|
It's better in the Bahias!
An interview with Tony Borhani
Plus cigar tips, cigar reviews and more!
(Posted April 5, 2005 - 5:00 PM/ET)
NEXT ISSUE: Wednesday, May 4
*** IN THIS ISSUE ***
1. Feature Story: It's better in the Bahias. An interview with Tony Borhani
2. Survey Says: What wrapper characteristic is most important to you when buying a cigar?
3. Smoker's Ed (Cigar Terms & Tips): Butane lighter care; Oscuro vs. Double Maduro redux
4. Rating Lunatic: Avo Limited Edition 2005 LE5
5. Website Improvements: Browse Famous Smoke Shop's new online catalog!
6. Cigars in the News: Smoke 'em if...they're cigars?
7. Eyes on the Prize: Celebrity and Customer Cigar Sightings
*** FEATURE STORY ***
It's better in the Bahias!
An interview with Tony Borhani
by Gary Korb
During the cigar boom 90's the Bahia brand rose to stardom as one of the finest imported premium cigars on the market. An Iranian émigré and one of the cigar industry's most effervescent personalities, Tony Borhani has continued to enjoy success with his full-flavored Bahia selections right into the 21st century.
SHOP TALK: How did you find yourself in the cigar business?
TB: I started in 1989. At the time I was working for a wine distributor in Los Angeles. The wine business was doing about six to seven million a year and we were doing about $900 in cigars. But these were cigars like Swisher Sweets and 5-packs and so forth. But one thing I noticed with my high-end clients was that they were all cigar smokers. Many of them, lawyers, producers, celebrities, knew that I loved cigars, so they would give me Cubans and others and we started sharing cigars. That's when I suggested we put in a humidor and start selling imported premium cigars. To make a long story short, within six months we had done $30,000 in cigar sales alone.
Then we went on to opening cigar clubs, doing cigar dinners and I eventually became a distributor for La Aurora, Leon Jimenes and Miami Cigar, and after a couple of years I went to work for a wine company. But after a year of that I moved to Costa Rica with my wife.
ST: What made you decide to do that?
TB: I got tired of the fast-pace life so we moved to Costa Rica, opened a nightclub and life was good. The only problem was, there were no good cigars. So I started flying to Cuba to buy cigars. The only thing about that was you couldn't take more than a thousand dollars worth of cigars out of Cuba. That was about eight to nine boxes, which lasted me only about two months. So, every two months I went to Havana, got my cigars and came back.
ST: So you were a regular customer.
TB: Yes, and by making so many trips I met all the cigar masters like Jose Cueto and Avelino Lara, all these amazing masters. Then at one point my wife finally said, 'You're making way too many trips to Cuba. You've got to find another source.'
So I went looking for a factory in Costa Rica. There was only one factory, which was run by a Spaniard who had been making cigars there for about 25 years. These were basically cheap bundle cigars that were sold at airports and gift shops. I liked the construction of the cigar, but they were not the cigar I wanted. I asked him if he could make me a cigar that was stronger and more flavorful. He told me he only bought cheap tobacco, 'but if you have the money and you want to buy the tobacco, go to Nicaragua; go to Esteli, go to this little place ASP. There is a man there named David Perez. Buy some good tobacco, bring it back and I'll make it for you.'
I took his advice and ended up staying there for two months. It was harvest time and I fell in love with the whole process. I stayed on the farms, worked in the curing barn and we found some tobacco from 1988. But it was a small amount and nobody would buy it because it was super-expensive and ASP did not discount their tobacco.
I ended up working with them for the next five to six years, brought the tobacco back to Costa Rica and started rolling the cigars until I had ten thousand cigars just for me. I had no desire or plans to sell them at all.
ST: Then how did you make the move from private stash to a retail label?
TB: Twice a year I would go to Los Angeles to shop for the club. During one particular trip, I was there to buy fog machines, lighting, things like that. I brought some of these cigars along with me and I passed them around to some of my friends who were cigar shop owners that I used to distribute to; not to sell to them just to share with them, because it was a kick-ass cigar. When I got back to Costa Rica a week later I had a dozen faxes and other messages saying things like, 'this is a fantastic cigar, can we get it?' I really didn't want to sell the cigar, but I went ahead and designed a band, put it in a box and made it very expensive so that they wouldn't buy it [laughs], but they bought it anyway, and in two weeks they were done and calling for reorders. Before I knew it, my 10,000 cigars were gone in three months. So we went back to the factory and made another 30,000, and as they say, the rest is history.
