Alice Jones: High rollers and the fate of fat cigars

Alice Jones: High rollers and the fate of fat cigars - Commentators, Opinion - The Independent

Havana Notebook

Monday, 6 April 2009

So the credit crunch has reached even the shores of Fidel Castro's crumbling Communist outpost. It seems that in the depths of a recession there are far fewer fat cats celebrating a clinched deal by chewing on a fat Montecristo No. 2. Setting fire to a bundle of dried leaves at around a pound a puff is a luxury to live without in straitened times.

For the last three weeks the schoolroom on the first floor of the elegant 19th-century Partagas cigar factory in central Havana has lain empty. Chairs are piled up on top of the rows of wooden desks where up to 300 trainee torcedores (rollers) are normally taught the intricate art of cigar-making.

The factory is no longer recruiting and has further sacked 15 per cent of its staff, thanks to a spectacular fall in demand. Those remaining are no longer allowed to produce over their quotas to earn a little extra. Once they have reached their target – for the highest rollers, up to 120 deftly hand-made cigars a day – they are sent home.

There is light on the horizon, though. Last week, the US federal government announced a tax hike on tobacco which, combined with a new bill relaxing the rules on allowing Americans into Cuba, should see the industry warm up again. And if all else fails, perhaps the Cuban tourist board can look into developing Guantanamo Bay (on the island's south-eastern tip) as a potential holiday hot-spot. According to Miss Universe, it's a "lo-o-o-t of fun" this time of year.

Art from the heart

The talk of the town this week was a performance by the Cuban artist Tania Bruguera, below, who erected a modest podium and microphone in the heart of the old town and invited passing habaneros to speak out on a subject of their choice. Two actors in army fatigues stood guard, placing a white dove on the shoulders of volunteers in a satirical nod to Castro's 1959 speech during which a bird serendipitously alighted on the leader. The crowd looked on, aghast and exhilarated. The government branded those involved as "dissidents". Too late: Havana had tasted free speech and it was electrifying to watch.

Fast lane to capitalism

It's a cliché to praise Cubans for their resourcefulness but the story of Rosa is one to savour. This diminutive, middle-aged lady spent a decade saving up to refit her ancient 1970s Lada with a turbo engine. Duly souped-up, Rosa took herself down to the Havana freeway for an illegal night race. The assembled boy-racers took one look at her and her rust-heap and raised the stakes. She won, repeated the hustle several more times and is now the proud owner of a new kitchen. What would Castro say?

Cigar makers upset about tax hike | WINK News - Southwest Florida | Local & Florida

Cigar makers upset about tax hike
By Tami Osborne, WINK News

Story Created: Apr 2, 2009 at 12:48 AM EDT

Story Updated: Apr 2, 2009 at 12:48 AM EDT
LEE COUNTY, Fla. – Cigar makers say a 750% increase in the federal tax on cigars will kill their industry, but others say raising taxes on all tobacco products, including cigars, is the best way to hold smokers accountable for the health problems second hand smoke can cause.

Wednesday’s federal cigar tax change raises the tax on a single cigar from five cents to 40 cents per cigar. That’s an increase of ten dollars for a box of 25.

"I can't afford it anymore. I'm just an average worker. I make an average worker, and I like a few things. I can't even smoke anymore. I mean it feels like the government is trying to tell me what to do," Chris Hamilton says.

Smokers aren’t the only ones fuming over today’s tobacco tax increases. Bonita Springs based cigar maker Rocky Patel says this tax could put him out of business.

"I don't mind paying our fair share, but I don't think we should be penalized to a point where it devastates our whole industry,” Patel says.

The federal tobacco tax increases might not be all.

Patel’s employees spent Wednesday on the phone making pleas to Florida lawmakers who are looking to tack on a one dollar per ounce tax of their own. Patel says that would mean another dollar per cigar.

"Over night with the swish of a pen, they're going to try to take this away from me, and I'm going to fight because you know, it’s not fair,” he says.

