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Bundle Cigars; Survey: Cigar Communities; Rating Criteria
(Posted March 2, 2004)
Next issue: April 6, 2004
*** IN THIS ISSUE ***
1.
Feature Story: Buying Bundle Cigars
2. Survey Says: Do you belong to a cigar community or group?
3. Smoker's Ed (Cigar Terms & Tips): Cigar Rating Criteria Defined
4. Rating Lunatic: Famous Buenos Maduritos; Talanga Valley Toro; C.A.O eXtreme Corona;
Partagas Spanish Rosado Familia; The Griffin's Robusto
5. Cigars in the News: More on the Govt., Cigars And Smoking Bans
6. Site Improvements: Sampler search; Shipping rates; Customer ratings
7. Eyes on the Prize: Celebrity and Customer Cigar Sightings
*** FEATURE STORY ***
Buying Bundle Cigars
Now that the weather is warming up in most of the country, chances
are many of you will be smoking more cigars. That also means many of
you will be buying more cigars including bundle cigars to supplement
your regular cigars and help keep your cigar budget under control.
Part 1 - Bundles Defined
For the uninitiated of you curious about these un-banded cello-wrapped
packages, you probably have your own ideas about what these cigars really
are, where they come from, who smokes them and how they're made, among
others. Actually, if it weren't for bundles, there may not be much of a
cigar business at all. Having first appeared in the 1960s, today bundles
have become a very practical and economical way for customers to find
good alternatives to their regular cigars.
First, let's clear up the difference between "seconds" and "bundles."
"Seconds" are "ungraded" or "unselected" cigars that didn't meet the
manufacturer's standards as "firsts" due to minor flaws in the wrapper,
the wrapper's color or the overall construction of the cigar itself. That
doesn't mean the cigars are bad, they're just not "up to snuff" (you'll
pardon the expression). Because these cigars are still high enough in
quality to sell, they're packaged in bundles and sold to retailers at
reduced cost.
"Bundles" are cigars made specifically to sell as "no-name" cigars, but as
mentioned above, they can also be "seconds." Another way cigars get to be
bundled is if a manufacturer has an overrun on a particular size. Bundles
are sometimes identified by the country of origin, like "Nicaraguan Bundles"
or "Honduran Bundles." Sometimes these bundles are "one-time only" closeout
deals or in many cases, they are regularly produced to be marketed as bundle
labels complete with their own bands. Good examples of these brands are Flor
De Oliva, National Brand, Andros and La Floridita. Some retailers,
like Famous Smoke Shop contract with manufacturers to create their own
exclusive house brand bundles, such as our Famous "Value Line" cigars,
Oliva Segundos and Dominique. In fact, some of the best cigar makers in
the business like U.S. Cigar, General Cigar, Villazon, Toraño and Plasencia,
make bundle cigars so, in actuality, both "firsts" and "seconds" are sold
as bundles. Private Stock cigars (made in the Davidoff factory) are an
exception in that they are "ungraded" but sold in bôite nature boxes.
Since many bundles are "unmarked," when buying bundles or seconds it's
important that you read the catalog or online descriptions of the cigars
so you know what you're getting. And don't be afraid to ask questions.
Part 2 - Choosing a Good Bundle
Some things to consider when buying bundles, even if you know they came
from a highly respected cigar maker:
1) The cigar wrappers often do not match in color.
2) The taste may be inconsistent.
3) Some bundles are machine made and some are made with short or mixed
filler tobaccos.
When it comes to inspecting a bundle cigar, you start with a disadvantage.
Because of the way bundles are packaged, you can't just pick one up and
check it out like you would a boxed cigar, although some retail stores do
break up bundles to be sold as singles. Probably the only thing you can
do is inspect the package to see if the cigars have been bruised, ripped
or squished. So what else CAN you do? Several things:
1. Always try to buy bundles that contain long leaf filler. (Most premium
bundles do.)
2. Check the blends. Chances are if the blend and body is similar to what
you already smoke, you may also like that bundle.