ST: Please take us through your different lines and explain the difference of each.
TB: The very first blend was just simply called Bahia, which is now known as Bahia Vintage. Every year in which there is an exceptional harvest we declare that a "vintage" and we use only tobacco from that year only in Nicaragua.
ST: What determines an "exceptional harvest?"
TB: It means when everything is just right. The perfect amount of sun, not too much rain; the leaves look fantastic and the tobacco cures just the way we want, which includes having the right amount of strength to make the Vintage, because our Vintage is made to be aged 10 years.
Then there's the Bahia Trinidad. It's all Nicaraguan tobacco, but the Trinidad has had three different blends since we started. Every two to three years we find a new wrapper that's just fantastic so we change the blend and keep it out there for a few years until we find the next fantastic wrapper. Currently, it's all Nicaraguan Cuban seed and the wrapper is a Criollo. It's a medium bodied cigar, very aromatic and floral with a beautiful bouquet.
The red label Bahia Maduro line sells for an average of about $5-$6 a cigar and is also the most expensive to make. I actually lose money on this cigar.
ST: No kidding?
TB: It's my loss leader. But that cigar really draws people to the brand. You'll never find a full-bodied Maduro like that in a Connecticut wrapper in a 7" x 54 for $6. The tobacco (the filler and binder), is 4-5 years old and the wrapper is 2-4 years old, a broadleaf, plus we're known for our Maduro.
We debuted the Bahia Blu line last year. It's also a full-bodied cigar with all Nicaraguan tobacco; a very rich, complex cigar.
ST: I found it very smooth and more medium-bodied.
TB: Let me tell you something about smooth. People ask me sometimes, are your cigars mild? Yes. All my cigars are "mild," but they're all rich and flavorful. Strength has nothing to do with mild. Mild means not harsh. To me, at least the terminology I use, is tobacco that's been aged and cured fine, no excess nicotine, it's not bitter, it's not harsh and there's no ammonia. That makes it "mild." Does it kick your butt? Yes it can because of the strength of the flavors. So, you're right. It is a medium to full-bodied, but it really depends on the nature of your palate. Some cigars which seem strong to one person may seem mild to another.
ST: True. A cigar that may have seemed very full-bodied to me a few years ago, or is marketed as "full-bodied" now does seems more medium-bodied.
TB: That's what's happening in the industry. That's what's happening to the cigar smoker. When I came into the industry I had the strongest cigar in the market. Everybody else was Macanudo and Dunhill using Connecticut shade wrapper. Now you can hardly find a Connecticut shade wrapper anymore. So much is now coming from Ecuador and Nicaragua because people's palates have developed and a mild cigar doesn't satisfy them anymore.
That takes us to the Bahia Gold line, which is our best-selling cigar. It is a specialty line that we are really known for and it is a full-bodied cigar. We use Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper fourth and fifth priming only; nothing lower than that. It's a spicy, rich, flavorful cigar. Actually, back in '95 I was probably one of the few that used Ecuador wrapper.
ST: Really?
TB: Of course. You hear all this about sun grown, sun grown, sun grown. Everything is sun grown in Ecuador. As you know, most wrappers are grown under the shade, except for Connecticut broadleaf. But in Ecuador everything is sun grown because during the growing season the plants need only 500 hours of sun. There's a natural cloud shade. So when people say Ecuadorian sun grown, I want everybody to know that all their wrappers are sun grown.
ST: Well, they're going to know now.
TB: Absolutely. That's something that I really love; the Ecuadorian plant. Then we have the Bahia Gold Maduro with a Connecticut broadleaf, which is also very full-bodied.
ST: I found that one a little too potent for me. What about the Bahia Gold White Label?
