http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005-2007 by the authors Mon, 5 Dec 2005 23:32:51 EST http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/ Phillip WinnSunday, August 26, 2007, marks the switch of all Blogcritics.org article feeds from full-content to short-content. This is the result of several converging factors, and is unfortunately a permanent decision (as permanent as any decision can be on the web, that is). We are aware of all of the reasons that this is a Bad Idea, and we are aware that some of you will be quite upset about having to click on something to read the free content, and we're sorry. Unfortunately, despite great effort, full-content feeds are not currently economically viable. Two other factors are involved: full-content feeds have resulted in an unprecedented level of content theft, with BC content appearing on many websites, usually spam sites, without attribution or permission. This duplicate content causes a cascading set of problems, not the least of which is that search engines generally aren't favorable to duplicate content, and don't always guess correctly. Finally, our RSS advertising partner is strongly in favor of short-content feeds. We hope that you'll continue to subscribe to BC via RSS, and when an article grabs your eye, it's only a click away, still free on the BC website. Thank you for your understanding. Administration0@blogcritics.org Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/12/05/233251.php Matthew RosenOne the biggest mysteries is what separates a cheap cigar from an expensive one, and if that relates to differentiating a bad cigar from a good one. Part of the answer is that good cigars use better blend and higher quality tobacco. Good cigars are hand rolled instead of machine made. But there's more to it than that.Whenever I buy cigars, I'm intimated by the vast array of smokes before me. Admittedly, I am indecisive. Having too many choices is paralyzing. As a connoisseur, I'm drawn to quality: I want to enjoy my cigar. But also, I'm trying to save money; is the extra money worth it? Will I really be able to tell the difference? Granted, expensive doesn't automatically mean better, but with things like cigars and wine, you generally get what you pay for. As a rule, higher priced cigars are of higher quality. But they might be overpriced. I'd love to spend less, but when things are too cheap, I begin to worry. Like when you go to gas stations and find burritos for only 69 cents. It kind of creeps me out. Why isn't it more? What corners have been cut to bring me this tasty burrito for such a low price? Similarly: what fabulously rare and fresh ingredients have been put into it if it's a five-dollar variety?This is when I realize I've been standing there too long. I love the wonderful and delicious aroma of walk-in humidors, but it is slightly intoxicating. Spend too much time in one, and you begin to wonder what corners have been cut to give you such a good smoke at such a low price.And the reality is, probably some corners have been cut, albeit some corners are cut more gracefully than others. The reason good cigars cost more is because they're aged longer. A quality wrapper might be aged seven and half years before the cigar is even rolled. Then, the rolled cigar is put in a cedar room and aged for 90 days or more. This two-step aging process mellows out the flavor of the tobacco. A cigar might be made using leaves from 20 plants and aging marries the different types of leaves, creating harmony between each one. The different leaves blend together and create a complex flavor. So the great mystery has finally been solved. There are certainly other factors involved, but a good cigar is one that has been properly aged. The next time you find yourself in an intoxicating humidor with a plethora of cigars have faith in your decision. I'm no capitalist, but go ahead and spend those extra 3 or 4 dollars and buy a quality cigar, one that has been aged and made with love. It will be worth it. Tastes40536@blogcritics.org Mon, 5 Dec 2005 23:32:51 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/10/11/174511.php Matthew RosenThe first thing I noticed about the S. T. Dupont Line 2 lighter was its size and weight. About 2 inches long and an inch and half wide, it fit perfectly in my palm, and felt so satisfying; heavy enough to give a feeling of substance, but not so heavy to be bulky or awkward. Just holding the lighter, feeling its heft, was enough to sell me on it. It reminded me of the kind of lighter used in speakeasies during the Prohibition, or the kind of lighter used to light a fine cigar while enjoying an after dinner brandy.S. T. Dupont lighters are pure luxury. The lighter I was holding was $525, and worth it. The cover of the lighter was made out of sliver plate and etched with tiny vertical lines, similar to a pin stripe suit. And this was a mid-range model. Some of the fancier, more expensive lighters are around $1000, made from of Chinese lacquer or gold dust