3. Shop by Country: If you like Honduran blends, you may want to go for an
un-banded bundle labeled "Honduran Bundles." The same would go for other
no-name bundles, such as "Nicaraguan Closeouts," "Dominican Seconds,"
etc. Chances are these cigars are over-runs made in some of the best
factories and are usually available in natural and maduro wrappers.
4. Try a "private" blend such as those made specifically for the retailer
or labels the merchant has purchased as an exclusive. We've got some
good ones right here: Dominique, La Floridita, Tabamex, and our Famous
Value Line series, to name a few.
5. Read & Learn: Carefully read the descriptions and the customer comments
about each bundle. Sometimes the copy will indicate the factory or
company who produced the cigars and can often be the deciding factor
in choosing a bundle. Some good examples of the latter are National Brand
(Baccarat), El Credito (La Gloria Cubana), Primo Del Cristo (Plasencia),
Matacan (Te Amo) and my personal favorite, Flor De Oliva (Oliva).
Not unlike finding any good premium cigar, finding a good bundle takes
some experimentation. Don't let price fool you, either. Price can be
determined by any number of reasons, from what the retailer paid for the
cigars to just wanting to move merchandise quickly. Though some bundles
may be closer in price to boxed cigars, there are some really excellent
buys at $19.95 and $24.95 a bundle.
(_[@]__{{~
*** SURVEY SAYS DEPT. ***
Do you belong to an online cigar community/group or bulletin board?
If so, which one/s and how often do you participate?
1. Daily - How many times a day?
2. Weekly - How many times a week?
3. Monthly - How many times a month?
4. Rarely
Send an email to: and in the SUBJECT line type or copy & paste, "cigar groups" and in the message area, please
indicate how often from the list above. As always, your comments are welcome.
Survey Results for February 3rd: What type of cutter do you prefer for cutting your cigars?
As usual, the results were interesting and surprising. If a respondent
equally preferred two cutters I gave them each a vote. With 194 responses
and 201 votes in, the hands-down winner was the double-blade cutter with
100 votes (50%).
I also noticed specific references by name to the XiKar cutters. As an
owner of a XiKar, I can relate to the "pride" that goes along with owning
one. They really live up to their advertising. The punch/bullet type came
in second with 66 votes (33%) and I was glad to see a decent number of
votes for the V-cutter. Scissors actually scored higher than single-blade
cutters with 7 votes, while the knife and teeth only recieved 2 votes each.
Finally, a new category presented itself with a single vote: fingernails.
Single-blade guillotine: 6
Double-blade: 100
Punch (bullet, lance, etc.): 66
V-cutter: 17
Scissors: 7
Knife: 2
Teeth: 2
Fingernails (new category!): 1
Below are some reader replies making a case for their preferences:
It sort of depends where I`m at and who I`m with and the shape of the
cigar. The punch or knife works well with the blunt ends, etc. Normally
I prefer my teeth (or my cutting tooth) as it gives me a personal touch
and feel for what I look forward to when lighting up. - Frank Star
V-cutter. I like the feel on the tongue. - David Dennis
I usually use a double blade guillotine cutter. My preference for the
ease, weight and protected blades when not in use...for carrying in my
pocket. - Jason
The single blade gives me more control and is more suitable for different
heads: flat, tapered, round. The double blade cutter makes it harder to
line up the cigar for a nice, straight cut. I've never used the punch,
scissors or v-cutters. - Bob Landry
I use a bullet type cutter .. Being a woman .. I prefer not to have the
entire cigar with the full cut end in my mouth. [Wink] It seems to smoke
better also .. For me at least. - Mickel
The double blade cutter is the best. I gives you a good clean cut with
very little distortion to the cigar. - Daryl G. Arnold
Own and have used them all but the double blade guillotine gives
consistently the cleanest cut and least tar build up around the cut
when you smoke em. Have a collection of stogie cutters from the late
1800s and turn of the century; fun stuff and my cigar buddies enjoy
studying them also. - D. Mangotti
I have to say that I'm the BIGGEST fan of the V-cut on my cigars. I have
guillotined (probably not a word, I know) and punched, but without a doubt,
the draw and evenness of burn that result from my V-cut is the best. I've
even picked up a lighter with the built-in V-cutter. V-cutters don't last
nearly as long as the punch and guillotine cutters, for sure, but it's
worth going through them at a good rate for the sheer enjoyment of the draw
they give. - P.M. in California
My first choice are the scissors. It provides a very nice trim, and the
rounded blades insures there's a good, secure cut with no bunching or
tearing of the cap. My second choice is the scissors that came with my
Swiss Army knife. It's their smallest knife, and the small scissors are
just right to carefully cut the top of the cap off without disturbing the
tobacco underneath. - Gary Smith
I use a Swiss Army Knife cigar cutter. I've cut over 3,000 cigars with
mine and it still offers a perfect cut every time. - Glenn R.