TB: This is our smallest production cigar. We make only 200 boxes a month. Why? Because the wrapper we use for that is probably the rarest wrapper in the world. It's an Ecuadorian sun grown wrapper, but taken only from sixth priming, the very top of the plant. At the time of the harvest you pick the plant six times. Three leaves each time giving you 18 leaves per plant.
ST: Can you explain the process?
TB: The plant gets six cuts, three leaves each time. As you go through to pick the harvest, you take the first three leaves from the bottom. And if there's not too much rain and the weather permits, you wait two to three days, then you pick another three and another three and so on. What happens during this time as you pick the lower leaves, you're allowing the top leaves to receive more nutrition, more sun, and develop more flavor, so these top leaves become the richest, most flavorful leaves called Ligero. We use the Ligero, which is the sixth priming, so imagine taking just three leaves from all the plants and half of them you can't even use because they get too big and too thick to use for the wrapper, so we use only the most select to ferment. We use a seven year aged Nicaraguan filler in that cigar which balances out the strength and harmonizes very well, making it very delicious.
ST: In doing my research I noted that in every line all your tobacco is long-aged.
TB: Yes, the tobacco we use is minimum four years. Actually there are a couple of other people who do that, too. Padron uses seven and eight year-old tobacco. Fuente also doesn't use anything under a minimum of four years. I've only been in the business ten years so in the last ten years we bought tobacco and now we have good five, six and seven year old tobacco. We will not touch it unless it's at least four years old. For the Gold line in particular, after the cigars are rolled they sit for 12 months before they're released. For some of the other lines, it can be three to six months.
ST: What about your Bahia B-Line cigars?
TB: The B-Line has actually become a big success. It consists of the trimmings of the other lines. When we make the cigars in the factory all the trimmings of the Bahia Gold, Trinidad and Maduro are separated then we create a different blend with it and make the B-Line, it also has an Ecuador Sumatra wrapper, which is a first grade wrapper, but the cigar is not all long filler. Another word for it is Cuban sandwich. It's also priced affordably; between $2.50 and $3.00 a cigar.
ST: Would you say B-Line is a good way for someone to move into your higher end cigars?
TB: No, actually. The thing is the higher-end customers are already buying the higher end lines. Most of our cigars range from $4.50 to $12 a cigar. I wanted to create something that would also appeal to the smoker who wants something closer to the $2 market. And let me tell you, it's a fabulous cigar. It's the only cigar I've gotten a 90 in Cigar Insider, and another got an 89. I don't know if they knew the cigar was a short filler cigar. [laughs]
ST: I've had some customers tell me that your cigars remind them of Cuban cigars.
TB: All I can say it, we make a cigar that's a different status cigar, but very Cuban in style; very rich, very flavorful, very satisfying.
ST: Last question: Have you seen any trends as a whole in the industry that have gotten your attention?
TB: What's happening is a good thing for consumers. Everybody's making better cigars at better prices. They've finally come to their senses. No more gimmicks. It's come down to true cigar making and the manufacturers are really competing to get the client by making a better cigar which is wonderful for the industry. The prices are better and it's very exciting. ¶
*** SURVEY SAYS DEPT. ***
What wrapper characteristic is most important to you when buying a cigar?
In marketing they often say, presentation is everything. Simply putting an attractive band on a cheap cigar can make a much stronger impression on a consumer. But the one thing that's unavoidable to the eye of a discriminating cigar smoker is the look of the wrapper. What is it in particular that you look for in a cigar's wrapper? Please select from the choices below and feel free to elaborate.
1. Color
2. Texture
3. Oiliness
4. Vein appearance
5. Other
Send an email to:
and type, or copy & paste "wrapper part" in the SUBJECT line.
Survey Results for March 2, 2005: When you receive your Famous Smoke Shop catalog, how do you order?