lacquer. Clearly, S. T. Dupont takes making lighters very seriously.But once I opened it, it became quickly obvious that the lighters have more going for them than just pretty looks. The noise it makes when is opens, that "ping" struck something deep inside me. It was the acoustic equivalent of the sheer joy you feel when you wear an old jacket and find 20 bucks. Opening the top again and again, hearing that sound, I was as giddy as a 6 year old playing with bubble wrap. Like leaning for a kiss, the "ping" is the best kind of surprise there is. You know what's coming, you know what to expect, but it's still such a thrill.Incidentally, the "ping" was never supposed to exist; in the 50's, when S. T. Dupont first started making lighters, a mistake was made, and two cogs accidentally ended up generating excess friction. This resulted in an unwanted noise whenever the lighter was opened. The company, striving for perfection, understandably wanted this mistake fixed. However, it didn't take long for the "ping" to work its magic on customers, and needless to say, the company left the mistake in place.The "ping" might be what makes S. T. Dupont lighters distinctive, but it is not what makes them special, what gives them their charm. The lighters are a case of the whole being greater than the sum; each aspects of the lighter, the weight, the "ping," the high quality of materials, the care and precision that goes into the assembly, are all special in their own right. But, when put together these individual parts create a lighter unlike any other. S. T. Duponts may be pure luxury and style, but owning one is also an indication you care about quality. The company is so concerned with providing customers with the best smoking experience that they offer three different burner styles: cigar, cigarette, and pipe. Cigars are wider than cigarettes, so the cigar burner is wider than the cigarette burner. The pipe burner is angled to better light the inside of pipes. It is this commitment to making exceptional lighters that gives S. T. Dupont lighters their charm and reputation for being one the best lighters. And, while there is more to the lighters than the "ping," there is no denying it. It's a sexy sound, evocative of style and luxury.I knew this potent combination was bound to have an effect on women and I was dying to see it in action. When my friends and I went out that night, I carefully scanned the bar. After catching the eye of an attractive woman, I stepped outside for a smoke. She followed me out a few minutes later with a cigarette of her own."Got a light?" She asked me.With a devilish smile, I reached into my pocket and grabbed my S. T. Dupont. As I opened it and prepared to light her cigarette, the look in her eyes told me all I needed to know.It was love at first "ping." ED/PUB:LM (something weird with the font in preview, don't know why) Tastes37770@blogcritics.org Tue, 11 Oct 2005 17:45:11 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/09/15/211121.php Matthew RosenTobacco beetles (Lasioderma serricorne) are nasty little buggers; left to their own devices, they will eat tobacco, lay eggs in cigars, and make cocoons, completely destroying your cigars in the process. Because their eggs hatch quickly, in 5 to 10 days, and tobacco beetles can lay up to 100 eggs at a time, it is important to act at the first sign of an outbreak: a pin-sized hole on the wrapper of one your cigars. Once you have discovered an infestation, you have two options: you can either dispose of the infested cigar or freeze it.1. Disposal:Carefully place the infested cigar in a couple of well- sealed plastic bags so the tobacco beetles won't spread, and place the bag in the garbage can. This method may be quick and easy, but it is not particularly cost effective; chances are, if eggs have hatched in one cigar, they have hatched in other cigars as well. So unless you're absolutely sure the tobacco beetles haven't spread to other cigars, or you're willing to throw out all of your cigars, freezing them is probably a better route to take.2. Freezing: Tobacco beetles die at temperatures below 40oF (4oC), so freezing your infested cigars is the most effective way to kill any tobacco beetles. However, freezing does have its risks: the cold air can dry out the cigars, and if the cigars are warmed too quickly, they can split as the filler tobacco expands. Additionally, freezer smells can negatively impact the flavor of the cigars. But, if you follow the directions listed below, you shouldn't have any problems, and you will be smoking your beetle-free cigars in no time. Put all the cigars in a plastic bag and freeze for 3 to 4 days. To pass the time, clean your humidor with a damp cloth. While you might be tempted to use soap or bleach, it's not really necessary. Besides, it will ruin the wood and give your cigars a subtle hint of bleach. Take the cigars out of the freezer and refrigerate for 1 to 2 days. Put the cigars back into your humidor. Enjoy! Preventive Measures:Of course, it is always easier to prevent an