Archive for November, 2009

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CIGARS for Troops Program

Sunday, November 29th, 2009

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For soldiers stationed in Afghanistan and Iraq, luxuries such as smoking a cigar have to be left behind. That is, until now. The Cigars for Troops Program allows both individuals and cigar companies to donate handmade cigars to be sent overseas.

There is no limit to the numbers of cigars that can be sent, but larger sets or packages are encouraged, so they can be shared among soldiers. The USPS offers a special $7 mailing box that can be filled with cigars or other items and shipped to be a military address anywhere in the world. Weight doesn’t matter.

More information and donation tips can be found by contacting:

Cyle Geertz
CSTC-A, CJ1
APO AE 09356

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Planning a Party? Cigars Catering is a Growing Trend

Sunday, November 29th, 2009

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Next time you’re planning a party or meeting, why not hire a cigar catering company to provide both entertainment and quality smoking at once? Cigar rollers such as CF Dominicana (cigarcatering.com) will personalize cigars with your initials, bring them to your party (servers included) and pass them around along with special cutters and accessories that will make it possible for everybody attending to enjoy the handmade smokes.

Although there a number of companies that only work locally, others are willing to travel (for an extra fee) or connect with local cigar sellers to organize the catering. Caterers can also recommend drinks that will match the flavor and tone of the cigars, as well as provide accessories that can be taken as souvenirs at the end of the event.

Servers are usually girls dressed in 1930s attire, imitating the style and glamour of bar waitresses and cigarette sellers of the time. You can also hire a cigar roller to roll the cigars right at the party. Packages differ in price, but you can expect to pay about $1000 for an event of about two hours, not matter how many hand rolled cigars are needed.

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Smoking Cigars on Cruise Ships

Sunday, November 29th, 2009

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With so many public places banning smoking, travelers are sometimes worried that they will have to give up smoking for however long they are on a cruise. That doesn’t have to be the case. In fact, many cruises, such as the Carnival Valor, are now offering a cigar bar. Guests can sit there to enjoy a smoke and drink, inquiry about or buy products, and spend time with other cigar aficionados. Some cruises also have separate smoking times in their bars, libraries or rooms, where smokers of hand rolled cigars can congregate without fear of bothering other guests.

Another great advantage of cruises is that many stop at ports where Cuban cigars can be bought and smoked. Because it’s illegal for US citizens to own Cuban cigars, avoid bringing them onboard the ship and instead enjoy them on the island before moving on to explore more.

Always check in advance to see if the cruise you are planning on taking is cigar-friendly and whether there are smoking zones.

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Identifying Counterfeit Cigars

Sunday, November 29th, 2009

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The most commonly faked cigars are Cuban cigars. This is done for two reasons: because original ones are hard to come by and because their price is high and make for excellent business. However, almost any cigar can be reproduced. To identify a fake, keep the following in mind:

1. Look at the quality of the box and seal. New seals are usually multicolor, have watermarks and serial numbers. Poorly-designed labels may indicate a fake.

2. Look for stickers and burned engravings on the side or inside of the boxes of the handmade cigars. High-quality handmade cigars, especially Cuban cigars, do not have plain ink stamps. Ink is commonly used in fakes, though, because it’s easier to reproduce and imitate.

3. Look for factory and date stamp on the box. Fakes rarely include this, because a specific date makes it easier to identify a fake.

4. If it sounds too good to be true… if you find a handmade cigars selling for significantly less than the real price, ask yourself why.

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