1. Mail-in order form - .02%
2. 800 number - 31%
3. Famous-Smoke.com website - 68%
The results of this survey showed that our online customer purchases were close to 70%. What impressed me in many of the responses was the influence of the catalog itself on driving traffic to the site. I was also pleased to see that almost a third of you call the 800 number. Most of the comments from that camp were also very complimentary about our call center agents. Only a smattering preferred to use the order form found in our monthly catalogs. Here are some of the comments that came in:
Being a shameless "instant gratification" [type], the website is always the quickest way for me to order. Plus I actually have an electronic copy of my order.- Jack Yuzynko
I always order over the phone. Your phone people do a great job. - Steven Rapp, Chicago IL
As far as researching your inventory is concerned, I use both the internet and your catalog. I do this for two reasons - 1, because with a catalog I can kick back in my recliner after work and read up on what's new and - 2, by checking out both different things catch my attention. - Craig Brewster
I like the catalog because of the larger pictures of cigars and descriptions that seem to make them more enticing to buy. Often I use the catalog and go to the computer to actually make the purchase. I tend not to buy on an internet site if I can't view a clear, descriptive picture of the product. - Scott
I prefer ordering using the order form in the catalog with payment via check. I will check your website to verify in stock status and will once in awhile order with my credit card via the web. The fact that I don't have to use my credit card strictly to order and can use a mail order form with a check is a major reason I am one of your customers (along with the great selection, customer service, prices and phenomenal delivery time!) Some of us still like to pay cash out of hand instead of credit cards. Thanks for the survey and your outstanding service! - Stephen Avis
While I receive the e-mail sales and the catalogs, I always use the 800 number. Perhaps it's because I run a call center and just want to see how your sales reps are doing at the time, but actually I just like the human touch. Always helpful and exact I love your reps! (even the cranky ones) - Clay Hawley Washington, D.C.
I look over the catalogs from cover to cover, but for convenience sake I order online. - RWGorczyca
Cigar Terms & Tips (Collect and trade em'!)
Dos capas - A cigar rolling method where two dissimilar color wrappers (one light, one dark) are entwined giving the cigar a candy cane or barber pole-like effect.
Butane lighter care
Many cigar smokers seem to take their lighters for granted. After all, they're relatively inexpensive and easily replaced. But when a butane lighter goes bad, it may not necessarily be your lighter. It may be more about how you care for it. Here are some useful tips that will keep your cigar lighter in top condition and may even breathe new life into your old flame.
1. When the lighter is empty, "bleed" it by pressing the tip of a ball point pen against the fuel filling valve to release all the excess gas. If you can, also do this by gently depressing the lighter switch and releasing as much gas as you can from that end, too.
2. Using a can of compressed air, blow into the burner chamber (where the flame ignites) to clean out any sediment deposits.
3. Check the flame height adjustment. Try to set it where it will light even when fuel is low.
4. Never mix fuels and avoid using bargain brand butane. Use only premium butane made by a reputable manufacturer. The cheap stuff can actually clog the system.
Reader Feedback and Tips from Our Mailbag
Oscuro vs. Double Maduro Redux
Keith Sparacio's response to last month's question from Brett Wagner on what is the difference between Double Maduro and Oscuro wrappers produced a second response from Mr. Wagner, which I thought was worth re-printing here, and is followed by an excellent article from Rich Perelman at CigarCyclopedia.com, with a different spin on the subject.
To: Cigars@famous-smoke.com
Subject: Oscuro vs. Double Maduro
Greetings:
I noticed my email made it into Shop Talk. However, I'm still confused and did respond to Mr. Sparacio of General Cigar too. I found his reply interesting because I have had a HdM/Punch Rothschilds Double Maduro unravel [when] I clipped too far below the cap. I found the binder to be a natural in color as opposed to a maduro as Sparacio describes. Even in greater contrast is an article I found by Steve Saka:
"Oscuro (basically black) - Also referred to as "Double Maduro or "Maduro Maduro." Very few of these are produced today with a few notable exceptions: the very full-flavored...Honduran Punch & Hoyo de Monterrey Double Maduro...Also let me dismiss a common repeated fallacy regarding Double Maduro & Maduro Maduro cigars: These terms refer solely to their color and not that the cigar is wrapped in two maduro wrappers or a maduro wrapper and binder combo. Somehow this "two-wrapper" mistruth continues to be repeated by some tobacconist year after year. Please when you hear someone say this, politely educate him or her for everyone's benefit.