outbreak from happening in the first place. Follow the 4 tips below, and you should remain free from outbreaks. Since tobacco beetles thrive in hot, humid environments, and eggs hatch at temperatures above 72oF (22oC), the easiest way to prevent an outbreak is to make sure your humidor is at 70oF (21oC) and at a level of 70% humidity. Keep your humidor out of direct sunlight. Pick up some strips of cedar the next time you're at the tobacconist, and store them with your cigars. They're great at absorbing excess moisture, which keeps levels of humidity down. If you don't already own one, consider purchasing a humidor. They only cost around $30 and can make a big difference in the quality of your cigars. Keeping your cigars in a cool, dry place is an excellent preventive measure against tobacco beetle outbreaks. And, if you do happen to have find an infestation of tobacco beetles, simply freeze your cigars for 3 days, and then slowly return them to room temperature. Ed/Pub:LM Sci/Tech36238@blogcritics.org Thu, 15 Sep 2005 21:11:21 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/06/10/115400.php Matthew RosenAccording to a recent study by the internet cigar retailer WhatsKnotToLove, Father's Day -- that shameless day of the year when wives, daughters and sons have to publicly humiliate themselves in a quest for a gift they know will go unappreciated -- has become a national epidemic. More than sixty million American Fathers are affected by a disappointing Father's Day, and it is estimated that half of those try to conceal the fact with crooked smiles and unintelligible mumbles that invoke the Need a Moment? Twix Bar commercial. Fortunately, the disease rarely causes permanent disability -- if the syndrome is identified early and gift-givers comply with at least one of the five following treatment strategies.#5. Buy Him a Cigar Cutter (Dad Would Really Like to Stop Clipping Cigars with his Teeth):A fine fellow by the name of Kurt Van Keppel realized in 1994 that there were not many well-conceived alternatives to removing cigar tips with your teeth. Cheap cigar cutters were wobbly, dull and boring to look at, and expensive cigar cutters were -- well, wobbly, dull and boring to look at. So Kurt got together with his friend Scott to make a cigar cutter that was sturdy, long-lasting, could woo a date with its good looks, and was sharp enough to impress the Spanish Inquisition's guillotine squad. The result was the Xikar cigar cutter, now a market leader in the industry. #4. Buy Him a Desktop Humidor (Dad's Tired of Storing His Cigars in a Roll of Socks):It's a fact: most of us don't need a hutch-style humidor the size of a wardrobe that includes a gateway to Narnia. We just want the cigars we have to last and maybe something sleek for our desk that will impress our boss. Good quality desktop humidors are easier to find than ever, and you can purchase beautifully polished wood humidors that include a box of cigars as an added bonus. There is a great desktop humidor made by Caribe that includes fifty premium long filler San Marco cigars. If any gift could be a hole in one, this is it.#3. Buy Him a Cool Ashtray So He Can Stop Using that One He Stole From The Bar:Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Why? Because cigar ashtrays are no longer black and white. They have style, personality and class. Thanks to the innovative thinking of noted South Beach artist and ceramist, Bram Warren, cigar ashtrays are so cool they can be used for interior design. Working with styles like "River Rock", "Celadon Crystal" and "Volcanic Ash", Warren combines colors including steel blue, sage, birch, merlot and bronze to make the most distinctive cigar ashtrays available. The only hard part is deciding which one to get.#2. Stop Obsessing Over Which Cigars to Buy, Just Go For the Cigar Lover's Diary:This is a no-brainer. Seven cigars that include a Don Diego Aniversario, an H. Upmann Vintage Cameroon, a Montecristo White, an Onyx Reserve, a Romeo Julieta Reserva Real, a Romeo Julieta Reserva Maduro, and a Trinidad all packaged within a diary-like book. Easy to wrap, easy to find and 0% chance of being a dud. If you close your eyes, you can see the smile wrapping around his face.#1. Forget the Surprise Vacation, Give Him an S.T. Dupont Lighter:You know that car commercial that explains the feeling of driving a traction controlled vehicle through the mountains with the windows down? It's like that. The perfect combination of function and luxury. With a characteristic sound, simple and elegant designs and unparalleled attention to detail, S.T. Dupont lighters will be cherished as much in five years as they were the day they were given.Only by employing one of the above treatment strategies can America hope to reverse the epidemic of the disappointing Father's Day that is sweeping wildly across the nation. Now that you are equipped with this arsenal, you can freely explore the joy of the occasion with your favorite loved one. Tastes30835@blogcritics.org Fri, 10 Jun 2005 11:54:00 