Friday, July 31, 2009

Smoking bans, taxes burn cigar makers


By Alan Gomez, USA TODAY
MIAMI — On a typically hot afternoon in his South Florida office, Jorge Padron casually puffs on a cigar that bears his family's name. The company has been growing steadily for decades, ever since his father, Jose Padron, founded it in Little Havana in 1964.

Padron and other cigar companies say their legacy of good jobs for unskilled workers and fine smokes for aficionados is imperiled not just by the recession. The rise in smoking bans across the country and a unprecedented hike in taxes on tobacco are proving to be crippling.


PHOTOS: Cigar makers keep rolling in tough economy


"The industry is suffering. A lot," Jorge Padron said.

The biggest casualty so far has been the Hav-a-Tampa plant in Tampa, which will shut down in the coming months and began laying off its nearly 500 employees last week. Norman Sharp, president of the Cigar Association of America, said other companies are laying off workers and cutting back.
FIND MORE STORIES IN: Florida | Tampa | Fidel Castro | Havana | Winston Churchill | Red Auerbach | Karl Marx | George Burns | Altadis 

"I can't even use the word cautiously optimistic," Sharp said. "These are dark, dark days."

Sales decline 

Cigars have long held a sacred place in American history. They're handed out when babies are born and at wedding receptions. They helped shape the identity of American legends such as Groucho Marx and George Burns, American allies such as Winston Churchill and even American foes such as Fidel Castro. Hall of Fame basketball coach Red Auerbach would pull one out as a victory was nearing, turning them into the ultimate sign of achievement.

Now, smoking is banned in workplaces, restaurants or bars in more than 17,000 cities across the country, according to the American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation. Meanwhile, about 100 bills have been filed this year in at least 34 state capitals that could increase tobacco taxes even more, according to Dan Carr, chief operating officer of General Cigar.

That's not necessarily bad news to some. Thomas Glynn, director of cancer science and trends for the American Cancer Society, said cigars don't cause as much lung cancer as cigarettes since they're usually not inhaled. But cigar smokers are just as likely as cigarette smokers to develop cancers in the mouth, lip and upper digestive tract.

While there are no reliable data on cigars sold in the USA, Carr said their industrywide analysis shows that people are either buying fewer cigars or cutting them out entirely. An estimate by the company, which sells about 30% of the cigars consumed in the USA, found that sales are down between 10% to 15% in the past year.

One reason for that is taxes, some say, which have skyrocketed.

On April 1, the federal excise tax on cigars increased from 5 cents to about 40 cents on large cigars. At least 12 states have passed tobacco tax increases also, and 25 more states are considering them, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Rich Perelman, editor of Cigarcyclopedia.com, said small cigars have been hit hardest. They are made to sell cheap but got hit with a nearly $1-per-pack tax increase. Premium cigars that sell for $20, $30 aren't affected nearly as much by the tax hike, he said.

At Flor de Gonzalez Cigars in Miami, their tax bill per shipment has gone from less than $5,000 per 100,000 cigars to more than $40,000.

Yadi Gonzalez, president of the family-owned operation that still rolls many of their specialty cigars by hand, said that has forced them to reduce some salaries. She worries about what will happen if governments continue using cigars as an easy source of income.

"They don't realize that at the end of the day, if we start losing jobs, and imports begin to drop, they're not going to accomplish their bottom line, which is to collect these taxes," Gonzalez said.

The weight of those taxes is solely to blame for the closure of the Hav-a-Tampa plant, said Richard McKenzie, a senior vice president of human resources for Altadis USA, which owns Hav-a-Tampa. 

On Friday, the plant began laying off nearly 500 people. McKenzie said most of the factory workers made between $8 and $12 an hour with health insurance, a pension plan and a 401(k), better than most jobs for unskilled labor. 

Carr, whose General Cigar company employs more than 6,000 people around the world, said his company hasn't had to fire anybody. Even so, he would not rule out the possibility of layoffs if their situation continues on its downward slide.

'This is an art' 

Carr said layoffs would be devastating not just to the industry, but to the unskilled workers who have benefited from the well-paying jobs for decades. Unlike workers who man machines in cigarette plants, crafting a cigar is a delicate process that has been passed down through generations.

"This is an art, what we do," Carr said.

The industry will probably not see a slowing down of the movement to snip away at the places where people can puff, however. From Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., government agencies are banning smoking in restaurants, bars and even parks.

Anti-smoking advocates see little difference between cigarettes and cigars. Perelman does. People don't rush outside to quickly inhale a cigar, he says. 

"They're consumed in a much different way," he said. "I have never met a person who is addicted to cigars. Never. Cigars are a quiet, reliable place in their life where they can relax and think about the world as it goes by."