What are double maduro and oscuro? Double maduro is a wrapper which is a darker brown than a traditional maduro wrapper. Sometimes they can be almost black; they are also called "maduro maduro" or "oscuro" wrappers. In error, some supposed experts have stated that it means that the cigar has a maduro binder and maduro wrapper; this is untrue. There is no such thing as a maduro binder, per se. Nobody wastes good wrapper leaf as binder, plus a good wrapper leaf could seldom function as a binder, due to strength and elasticity requirements. Also, some quasi-experts have stated that it means that the cigar has two maduro wrappers on it... this is another bit of errant information. Basically, leaves are bulked to be maduros, which typically means they begin the process as higher-primed and thicker leaves. They require the additional duration and increased fermentation temps in order to make the leaves smokeable. The result is a darker colored leaf. However, due to the natural differences between the leaves, some become darker than others in the process of naturally fermenting them. They are then sorted into maduro and double maduro based on color. Now sometimes you can tell that certain leaves, by their grain and heft, will end up being double maduro wrappers, so as they are bulking the pylons, they try to stack these in differing burros. But until the process is complete, you can not be certain as to the final color. In short, double maduro is JUST a reference to color; not maduro binders and not double maduro wrappers, as I have also heard stated." ¶
BLACK IS BLACK, BUT IS IT MADURO, DOUBLE MADURO OR OSCURO?
by Rich Perelman at CigarCyclopedia.com
The underlying question of "maduro" vs. "oscuro" requires more explanation. In Spanish, "maduro" is usually translated into English as "ripe" or sometimes as "mellow." The "maduro" tag is usually given to wrapper leaves which have been exposed longer in the field and grown extra dark, and/or which have been sweated longer in the fermentation process to become darker and yield a sweeter taste. Genuine maduro wrappers are dark brown in color and offer the smoker a slight sweetness on the finish.
"Oscuro" in Spanish is usually translated into English as "dark." In our Perelman's Pocket Cyclopedia of Cigars, we include wrapper color in our brand tables and didn't use anything other than "maduro" for cigars with dark brown wrappers for several years. We simply didn't see anything which we thought was dark enough - black enough - to consider "oscuro."
That changed when the Felipe Gregorio line introduced some extra-darkly-wrapped Felipe Gregorio Belicosos in the late 1990s and we had to think hard about whether to call them maduro or oscuro. But the issue was settled when the Victor Sinclair cigar company introduced its Series 55 Grand Reserve Blue line in 2001. Their Connecticut Broadleaf wrappers are pitch black, actually the shade of a hot dog left out way too long on the grill, but smooth to the touch.
Today, only the Series 55 and three other brands offer true "oscuro" - black - wrappers:
o Victor Sinclair's Bohemian Black line, using Brazilian-grown wrappers
o Hoyo de Monterrey's Dark Sumatra line, started in 2002, with an Ecuadorian-grown wrapper, and
o Mombacho, introduced in 2004 by the Tabacalera Tropical, showing off a Nicaraguan-grown Corojo '99 wrapper.
Oscuro-wrapped cigars can be a little off-putting because of their color. But they're also likely to be oily and full of flavor with a pronounced sweetness on the finish. Skip the sugar . . . black is beautiful! ¶
And so it goes... - G.K.
Got a good cigar tip? Send it in and share it with our readers by
sending an email to . Please be
sure to put "Cigar Tip" in the subject line.
*** SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DEPT.***
Free Advice!
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.
Subscribe To Famous Smoke Shop Talk
If you'd like to subscribe to Shop Talk, simply click on the "Your Account" link in the left margin and check the box that says, "Email me your newsletter (issued monthly)." While you're there, you can also subscribe to our Weekly Email Sale. It's packed with money-saving specials on cigars, humidors and accessories you won't want to miss.
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.***
AVO Limited Edition 2005 LE5 (Dominican Republic)
Cigar review by Gary Korb
Size/Strength: 5 3/8" x 52 / Full
Wrapper: Ecuadorian sun grown Connecticut
Filler: Dominican Olor
Binder: Dominican San Vicente Ligero (from 2 different regions), Dominican Piloto Cubano, Dominican Criollo Seco
Limited edition of 6,000 boxes
By the time you read this, this cigar should be arriving here at Famous Smoke Shop, so keep your fingers crossed. I was fortunate enough get one from our Davidoff sales rep, Tom Smith. Already underway is a national tour that began in March to promote the new Avo LE5. Called the LE5 - Limited Edition Dinner Tour 2005, Avo Uvezian is making personal appearances in nine cities and I hope many of you have had or will have the chance to attend one of these special dinners. For a complete tour schedule click here. For my review, please read on.