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/06/01/204136.php Matthew RosenThe cigar wrapper isn't just one more component to a cigar -- it carries the majority of the cigar's flavor and nearly all of its aesthetic appeal. In fact, publications like The Cigar Encyclopedia and Cigar Aficionado suggest that the wrapper is responsible for 60% or more of the cigar's flavor and value. With more diverse wrappers being released than ever before, getting a handle on their styles and terminology has never been more important. Fortunately, comprehending these subtleties is easy with a little effort. The following ten points will help you understand, identify and discuss the majority of cigar wrappers available today.1. The Concept of Veins:When blind tasting a cigar, aficionados will look at the veins in the wrapper. In the case of shade grown wrappers, the smaller and smoother these veins are, the higher the tobacco leaf quality. The wrapper should be appropriately thick and have an oily feel -- suggesting that it is not dried out or brittle. As a rule, cigar wrappers are aged for at least a year or two, and the longer they age the smoother they will smoke.2. Understanding Shade Grown vs. Sun Grown:Tobacco plants that are grown specifically for wrappers beneath a shaded tent are called Shade Grown. The reason these leaves are grown in the shade is to keep their surface smoother and prevent the veins from becoming too large. Leaves grown directly in the sun, after all, are forced to become resilient to the heat and grow thick with more veins. In contrast to Shade Grown wrappers, tobacco grown in direct sunlight, called Sun Grown, produces a thick, dark wrapper. If grown correctly, Sun Grown wrappers will have more sweetness. 3. American Market Standard (AMS) Wrappers:Once popular in the United States, these wrappers are light green and have a sour characteristic. They are sometimes referred to as Candela, Jade and Double Claro. Because of the off-color and sourness, they are out of favor with today's tastes.4. English Market Standard (EMS) Wrappers:The English Market Standard has roots that go back to the 19th century and is the benchmark for most cigar wrappers manufactured today. It includes the term Claro, Colorado and Natural (in ascending order from lighter to darker). Wrappers in this group are grown in Cuba, Cameroon and Connecticut. 5. Why are Two Countries Sometimes Referenced?As the number of creative cigar makers grow, experimenting with growing different tobacco seeds in different regions is becoming more common. It is not unusual to find a wrapper labeled Dominican Sumatra, or Ecuadorian Connecticut. In the case of Dominican Sumatra, it means that the seeds from Sumatran tobacco have been transplanted to Ecuador and grown there. The first country is always the place in which the wrapper was grown, and the second country is the origin of the seed. 6. Sumatra:Sumatra wrappers are grown in Indonesia and typically carry a milder, more neutral flavor. They are dark brown with a hint of spice and a sweet aroma.7. Connecticut Shade Wrappers:Perhaps the silkiest wrappers around, Connecticut Shade wrappers are recognizable for their light, golden brown color. They are mild and have remarkably unobtrusive veins. For more flavor, look for the seed grown in Honduras or the volcanic soil of Ecuador.8. Broadleaf Maduro:This sun grown leaf is grown in Connecticut, Honduras, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Brazil. As to be expected from the Maduro method, it is very dark with rich, sweet flavors and aromas. Though the wrapper will be thick and veiny, a well crafted one will have a texture like velvet. 9. Claro:These are synonymous with Jade wrappers. They are light in color and can even be a bit green. Becoming harder and harder to find, they are mild with a hint of sourness.10. Cameroon:African-raised Cameroon wrappers are becoming increasingly popular among cigar makers, who are developing an appreciation for their spicy flavor and sweet aromas. They are dark brown and can be found in cigars made by Alec Bradley, Arturo Fuente, and La Aurora, among others.To be sure, you will recognize many of the above terms from your experience with cigars to date. They are commonly used as part of a cigar's name, and frequently referenced by cigar merchants and magazines. Now that you are equipped with this arsenal, you can more freely explore the wide range of tastes, aromas and visual aesthetics available in cigars, and perhaps more accurately describe your preferences. For those of you that are interested in exploring cigars for the first time, selecting several that each embody one of the above concepts is a fun and educational starting point! Tastes30454@blogcritics.org Wed, 1 Jun 2005 20:41:36 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/05/18/192132.php Matthew RosenBoth cigar retailers and producers are basking in the warm sun of rising cigar sales. As stalwarts like Altadis, USA continue to report solid growth in their earnings, independent