Cigar Terms & Tips (Collect and trade em'!)
Holder - Cigar holders are an interesting affectation and collectible,
but true aficionados let nothing come between their lips and the head
of a cigar they're smoking. George Burns used a holder for his cigars.
Cigar Rating Criteria Defined
Is it possible to include definitions of the terms used in cigar rating?
I've been smoking cigars for years and I just recently found out what a
"short finish" means. It would be nice to know what the raters really
mean. Thanks.
- Lenny L Hom
When rating cigars, there are five primary categories and several
additional factors:
1. Overall Appearance: The consistency of wrapper color, uniformity of
the wrapping, oiliness and/or sheen of the wrapper leaf.
2. Draw: How easy or difficult is it to draw smoke through the cigar.
3. Burn Rate: Too slow, too fast, uneven. Did it "canoe" or "tunnel"?
4. Construction: (too loose, too tight, wrapper unwraps during smoking)
5. Taste: Smooth, bitter, creamy, light, powerful. At what point did
these "tastes" present themselves?: 1/3, 1/2, 3/4 or throughout the entire
smoke. For instance: The cigar may have started out with a light pleasant
taste but turned bitter halfway through smoking. Some cigars, like the
Fuente Don Carlos or Joya De Nicaragua Antaño 1970 start out very spicy
and eventually "round out" to a very smooth smoke.
But wait, there's more!
6. Aroma: Mellow, burly, sweet, woody, spicy. How did the aroma affect the
"taste" of the cigar and/or your experience?
7. Complexity: This factor would also be part of the Taste criteria. Some
cigars have a "rich, complex taste" from start to finish, while others
build in complexity as they smoke. The complexity is primarily determined
by the blend. How many "flavors" or nuances you taste in the smoke and/or
the "finish" helps you determine how complex, or not, the cigar is.
8. Finish: This is determined by the flavors left on the palate after
taking a puff. Lighter cigars tend to have very little finish or what's
sometimes called a "short finish," whereas cigars made with richer tasting
tobaccos have a very distinct or "long finish," in which the flavors linger
on the tongue. For example, a "spicy" finish doesn't necessarily mean spicy
in the hot-sauce sense, although it can. In many cases it can mean spices
associated more with baking like cinnamon or nutmeg.
Note that aroma, complexity and finish have more to do with the sensitivity
of your taste buds than anything else. This is also why some cigar smokers
can taste flavors like nutmeg, toast, leather, wood, berries, etc. in their
cigars. (Read this month's cigar reviews to see what I mean.)
(_[@]__{{~
Tip: Cutting wide ring cigars
In your email, I was reading about the guy who was having a problem cutting
a 58 ring gauge cigar with a guillotine type cutter. Solution: place open
cutter on flat surface, piece of paper or a magazine underneath, place
cigar into cutter standing straight up & down, while holding cigar down,
close cutter. Done.
P. S. For what it's worth, I've easily cut 60 ring gauge cigars this way,
and I actually use this method on all ring gauges, since it produces such
a consistently thin & straight cut. And to protect the wrapper during
cutting, hold the cigar down by pressing on the top of the cigar, not by
squeezing the sides. Pass it along if you like. Either way, I thought
I'd share, and thanks for everything.
