For the week of June 9-13, 2008

Los Angeles – There are an estimated 3.5 million premium cigar smokers in the United States, the largest cigar market in the world. If brought together as a political force, such a group would offer a powerful voice against unnecessary regulations and restrictions primarily aimed at cigarettes.

But up to now, no consumer cigar organization exists, but this is changing.

Some 20 cigar manufacturers and distributors have joined forces with an elite retail advisory board to form Cigar Rights of America ("CRA"), with a goal to protect the rights of cigar smokers nationwide.

Although the challenge in organizing cigar smokers – a notoriously independent bunch – is severe, the CRA is launching its Web site at CigarRights.org and hoping to begin registering smokers for membership for one to four years at a cost of $35 per year (one year), $60 for two years, $85 for three years or $125 for four years.

CRA organizers have noted that the membership fee is not a bargain cigar buy or a cheap way to get a lot of "cigar stuff"; in fact, very little in the way of premiums is planned at the outset. It’s a serious attempt to create an organization which can respond to what a CRA news release calls the "overzealous, anti-smoking movement" whose goal is "nothing short of the complete prohibition of tobacco."

A CRA promotional tour to leading retail shops with several star cigar makers is planned for August to help spread awareness and sign up new members, beginning in New York on August 19. A special set of limited-edition cigars will be offers at about that time to commemorate the founding of the organization.

If a viable cigar consumers group could be organized, it could be a powerful force. Consider that the International Brotherhood of Teamsters comprises 1.4 million members and that the UAW (auto workers) has 640,000 active members. Both pack substantial political punch; a large cigar-smokers union could also offer a voice that can impact local, regional and national legislation concerning cigar smoking venues, taxation and regulation.

>> A letter from the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR, formerly RTDA) was circulated on June 3 which outlined the association’s own plans to create a grass-roots organization to "greatly expand our ‘voice’ to legislators at the state and national levels as they consider anti-tobacco legislation regarding smoking bans of and new taxes on premium, handmade cigars and pipe tobacco.

The letter from IPCPR Executive Director Joe Rowe noted that a "targeted national consumer survey" indicated overwhelming support for such an organization. "The working name for this organization is ‘Friends of the Industry," said the letter, with more details to come in the future.

>> The seventh edition of the limited-production Camacho Liberty series is on the way to retailers and it’s one to remember. Christian Eiroa’s annual salute to the United States of America is once again in the famous Camacho "11/18" shape, a perfecto of six inches long and a ring gauge of 48 at each end, but expanding to 54 ring in the middle.

In addition, the Liberty 2008 is box-pressed and has a double wrapper offered in the "barber pole" style of light and dark leaves arranged in a striped pattern. All of the tobacco was grown, as is the case on so many Camacho cigars, only in Honduras.

Medium in body with what’s being called an "intricate" blend, the 2008 Liberty was made in just the one size in a production run of 40,000 cigars. Each is separately packed in its own slide-top, wooden coffin and there are only 2,000 chests of 20 which will be sold. The retail price is $16.50 per cigar or $330.00 per chest.

This is the fifth year in a row that the Liberty limited edition has been made in the 11/18 shape and the second year in a row for striped cigars. Introduced in 2002, the inaugural Liberty line had five shapes, but just a single shape has been made for every year since except 2004 (a second Liberty size was issued). Production quantities remained constant at 40,000 for the fourth year in a row.

>> Short fillers: Find our latest tasting review, of the surprising Gispert and veteran Caballeros lines, in our News & Views archives for June 6.

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Heard in the Humidor is a publication of Perelman, Pioneer & Company. Copyright 2008; All rights reserved.

Rich Perelman

6/9/08

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