cigar makers like Cusano and Alec Bradley are having to hire more employees to meet demand. These independent producers are discovering they are part of a changing world in which the newest cigar smokers -- a growing population of twenty-something aficionados -- are looking at them not as fringe independents, but creators of some of the highest rated smokes around. After hundreds of years of dominance by entrenched name brands, the independent cigar makers have finally found a way to garner upward mobility.The result of all this is not unlike what has happened to the wine world in the last thirty years. Just as wine drinkers are realizing you don't have to go to the entrenched omnipresent regions of France to find great wine, cigar smokers are discovering that the highest quality handmade cigars are not necessarily from Cuba. The Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nicaragua and other countries are doing for cigars what Napa Valley, Australia, and Chile have done for wine. Leading the charge to pioneer distinctive cigar tastes and styles in these areas are the independent producers like Cusano, Alec Bradley and others.Cusano, for example, smuggled tobacco out of Cuba and blended it with their own strains to create a remarkably distinct and full flavor for its Cusano Corojo 97'. The 97' along with the Cusano 18 both received a 91 rating from Cigar Aficionado, an accomplishment that puts them in the top 1% of all cigars rated. This comes from a company that had six employees a year ago (that number has now more than doubled).Certainly there are a number of factors that converged to help these independents get their foot in the door. The 90s cigar boom saw such an explosive increase in sales that it was easy for start-ups to get investment capital and begin making some money. The natural result of this was that thousands of low-quality cigar makers materialized to cash in on the buying frenzy, nearly all of which are now defunct. But the few producers with vision were given the opportunity to get started and now that vision is paying off.It has also helped a great deal that the dawn of the information age coincided with the cigar boom. Buzz that was nearly impossible to create pre-Internet seemed to propagate itself through cigar forums, blogs, websites, and email. Independents no longer needed a mammoth marketing budget to launch new products and get them recognized. The Internet, in turn, has helped bring distinctive, independently produced cigars to the attention of major publications like Cigar Aficionado and Robb Magazine. A single mention in a feature article means phones are ringing off the hook, and that means more money for independents to grow and continue to explore their vision.Now add to these factors that independent producers tend to be younger and more innovative and thus eager to tap into new markets like flavored cigars and viral Internet marketing. It begins to become clear that these are the businesses that will lead the cigar industry in coming years, rather than the behemoths that are content to do business the way it's been done for centuries.As this new era of independent cigar production dawns, it's comforting to know that most of the producers are cigar hobbyists just like their customers -- that they understand cigars and will continue to bring their best to the table. Getting a top quality cigar for less than $5 a stick that happens to not be Cuban is certainly something every cigar smoker can appreciate, and getting more of them in the future is something we can all look forward to. When has there been a better time to be a cigar smoker? Sci/Tech29718@blogcritics.org Wed, 18 May 2005 19:21:32 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/04/28/004111.php Matthew RosenFor cigar aficionados at the dawn of the 21st century, it's difficult to find anything but greatness in the increasing availability of quality, handmade cigars throughout the world. Where once there was a small, Cuban-centric industry controlled by an elusive elite, there is now a blossoming global trade that is supporting the addition of fresh new players eager to highlight not only the high art of handmade cigars, but also the technology that is making them more affordable than ever. However, the websites, magazines and general media that are helping to rate cigars and keep quality in check are inadvertently producing a downside: how can cigar hobbyists objectively find the cigars that suit their tastes when price, ratings and brand-reputation weigh in to taint their opinion before the first draw is even taken? The solution lies in mastering the art of the blind tasting. By following the five easy steps outlined here, cigar hobbyists, store owners and even professional tasters can be sure that they are influenced only by the inherent quality of the cigar they are smoking at any given moment.1. PreparationNaturally, a blind tasting relies on the taster not knowing which cigar he or she is sampling. Give a friend or family member a sampling of five