To start, the presentation is very unique. The cigars are wrapped in paper bundles of 20 without bands in what can best be described as a simple, wooden, "factory-style" box. Each box includes a leaflet with the history and manufacture of the cigar and is signed by the Avo rollers responsible for the production. OK, let's get to the cigar.
The Avo LE5 I sampled had a dark, even-toned, seamless wrapper that was mouthwateringly oily. The perfectly round cap clipped off with barely any effort. Once lit, the cigar burned evenly exposing a fine white-gray marble ash and drew extremely easily.
This is a very full-flavored cigar that smoked with Avo's classic creamy-smoothness and gave off a hearty aroma to match what I found to be very robust, peppery flavor. As the cigar burned, the flavor increased considerably in spiciness, yet a certain sweetness also presented itself, producing a unique balance and roundness that prevented the cigar from becoming too overbearing.
If the sample I smoked is any indication of what this cigar is all about, I'm confident smokers of full-bodied blends like the Padron 1926 cigars and Opus-X cigars are going to be gaga for the Avo LE5. I would not recommend this cigar for beginners, not so much for its strength, but it may be just too complex to fully appreciate. You might want to see if they temper a little with age, but I thought the cigar hit on all cylinders right out of the box, and I was still feeling its effects two hours after I let it go out. Another brilliant performance from Avo Uvezian, who also seems to improve with age. I'm giving it a 92. ¶
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. You might even get your quote re-printed in our monthly mailorder catalog! What you say can help others make a more informed decision, even you!
*** FAMOUS-SMOKE.COM HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS ***
Browse Famous Smoke Shop's new online catalog!
We are pleased to announce that we now have an online, graphical catalog on our web site. An image announcing this new feature appears below the Famous-Smoke.com logo. The April 2005 catalog is now online in its entirety, as will be all future catalogs.
Catalog pages are in a ".pdf" format and may be viewed one page at a time, using Adobe Acrobat Reader. Many of you may already have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. If you do not, it can be easily downloaded FREE by going to www.adobe.com. In many cases you may even be automatically directed to the site for the free download.
To view a catalog page you may click on a link provided on the catalog index page or you may enter a keyword or keywords to return a list of catalog pages to view.
We hope you enjoy using this exciting new feature. To see our current online catalog click here.
- Chad Kercher, Webmaster
*** CIGARS IN THE NEWS ***
(From The News Tribune online in Tacoma, WA)
Smoke 'em if … they're cigars?
Proposed hike on cigarettes contradicts measure to cut other tobacco tax
By JOSEPH TURNER; The News Tribune
April 4th, 2005
The same Legislature that wants to give a hefty boost to the tax on cigarettes is likely to take the opposite approach to taxes on cigars and other tobacco products.
Both the House and the Senate are considering bills that would reduce the tax on cigars, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco and snuff from nearly 130 percent today to 75 percent. Senate Bill 6097 and House Bill 2303 also say the tax on a cigar would be no more than 50 cents.
It's mostly about money, said Sen. Margarita Prentice (D-Seattle), the Senate's chief budget-writer and prime sponsor of SB 6097.
Lawmakers figure that lowering the cigar tax will bring more money into the state's treasuries, help some of Washington's small businesses and allow the state to better regulate tobacco sales and catch smugglers. The state expects to collect $8 million more in taxes over two years by cutting the cigar tax.
Prentice also has taken the lead on a proposal to raise the state cigarette tax by $8 a carton, which would raise nearly $170 million over the next two years.
She finds irony in the opposite approaches to cigars and cigarettes, but is unapologetic.
"I've developed the thickest hide in this session," she said Friday before a hearing on the cigar bill.
It was barely three years ago that voters passed Initiative 773, a measure that jacked up the taxes on cigarettes by $6 a carton - which contains 200 cigarettes - and raised the tax on cigars and other tobacco products from 75 percent to 129.42 percent. Those taxes are levied on the wholesale cost of the products.
