health has mandated signage to appear in NYC Tobacconists. At the same time, the same Department is publishing a booklet on how to properly inject heroin. That makes sense, doesn’t it!
“Cigarettes are for chain-smoking; cigars must be smoked one at a time, peaceably, with all the leisure in the world. Cigarettes are of the instant, cigars are for eternity."
G. Cabera Infante, Cuban novelist
Reader Comments (2)
Gary,
As always, I enjoy your articles, news and exploits!
You could not be more correct that our one, best hope for diligently fighting the tobacco bans and taxes will be the CRA. Every cigar smoker needs to join and support this effort.
On the other hand, I must point out one minor error in your report on Cigar Safari. I have no doubt you can probably surpass our Expedition Esteli 2010 trip in some ways. However, it is not just Bob you are aiming to shame. It was DogWatch Cigar Radio, both Bob & I that sponsored and led that trip with Colin.
Looking forward to seeing you in NOLA soon!
Dale
As always Gary spot on with up to date info. It's always refreshing to hear you speak the truth regarding taxation and fighting for our rights to enjoy the pleasures of life. My resolve to fight these issues continues to be strong and I will not let politicians and others forget the things they do especially when election time rolls around. Enjoy your stay in office people it will be short lived!