to ten of the cigars you are eager to sample. Have them replace the labels on the cigar with a piece of paper marked only with a number. Have your accomplice match the number to the name of the cigar and keep the list out of your site until the tasting is finished.For each cigar, prepare an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper divided into four sections. At the top of the sheet, place the number of the cigar you are sampling. Place headings at each of the four sections labeled Aesthetics, Construction, Flavor and Strength, and General Comments, respectively. These will be the four elements you score the cigar on. 2. AestheticsAs is the case when enjoying food or wine, the aesthetic of the item you are sampling is half of the appeal and half of the fun. For cigars, this largely pertains to the wrapper and the overall facade. Look for veins in the wrapper leaf. Is the wrapper smooth, dry and brittle, dark, light, silky, gritty, oily, or coarse? Make observations on whatever comes to your mind. Remember: the idea is to capture your initial impression. At heart, did you like the look and feel of the cigar? Was it attractive to you? Or was it beat-up, brittle and worn-out? Rate your impression of the aesthetics on a scale of one to ten, pretending that you were judging an Olympic event. Don't be shy about withholding or offering decimal points for minor details.3. ConstructionAs you prepare to light the cigar, roll it between your fingers. Does it have soft spots? What is the weight like? Does it feel dense or light? Take in the aroma before you light it. Is it pleasing? As you light the cigar, pay particular attention to the draw. Does the smoke pull through on its own? Does the cigar appear to burn evenly with little effort? Take a look at the ash. Note the color and the texture. Use adjectives like flaky, solid, and messy. Take notes on all of these characteristics both before and after you light the cigar. Rate your ultimate impression on a scale of one to ten. 4. Flavor and StrengthOne of the easiest observations for a blind taster to make is whether the cigar is full-bodied or mild. Look for undertones that seem musty, sweet, harsh, floral, robust, green, or salty. Write them down along with if they were pleasing or not. As the cigar is smoked, does the flavor increase or decrease? Did it steer towards more complex flavors or end in bitterness? As with wine, the after-taste is key: the sensation that remains in your mouth after each puff is an important reflection of quality. Spend a few moments thinking about how the after-taste makes you feel. Are you eager to take another puff to get rid of it, or is it something that you want to linger? Take notes on the overall aroma of the cigar as you smoke it. Use adjectives like grassy, harsh, woodsy, overpowering, unpleasant, and floral. Rate your observations on a scale of one to ten. 5. General CommentsThis element is important for context. Some cigars are repulsive early in the day but absolute perfection in the evening after a meal. If the cigar you are sampling seems like it has potential but doesn't create synergy with the mood you are in at that moment, have your accomplice set another one aside for tasting at a different time. Cigars can reflect on seasons, times of day, and moods just like anything else. Use this category to make notes on what mood would fit the cigar and whether it's something you would like to enjoy often or rarely. Feel free to use this area to make overall observations such as, "All in all it was boring," or, "This cigar changed my life and it will yours too." Rate this category on a scale of one to ten.Average your four scores at the end of your sheet and record the ultimate rating. If you are feeling particularly motivated, you can create an excel spreadsheet that organizes your ratings so you can observe not only the highest average rating for all of the cigars you have tasted, but the highest rating for each individual category. In this way, you will free yourself from the confines of a mass cigar media that encourages biasing and pushes the idea that you should like this. Cigars, like art, wine, or food, are all about individual personality. One cigar's demeanor may or may not jive with your own, and that, after all, is the most important information you need to have. Tastes28755@blogcritics.org Thu, 28 Apr 2005 00:41:11 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/04/25/152615.php Matthew RosenIn the most rewarding new industries, there is often a convergence of factors that make them lucrative and sustainable. Factors like the emergence of new technologies, a ripening of the consumer market, or a political climate that spawns laws and regulations that give a particular business model oomph can revolutionize an industry. Over the last two decades, the counterfeit cigar industry in the United States saw all three of these factors converge to create the perfect storm of the illicit trades market. It began in the 1960's as the trade of authentic Cuban cigars