- Al Cohen (Allentown, PA)
*** SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DEPT.***
Have a question about the care and feeding of your cigars or another
cigar-related topic? Send your questions and comments to me at: . I will try to respond as quickly as possible, but some replies may take a few days.
Subcribe To Famous Smoke Shop-Talk
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“Shop-Talk” Archives
Want to catch up on your Famous Smoke "Shop Talk" reading or reference an article, tip, or other bit of information that appeared in a past issue? Go to our Famous Smoke “Shop Talk” archives page.
*** RATING LUNATIC DEPT.***
Customer reviews are selected at random and may be edited for length, not content.
Famous Buenos Maduritos (Nicaragua)
Full-bodied / 4" x 42 / Nicaraguan-grown Maduro wrapper
FSS single price: $1.25
Overall Customer Rating: 7.56
These little cigars are chock full of flavor, body, and strength. Not for
the folks who like the milder stuff...Very well made, great looking dark
wrappers, nice construction, good draw, even burn, and real pleasure to
smoke. I'd love to see some larger sizes in this line. Until then, I'll
be buying this size regularly..well done Famous, very well done!
- John W, Chicago (February 19, 2004)
My first reaction to this cigar was - Wow! Mild cigar smokers will probably
find this cigar a little intimidating, but for the experienced smoker, this
cigar is a real treat. Great pre-light aroma, great appearance, lots of
smoke and an intriguing flavor make this a cigar to add to your regular
rotation. The Madurito is a full-bodied and full-flavored cigar in a small
package, great for a short smoke after a big dinner. The closest cigar I
can compare this to is a cross between a CAO Brazilia "Piranha" and an Opus
X "Power Ranger."
- Choix Suprema, Herfer's Paradise (February 19, 2004)
I've been looking for this cigar for a long time. If you like chocolate and
brownies, and a strong cigar to boot, this is it! A small cigar that gives
as much as a 6x50 toro. Simply wonderful!
- davisfurni, NM (February 17, 2004)
I have only smoked one TKO in my life, so I am no expert but these cigars
taste very similar to what I remember the TKO tasting like. The construc-
tion is top notch and the burn is even. This little bugger is producing
huge volumes of smoke. I would put this cigar just a hair under strong in
the strength category. It's not in the same league as JDN or ERH but it's
very full bodied and I have a lump in the back of my throat that I normally
get with strong gars. For those who like em full bodied and full of life
this will definitely keep your interest.
- Snausage, Herfer's Paradise, (February 14, 2004)
Astral Talanga Valley Toro (Honduras)
Full-bodied / 6" x 50 / Talanga Cubano dark natural wrapper
FSS single price: $5.45
Overall Customer Rating: 8.74
With much excitement I received my box of Astral TVS Toro's. I tried to let
them settle in the humidor, but their dark oily wrapper beckoned me to try
one that very same day. The firm box press was in a way too much and I saw
some of the sticks had splits in the wrapper where the creases were. I also
noticed some of the caps were a bit loose. I have enjoyed 3 since that day
and each one was the same. The smoke was very thick and the draw was perfect.
The aroma had a heady, rich smell of fresh cut cedar. There was a very nice
full bodied flavor without a trace of harshness. The finish was tart with
notes of wet freshly tooled leather. The ash was white with silver streaks
and hung on like a pit bull with a raw steak. The burn became a bit uneven
toward the middle but evened out nicely down the home stretch. The only
caution I have to give about this fantastic smoke is to watch out for your
fingers, you'll smoke this one right down to the nub.
- Tabac Mack, Omak, (February 24, 2004)
C.A.O. eXtreme Corona (Nicaragua)
(Full-bodied / 5 1/2" x 42 / Dark natural Ecuadorian wrapper
FSS single price: $6.80
Overall Customer Rating: 7.55
I like many of the cigars in the CAO line (especially the Cameroon) but
this one was a disappointment. A full-bodied cigar but without much depth
or complexity of flavor. The draw was tight and I had trouble keeping it
lit. It wasn't bad but I expected a lot more.