Supporters of the initiative said they wanted to raise the price of tobacco products for two reasons: to discourage consumption and to raise more money to subsidize health care coverage for the working poor.
Money from the higher taxes was supposed to be used to expand enrollment in the state Basic Health Plan from 130,000 to 175,000 individuals.
Instead, lawmakers shifted the money to other state programs. Plan enrollment has dropped to 100,000 for lack of funding.
Rep. Jim McIntire (D-Seattle), chairman of the House Finance Committee, also acknowledged the disconnect in what the Legislature is likely to do this year.
"The public policies here are somewhat at odds," he said.
Lobbyists for the American Cancer Society and the American Lung Association, which bankrolled I-773 in 2001, have concerns about the proposed tax cut for cigars.
"We don't like the idea of cutting taxes on tobacco," said Michael O'Sullivan, lobbyist for the cancer society office in Tacoma. "Tobacco causes cancer."
But business owners testified Friday that the state's tax on cigars - the highest in the nation - isn't reducing consumption. Instead, they said, cigar and pipe smokers are going elsewhere to buy those products, which is hurting Washington businesses and costing the state millions in uncollected taxes.
"It's made our retail prices so high that we've lost most of our sales of cigars and pipe tobacco," said Jeff Packer, owner of the Tinderbox tobacco shops at Tacoma Mall and in Puyallup. "The customers end up purchasing these products online, through mail-order companies or they go to Indian reservations where the (state) tax doesn't apply."
At Friday's public hearing before the Senate Ways and Means Committee, a representative of the tobacco industry held up a box of cigars and said it could be bought for $130 on the Internet, $191 in Oregon or $370 in Washington.
McIntire said the cigar tax shows the limits to sin taxes.
"If we raise taxes too high, we drive products underground, which diminishes the taxable legitimate market," he said.
Neither the House nor the Senate has taken action on either of the cigar-tax bills, but they remain in play as the Legislature moves toward an April 24 adjournment. ¶
*** GIVE THAT MAN A CIGAR! DEPT.***
If you live in or near the verdant Lehigh Valley of PA, stop by our
retail store at 1100 Conroy Place in Easton, PA for one of our cigar tasting events. For details and more information call 610-559-8800.
Friday, April 8 - 4:00 to 7:00 P.M.: H. Upmann cigars tasting, plus the following in-store deals:*
Buy 3 single H. Upmann cigars, get another single FREE!
Buy a box of 20 or more H. Upmann cigars, get 3 H. Upmann Toros FREE!
*Deals apply to the retail store ONLY.
It’s Like eBay® for Cigar Lovers!
Now you can get the cigars YOU want at the prices you want to pay by logging on to CigarAuctioneer.com. It's FUN, it's FAST and the ACTION is great! You'll not only find RARE cigars, closeouts, and discontinued cigar brands, but now you can bid on humidors, cigar lighters and more!
(“eBay” is the registered trademark of eBay, Inc. Famous Smoke Shop-PA, Inc. is not associated or affiliated with eBay in any manner.)
*** EYES ON THE PRIZE DEPT.***
Cigar Sightings
© 2005 Home Box Office, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Deadwood (HBO) - Powers Boothe as the
notorious saloon owner, Cy Tolliver (on right),
is almost always seen puffing on a big Havana.
Other Famous Cigar Smokers Caught “Infumare Delecto”
The email that came with this photo from "Dr. J"
had no message. I guess it speaks for itself.
The cigar the good doctor is smoking is a
Puros Indios Chief. - G.K.
WANTED! Cigar-smoking photos of you and your friends
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 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 .JPG) per email.
NEXT MONTH: An interview with Tim Ozgener, Vice President of CAO cigars.
That's all folks. Until our next issue on Wednesday, May 4,
Happy Smokes!
Gary
(__[@]______{{{~~
Shop Talk graphic at top of page by Robert Ingram.
Copyright © 2005 Famous Smoke Shop - PA, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Portions or all of this information may be reprinted freely, provided this
link, http://www.famous-smoke.com, remains intact.
|
|
|
view cart