was banned in the United States. This immediately created a situation in which there was a consumer demand for a product that was all but inaccessible through conventional retail channels. More recently, the explosion of computer and printing technology has allowed for the easy duplication of cigar boxes, labels and seals of authenticity. Finally, the growing popularity of cigars over the last fifteen years has fueled a consumer market that is eager to get its hands on any kind of Cuban cigar possible. In this environment, producing counterfeit cigars is all but the perfect business move. Add to this fact that the punishment in the U.S. for this type of counterfeiting is among the most minimal for illicit, black-market crimes, and the reward seems well worth the risk.Altadis, USA has consistently been a prime target for counterfeiters with the reputation of its ubiquitous cigar lines. Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, and H. Upmann are all among the most notoriously spoofed cigar lines in the United States, and Altadis is beginning a major crackdown. On March 25th, 2005, Altadis, USA was awarded $3.5 million in counterfeiting and trademark infringement against two Florida corporations. The corporations have now been disbanded. In addition to the damages, the counterfeiters were ordered to recall their entire product line including promotional and packaging material and deliver it to Altadis for destruction. The participants in the two corporations are also permanently enjoined from employing graphics that are confusingly similar to trademarks within the Altadis cigar line.The cigar boom of the late 1990's brought with it two major problems - the first was the proliferation of sub-par cigar lines and the second was the increased circulation of counterfeit cigars. Sub-par cigars have, for the most part, been filtered-out with the rapid decline in consumption that occurred between 1997 and 2001. Companies that did not have a strong foundation in quality were forced out of business. Now, it looks like, major corporations are finally stepping up to weed-out the proliferation of counterfeit cigars.In the 2005 United States cigar market, you would be hard-pressed to find someone who would disagree with the fact that there are more higher-quality handmade cigars available at better prices than ever before. To ultimately do serious damage to the counterfeit cigar industry, it will take the efforts of Altadis redoubled and spread all over the globe. But now that the counterfeiters are being taken to task, maybe we can all have the confidence that we get what we pay for. Tastes28621@blogcritics.org Mon, 25 Apr 2005 15:26:15 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/04/20/104111.php Matthew RosenIt would be an understatement to say that the current economic and political climate in the United States is not conducive to growth in the cigar industry. The founding fathers are wincing in their graves as taxes on cigars and pipe tobacco invoke memories of a certain point in the nation's history when the King of Britain was told to shove off. Indeed, not only are local cigar shops faced with this burden, but cigar hobbyists are confronted with the challenge of finding a bar or hotel they can still smoke in. Interestingly, Cigar Aficionado has reported this month that these efforts to oppress hobbyists have largely failed. 2004 was the biggest year for cigar sales since the peak of the 90's cigar boom in 1997.Cigar sales within the United States increased 12.3% in 2004, allowing imports to flirt with the 300 million mark for the first time in seven years. To put this in context, the cigar boom of the 90's peaked at 400 million imports in 1997. This crest dropped off sharply over the next three years, flattened in 2001 and has been rising steadily since.It is not uncommon for booms to be followed by a second, failed attempt at a rally - as anyone in the stock industry knows, but it is interesting that this second rally is able to subsist in an adverse economic and political climate. Again, those familiar with stock trading know that it's one thing for a company to be strong when conditions are ripe, but it's an entirely different beast when that company can continue to build strength when the cards are stacked against it. Companies of this nature largely become top candidates for hedge funds and mutual funds.Could the current growth of the cigar industry in the United States be a reflection of an underlying strength that politicians and even industry insiders were not anticipating? More importantly for state legislatures across the country: are they shooting themselves in the foot as they try to balance budgets without the $8 million a year in cigar-related revenue that is being driven to the internet and black-market smugglers because of their epic taxation?There could be more opportunity in the cigar industry than anyone has realized. Hell, there could even be enough opportunity for everyone. Tastes28422@blogcritics.org Wed, 20 Apr 2005 10:41:11 EDT