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Eau Claire Housing Complex Bans Smoking Inside Homes


Hello To All My Cigar Smokers,

Well it's not a government intruision into our live but it is quasi-governemt (H.O.A.) which has stepped into our lives! A housing development in Wisconsin has banned smoking in your own home and it's residents are really the culprits here and the HOA let things run and land where they may. Smoking on your patio is ok, as long as it doesn't pass over into a neighbors yard (smoke must float up) and no smoking inpublic common areas like the community BBQ pit or in the park within the community. The HOA cannot pass this kind of ruling by itself because every resident has to sign off on it before it can be added to the residential by-laws and if your trying to move in there you must sign this agreement before your able to move in.

So what's next? No BBQ's, it has smoke as an important part of the equation and smoke can travel from yard to yard. BBQ grill smoke has toxin's within it that are just as harmful as cigarette's so I don't see how one is legal and one is not. I'm glad I don't live there but then again they get snow there and where it snows the Czar shall not live!!! What do you think about this one especially when cigar smokers age their precious stick and now they cannot enjoy them in this community? Well this is setting the stage for more of the same to follow! Watch out there are more things to come!

Spark one up and enjoy!!! Smoke Em' If You Got Em'!

BlkCigarczar

AAAEAU CLAIRE, Wis. -- Some residents have decided to outlaw smoking inside homes at a housing complex in Eau Claire.

Members of the Fairfax Parkside Homeowners Association voted last week on the ban for the 34-unit development. It also prohibits smoking in shared spaces, such as porches and garages, but does allow it in yards and patios.

Association President Dave Hanvelt proposed the regulation earlier this year because homeowners are so close and smoke from one unit could flow into the one next door.
Last year, the Eau Claire City Council approved a controversial ban on smoking in indoor public places, including taverns.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

New Cigar Bar in Vegas



















OK, if you never saw Siegfried & Roy perform, you really won't miss them. Actually, it's likely that even if you did see them you're not suffering much. Now, the animal act's gift shop in the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas has given way to the celebration of a partnership far more appealing: rum and cigars.

Rhumbar opened in early March with a decor that is as cool and refreshing as the drinks it serves. The place is intended to remind you of the Caribbean. White glass everywhere, including the bar top, and white "abstract mint leaves," aimed at paying homage to the Mojito, set the tone. The white is complemented by green in different places, but the real tribute to the Antilles is in the menu and in the "conversation pieces" that float above the bar.



















"We'll have 40 boxes from about 20 brands," Frey explained as he showed off the built-in humidor at the end of the bar. "We'll also have about 40 rums, everyone's highest end. We worked with every major rum company in the world to develop special cocktails."
Frey credits his partner in Montecristo Rums, Tim Haughenberry, for putting together the rum program. Honored are classics, Latin and Polynesian beverages, but "nothing's on fire," Frey said, answering a question about flaming drinks.























"Every month one company will be featured," Frey said. "We'll design more cocktails using that company's featured rum. There's also a walk-up Daiquiri bar." To be sure, you don't have to drink rum here.

Rhumbar has a full bar and full view of the Strip, something increasingly unusual in Las Vegas. The place is relatively intimate, spanning only 2,000 square feet. There are 18 stools at the bar and 30 seats outside.

Ultimately, what Casa Fuente is to the cigar, Rhumbar is to the idea that rum—pay attention here, single-maltistas—is the best way to make your cigar that much better.


If you've ever wondered what a bar would look like if it were modeled after a mojito, hold on to your barstools, Vegas—you're about to find out. On a mere 2,000 square-foot slip of real estate originally housing the gift shop for Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden, Rhumbar arrives softly—and without plans for a grand opening—March 2 at the earliest. (Currently open as of this writing)

Guests arriving at the Mirage by way of the stairwell and walkway extending upward from the Strip will cruise first past the Rhumbar patio, with its casual deck-y furniture and twin lamp light features (8-feet in diameter; the lampshade doesn't even begin until 7-feet up) before entering the building to discover Rhumbar proper and the modern, whimsical work of Alvarez + Brock Design.





Behind a glass wall, an orderly span of scrolling white, iron latticework represents freshly-picked mint leaves. This "mint wall" is flanked by a drinks rail and runs directly opposite the white marble bar whose delicate green glow emanates from beneath. Over a sea of more white marble (like so much sugar or light rum), white barstools sport the thinnest stripes of green. Behind the bar, more marble and industrial metals set off the 40 featured rums in their various colorful bottles.

