I’ve had a lot of thoughts rattling around my head lately. I finally have an interview lined up for a job, with another couple possibilities in the pipeline. Historically, January has been a good hiring month for me, twice in the past I’ve started jobs which have lasted 13 years in January. As long as the companies don’t start with “S” I’m OK (every company I’ve worked for since 1989 has started with “S”, I need a change! Why do you think I haven’t pursued employment with Swisher, Swedish Match, Scandinavian Tobacco, Southern Draw…). Anyway, I’ve been reading and hearing a lot of divisive talk about the PCA and who’s going and not going and all, and I made my position clear in my last post, but I think there’s a big picture that’s being missed. The cigar industry seems to be mirroring what’s going on in the country politically with the divisiveness. There’s a whole us versus them mentality where everyone really needs to be united now more than ever. I hate seeing it, it really sucks, and I don’t know the answer, but it’s clear that whoever is pulling the strings here is achieving the desired effect. Divide and conquer. The cigar industry already is too small to stand up for itself as it is, fractured it has no shot at all. I’m on the fence. I love cigars from the largest manufacturers down to the smallest without regard for their politics (there are a few brands I avoid on general principle). I have both kinds of factories and seen that they are made the exact same way. I know it’ll never happen in the cigar industry, or in the country, but is it too much to ask to just get along and do the right thing?… Continue reading
cigarTag Archives
Protocol Probable Cause, Alec Bradley Gatekeeper, and Some PCA Throughts
There was big news this week regarding the largest four cigar companies deciding not to present at the PCA (formerly IPCPR) show in July. This dominated the news and discussion, so I figured I better add my $.02 for what that’s worth. I’ll start my saying that I bowed out of the IPCPR/PCA a few years ago as I just lost my will to keep getting shaken down for $400 a year to spend triple that out of my own pocket to promote their show when the organization made it clear they didn’t want me there. Argue with me if you want, call me names and say I should support the industry, but I do this as a hobby, I go to the show on my vacation time, out of my own pocket. Everything I do supports the industry, they aren’t going to miss my four bills.… Continue reading
News: Fratello Cigars Introduces: Fratello Blu, Fratello Rosso And Fratello Verde
Cigars and Omar de Frias are pleased to announce three new products to debut at the January TPE trade show in Las Vegas, NV.
Fratello Blu, Fratello Rosso and Fratello Verde are bundles that are intended to cater to “Fratello lovers that want a little extra bang for their buck,” says de Frias. “This is an exciting time for us as we’re diving into a new segment of the market, one that we hope will grow our family and our footprint in the industry.”… Continue reading
Happy New Year Cigars, a Cornelius and Anthony, and a Warzone
Happy New Year to everyone! I hope everyone stayed safe and enjoyed whatever celebration you chose to partake in. I enjoyed a 5 year old Padrón 1964 Anniversary Exclusivo Natural which was magnificent. It was from a box
which was a gift from Padrón from my first magazine article which featured them in Prime Living Magazine in 2014, signed by the senior señor Padrón. I’ve heard people say that Padróns don’t age well, but I beg to differ. This cigar smoked just fine. Perhaps it’s because it’s the natural wrapper variety, I’m not sure. I love the Maduros, but these Naturals have been fantastic cigars, and I’ve been savoring them because it’s a special box, ya know?… Continue reading
CigarCraig’s Favorite Cigars of 2019

This is going to be pretty easy, but not because I haven’t smoked a lot of great cigars this year. I have to say, considering the year I’ve had, cigars were the least of my worries, and I had a great many more excellent cigars than bad ones. It’s been said that this was a down year for cigars, and I am not as up on the newest cigars as I should be, but I had very few bad cigars. It could also be that I’ve been smoking cigars that I have in my collection, and I’ve been smoking a higher proportion of cigars that I want to smoke lately. It’s been a strange 18 months or so in my life. Anyway, there was one brand that I became enamored with this year that I am going to call my brand of the year, and my cigar of the year, and it’s a very under the radar brand.… Continue reading




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