- Dave G., Mount Laurel, NJ (February 21, 2004)
Partagas Spanish Rosado Familia (Dominican Republic)
Med to Full-bodied / 6" x 54 / Honduran-grown San Augustin wrapper
FSS single price: $5.95
Overall Customer Rating: 8.07
GREAT GREAT GREAT. Truly a fantastic cigar smooth pronounced spicy and
robust. Comes on strong but not overpowering a true PARTAGAS!
- Tony Angelucci, CT (February 23, 2004)
Great smoke, lots of character, good punch for the buck. Reminds me of the
old Cuban cigars before the ban!
- Don Blonde, USA (February 20, 2004)
The Griffin's Robusto Maduro (Dominican Republic)
(Mild-Medium bodied / 5" x 50 / U.S. Conn. broadleaf Maduro wrapper
FSS single price: $7.30
Overall Customer Rating: 8.15
Just finished off a Griffin's Maduro Robusto with an outstanding glass of
wine and found the taste to be surprisingly fuller than I was expecting.
The draw and burn was excellent with the great smelling smoke that I was
expecting. The construction is very firm as you would expect from this high
quality of a cigar. What surprised me was I was expecting the taste to be
more of a mild to medium, but I would say that it was more medium to full.
Don't get me wrong, it was an outstanding smoke, but fuller than I was
expecting.
- Jerry Poland, Texas (February 21, 2004)
AGREE/DISAGREE? Your opinion may be similar or completely different and is also appreciated, so don't be shy. Rate the cigars you smoke on our web site and write a review. What you say can help others make a more informed decision, even you!
*** CIGARS IN THE NEWS ***
More On The Govt., Cigars And Smoking Bans
Since last month's issue, which covered a bill in the House that would
effectively place a mail-order ban on cigars, I received several emails
from readers who did their part as well as others who asked to be kept
in the loop on our progress. What follows is part of an email sent to me
from Dr. Rafael Sanchez, which included a reply to him from Tennessee
Rep., John Tanner:
Dear Dr. Sanchez:
Thank you for contacting our office to share your views on S. 1177, the
Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act. I appreciate your input on this
very important issue and share your concern.
There was a provision put in the bill which does ban cigars from being
sold and shipped through the U.S. Mail. The Senate Judiciary Committee
is calling this a "technical mistake" and said it was not the committees
intent to include cigars in this provision. H.R. 2854, the House version
of this legislation, does not include this provision and the House
Judiciary Committee does not intend to include it. You may be sure that I
will keep your opposition in mind when this bill begins to move in the 2nd
session of the 108th Congress.
Again, thanks for contacting our office regarding your concerns. Please
feel free to continue to contact us on issues of concern to you.
John Tanner M.C.
House Member
A similar reply went to another reader, Nick Labbe, from his Congressman,
Rep. Michael Michaud of Maine. Then there were these two articles forwarded
to me by my Famous Smoke Shop colleague, Humberto Gonzalez, regarding what's
happening at the State level in Georgia:
Georgia Next To Consider Smoking Ban?
(From The National Association of Convenience Stores online)
January 13, 2004
MARIETTA, GA - Georgia could be the latest state to ban smoking. State Sen.
Don Thomas has said that he will introduce legislation that would prohibit
smoking in all public places, including bars and restaurants.
"This is not an effort to make people quit smoking, it's to make it so
their smoke doesn't hurt others," Thomas, a family doctor, told the
Marietta Daily Journal. "I've seen firsthand the damages of smoking."
However, Thomas' proposed legislation will likely be met by strong
opposition.
"There is only so far you can go to regulate businesses," state Sen. Chuck
Clay told the Associated Press. "I'd like to see more smoke-free restau-
rants, but I'm not in favor of a statewide ban."
Smoking bans already have been instituted in six states and several Georgia
counties and cities, including Valdosta, Bainbridge, Statesboro, Gwinnett
County and DeKalb County.
In 2003, a long and contentious fight over Georgia's proposed cigarette-
tax increase ended with the state approving a 25-cent-per-pack tax increase
that took effect on July 1.
Public Smoking May Be Snuffed
The Associated Press (in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution online)
February 10, 2004
Democrats had sharp words Tuesday for Republicans who want to ban smoking
in all public places including restaurants.