If there's two things Frey knows its rum and cigars. The owner of FreyBoy Tobacco and Casa Fuente Cigars at Caesars and co-owner of Montecristo Rum, Frey has made sure to set into a slate alcove a massive cigar case/humidor for his 40 finest cigar brands. While both of Frey's products will be featured under Rhumbar's high, pitches ceiling (he co-owns FreyBoy Tobacco and Montecristo Rum), Gilbert says they have not build here an homage to Montecristo but a showcase to all fine rum, going so far as to employ the French spelling of rum, subtly indicative to aficionados as the French-speaking rum-making countries are reputedly responsible for the best rum agricole (artisanal rum made from freshly pressed sugarcane juice as opposed to rum industrial, made from molasses).






From 10 a.m. daily, Rhumbar aims to be the ideal spot for a cigar and espresso with your morning paper, shaded by palms, and looking out on either the city or on the Mirage's tangled jungle lagoon. In afternoon, refreshing drinks and even a walk-up daiquiri bar will refresh weary travelers. At night, high energy music takes over via a top of the line sound system, major sports events play on sizeable twin flat screen TVs and the patio affords a straight view to the newly renovated, iconic Mirage volcano.

















Rhumba's Samba Swizzle (with candied ginger garnish).


Behind the bar, Vegas' own BarMagic, a union of beverage consultants Tobin Ellis and John Hogan, is pulling together the 12 cocktail list, which includes a Latin Manhattan, 1944 Mai Tai, Samba Swizzle (pictured) and a take on the Chilean drink, Monkey's Tail. "I think we have a pretty intelligent placement of some sophisticated rums," says Ellis who for the 1944 Mai Tai substituted (out of necessity) the 17 year-old J. Wray & Nephew rum, (no longer produced; there is only a drop left and that is in Ireland), with Appleton V/X, also produced by J. Wray & Nephew distillery. "It's not about being ultra-purist," explains Ellis. "It's important to show your respect to the original bartenders and the classics as much as can be done but every classic goes through evolution … We took a little bit of liberty to make them fit the Rhumbar lounge concept."


Staff will of course be well-versed in rum and cigars but also at handcrafting innovative or classic cocktails with market fresh ingredients and organic sweeteners. Now a staunch supporter of the mixology movement, Gilbert was once instrumental in bringing about Vegas' flair bartending craze when he brought the legendary Ken Hall and friends from Florida to Sin City to populate Voodoo Lounge at the Rio, where Gilbert was the vice president of food and beverage. Of Rhumbar's prim, white marble bar area Gilbert says, "This is the palette for the bartenders to become the artists they are."

Rhumbar

The Mirage

3400 Las Vegas Blvd. S.
702-791-7111
Hours: Sun.—Thurs. 10 a.m. to midnight, Fri.—Sat. 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Premium cigars: $8 to $68
Specialty cocktails: From $12

Friday, July 10, 2009

CAMACHO CIGARS PARTNERS WITH THE ESPY AWARDS FOR THE OFFICIAL PRE-PARTY AT THE PLAYBOY MANSION


Los Angeles, Calif., July 10, 2009 – Camacho Cigars has been chosen as the official cigar for the ESPY Awards pre-party at the Playboy Mansion. The star-studded event takes place on Monday, July 13th, and celebrates the top athletes of the year.

Camacho Cigars will be treating athletes and celebrities to their ultra-premium Camacho Select, Camacho Triple Maduro, Camacho Diploma, and Camacho 10th Anniversary cigars during the night’s festivities, which includes poker, dancing, and entertainment.

“Camacho Cigars is proud to be a part of the pre-ESPY festivities,” said Dylan Austin, marketing director of Camacho Cigars. “The Playboy Mansion is an iconic location that every man dreams of visiting at least once in his life. This only adds to our excitement in being involved in this illustrious event.”

For more information about Camacho Cigars, please visit http://www.camachocigars.com/.

About Camacho CigarsFounded in 1961 by Simon Camacho, Camacho Cigars was acquired by the Eiroa family in 1995. Now part of the Oettinger Davidoff Group, Camacho Cigars is one of the key players in the international cigar market. The flagship Camacho brand, made at Rancho Jamastran in Danli, Honduras, is comprised of 9 premium and super-premium line extensions: (Super-Premium: Diploma, 10th Anniversary Corojo, Liberty Series, Triple Maduro, Select)(Premium: Corojo, Coyolar, Havana, SLR). Camacho Cigars also has 7 core brands, including Baccarat The Game, America’s #1 selling premium cigar.http://www.camachocigars.com/


Media Contacts:

CAMACHO CIGARS

American Rebel PR

Guy Jordan

(323) 656-5020

guy@americanrebelpr.com