They're looking to snuff out the plan.
"It's an overreach," said House Rules Chairman Calvin Smyre, a Columbus
Democrat. "People are always talking about intrusion by government, and
this is another one. It's another way of denying local rule."
The smoking ban, introduced by Republican Sen. Don Thomas on Tuesday, could
set up another battle between the Democrat-controlled House and GOP-controlled Senate.
Twenty-five of the state's 56 senators signed on to the bill, but House
leaders hinted the measure would have no chance in their chamber. Even
Republicans in the House said they had wanted to tread slowly on a measure
to ban smoking even in bars and restaurants.
For the rest of the story, please click here.
*** MORE CIGAR NEWS ***
(Posted March 12, 2004)
THIS JUST IN from the good folks at General Cigar about some new additions to their stable:
1. Limited Edition Punch Rare Corojo Cigars Return to Meet Consumer Demand
2004 Release Available Beginning in April
New York, NY - With sufficient wrapper leaf for another limited return in 2004, this year's offering of Punch Rare Corojo® cigars will be available while supplies last, at tobacconists nationwide, beginning in April, 2004. A "knockout" of a cigar, Punch Rare Corojo is likely to fly off the shelves once again.
2. Punch Magnum Makes Its Big Ring Debut
New Frontmark to Be Introduced at Retail
New York, NY - Punch® is launching another knockout cigar! "Magnum," a new, large- ring frontmark will make a limited debut in select tobacconists beginning in June and will make its national retail debut in mid-August, 2004. Measuring 5 ¼" x 54, the Magnum will be offered in both a traditional English Market Selection (EMS) as well as an extra-dark Double Maduro wrapper. The cigar will be available for a suggested retail price of $4.45 per cigar, or for $111.25 for a box of 25 cigars.
3. Cohiba Miniatures to Make Retail Debut
New Product Fueled by Demand for Small Cigars
New York, NY - Thanks to the upcoming retail debut of Cohiba® Miniatures, tobacconists will soon have a cigarillo-size Cohiba to meet the rising demand for small premium cigars, courtesy of General Cigar, makers of Cohiba cigars. In April of 2004, select tobacconists will receive their inaugural shipments of Cohiba Miniatures, which will be sent in a handsome display that highlights 75 cigars. The product will be available nationally, starting in May of 2004, for a suggested retail price of $10.99 for a tin containing 10 cigars. Cohiba Miniatures measure 3 ¾" x 24, are crafted in the Dominican Republic with the same unique blend of select filler tobaccos as full-size Cohiba cigars, and are also wrapped in the rich sun-grown Cameroon leaf that has made Cohiba cigars a staple in the smoking repertories of super-premium cigar connoisseurs.
4. El Credito Debuts El Rico Habano Four-Pack
Value Pack Features Four Full-Bodied Frontmarks
New York, NY - El Rico Habano®, aka "The Rich One," could be known by a different moniker during the month of April, 2004, thanks to a "buy three, get one free" pack called the "El Rico Habano Collection." "The El Rico Collection" 4-packs, which offer consumers four great cigars for the price of three, will be available beginning in April, at tobacconists nationwide, for a suggested retail price of only $15.40 per pack, while supplies last. Each pack contains four El Rico Habano cigars, in four different frontmarks. Specifically featured in each pack are these El Rico Habano favorites: Habano Club (4 7/8" x 48) and Corona Suprema (6" x 50), which have natural wrappers; and Rico Club (5 ½" x 54) and Torpedo (6" x 54), two recently-introduced cigars with Maduro wrappers.
*** FAMOUS-SMOKE.COM HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS ***
Since our last issue you may or may not have noticed the following website
features our trusty Webmaster, Chad Kercher, has been working on:
1. Sampler Search: On the "Cigars" page, there is a pull-down menu to
search for SAMPLERS. This in itself is not new, however, HOW the search
is performed IS new. In the past, a sampler was located by the manufac-
turer's SKU. For example, CI-GEN-9SAM1 could be found under "General Cigar
Company." (NOTE: The pull-down search for the boxes/bundles and singles
has NOT been modified).
After hearing from customers who were unable to locate a particular sampler
because they are unfamiliar with our SKU creation process, we modified the
sampler search to look at the components of the sampler instead of the SKU.
So, if you want to find a sampler with a Partagas cigar in it, you would
select Partagas from the drop-down menu and the resulting page will show
ALL samplers that contain Partagas cigars. Try it!
2. Shipping Rates: To make it easier to find our shipping rates, you will
find the shipping rates link in the left margin of every page under the
Customer Service heading as well as an icon on the checkout page during
the order process.
3. Overall Customer Rating: While browsing for your favorite cigars, you'll
now find the overall customer rating for that cigar (in red) based on the
ratings of at least 5 customers.
That reminds me. When writing cigar reviews, please don't forget to rate
them by number, too. In a few instances, there are rave written reviews
for cigars that don't jive with their low number ratings and vice-versa.
*** GIVE THAT MAN A CIGAR! DEPT.***
Cigar tasting in our retail store located at
1100 Conroy Place, Easton, PA. Please call 610-559-8800 for more info and special offers associated with these events.
NO tastings scheduled for March at this time, but look at this...
Monday Madness!(Mondays) - Buy a Box/Bundle - Get (1) Sampler Pack FREE*
Two-For-Tuesday (Tuesdays) Buy (2) Cigars - Get (1) Cigar FREE*
*(Some restrictions may apply. Call store for details.)
Call 610-559-8800 for more info and offers associated with these events.
If you live in or near the Lehigh Valley of Pa, and would like to see all deals and events in our Retail Store - click here.
*** EYES ON THE PRIZE DEPT.***
Cigar Sightings
The Apprentice, "The Art of The Deal" - "The Donald" gives
each team a list of items and an approximate retail value for each
item. Like a scavenger hunt, the teams have to locate the items
and negotiate for a lower-than-retail cost. Among the items on
the list is a box of Davidoff Platinum cigars, which the Guys get
for $80!
The Grifters (1990) - One of the great modern film noir movies
in which Pat Hingle as Bobo Justus, lights up what appears to be a
Macanudo Prince of Wales.(He removes the wrapper immediately,
leaving little or no time to really see the band). In a riveting moment of
retribution, during a scene in which he accuses Lilly Dillon (Angelica
Houston) of skimming from him, he pins her face-down on the floor and
proceeds to burn the back of her hand with the glowing, 52-ring tip of
the cigar. OUCH!
I ran this "sighting" from the movie Open Range some months ago,
but didn't have the actual shot referenced in the description. Thanks to
John Dintinger in Bethlehem, PA, we've got the shot (above) and a
couple more.
Other Famous Cigar Smokers Caught “Infumare Delecto”
I live up in East Stroudsburg, PA but the others in these pictures are
my friends and family from Boston. Of course they only buy from Famous
(except when in the Caribbean buying Cubans).
This one is (right to left) Richard Moore, George
Hagelauer and Peter Neslusan. We are holding
Montecristo #2 Cubans and are on the Mariner of
the Seas. We enjoyed a box of Kaluhas from
Famous as well!
This picture is of our group in the onboard cigar room called the
Connoisseur's Club, which we visited every night after dinner. The
folks are (right to left) Richard Moore, Gayle Paschal, Marissa
Recor, Hank Recor, Peter Neslusan and George Hagelauer.
Thanks again! The folks up north will be very excited.
- George Hagelauer
WANTED! Cigar-smoking photos of you and/or your friends. (See next paragraph for details.)
Have You Made A Cigar Sighting Recently?
It can be from a movie, TV show or a celebrity you've seen elsewhere or in-person puffing on a primo. If you can name the brand of the cigar, even better! Or send in a herfing photo of you and your friends to me at and please put "Cigar Sightings" in the subject line. Limit: 1 sighting or photo (preferably, a JPEG) per email.
That's all folks. Until our next issue on April 6, Happy Smokes!
Gary
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Copyright © 2004 Famous Smoke Shop - PA, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Portions or all of this information may be reprinted freely, provided this
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