But, Patel says he understands the health risks of cigarettes and why lawmakers want to increase those taxes, but he believes cigars should be exempt.

"This is a cigar that adults enjoy on an occasion. Just like they enjoy a fine glass of wine,” Patel explains.

Anti-tobacco activists say that’s not true.

"They're all tobacco. They're all just as deadly and they all create second hand smoke,” Keran Kronseder-Vogt of the Lee County Coalition for Drug Free Southwest Florida.

That’s why groups like the American Lung Association say the new taxes are a step in the right direction.

"We hope it will encourage people out there to say I know it’s not good for me. It’s costing so much. These are not good times. I have better things to do with my money,” the American Lung Association’s Kurt Goerke says.

Patel says he’s speaking with other cigar industry leaders and he plans to continue fighting the state’s proposals.

Cigars are a $2 billion industry in Florida, and Patel says the impact of these taxes could leave thousands of people out of work.

How to Smoke a Cigar Video

Here is an ultra simplistic overview on how to smoke and enjoy a good cigar. Not completely detailed, but great for the average novice. Enjoy

CIGARS: Reviews, Bucanero Texas Star & Cañon

Very recently, with a somewhat pleasant Bucanero Cigars experience, I decided to purchase two sticks of my own to try hoping that the rest of the Bucanero line was as good as the 'Z' and that I would have good words to report on this small boutique cigar. I purchased the Bucanero Cañon and the Bucanero Texas Star, both of which left me severely disappointed. Both cigars did have a semi-clean draw and decent burn but the taste on these two cigars was almost unbearable. Seriously. I had to put both of them out. I make it almost a rule of thumb to smoke at least an inch of the cigar to discover what the stick is all about. I did so with the Cañon, this was a little more bearable, but only got about a half inch into the Texas Star (sad to admit this since I was very excited to see the word TEXAS on a smoke stick given my heritage). The Texas Star was almost metallic in taste, in fact I would compare this to a copper penny in it's bitter metallic taste. The Cañon, a beefy 60 gauge, is impressive to have hanging off your lip, it produces a nice puff of smoke, but the quality of smoke that I would like to report. It was very organic, but not like wood, cedar, or leather; these are all tastes that are very pleasant to me. This particular cigar unfortunately reminded me of packaging twine with its dry, almost hemp-like flavor or lack there off. The Bucanero Z is a decent smoke, however it's cousins the Cañon and the Texas Star failed to measure up to my expectations. Good luck should you try these two depressing smokes.

CIGARS: Graycliff Cheteau Grand Cru

When talking about a 'complex' smoke, one is referencing what makes a cigar interesting. One is referencing the noticeable changes in a cigar that take place from its initial lighting down to the stub that is left in the hand. Some of these changes include mostly changes in flavor, intensity of flavor, the strength or body of the cigar, and whether it spicy, mellow, sharp or smooth. The Graycliff Cheteau Grand Cru encompasses every one of these changes. It is, without a shadow of doubt the most complex cigar that I have ever encountered. Initially it is overwhelmingly full bodied and spicy but varies later in the smoke to almost a mild mellow personality and then back again. It changes from spicy to smooth and back again. Dont be surprised if your taste buds get confused, this cigar has notes of coffee, spice, some cedar and wood, and even some roasted almond notes can be found in this delicious smoke stick. Its by far, in my opinion, the most complex smoke on the market. Yes all Graycliff Cigars command a higher price point that most cigars at an average $25 price point however they are well worth the dollar. All are handmade at the Graycliff 5 star resort in Nassau, Bahamas and are all rolled by only 9 Cuban master rollers. This particular cigar is composed of tobaccos from Mezzo-America including some Peruvian tobacco which is somewhat harder to come by. It is evident that the boys at Graycliff know their stuff and have taken their time and all necessary efforts to make this cigar great. Smoke this one and you wont be sorry, I guarantee it or the smoke is on me.

CIGARS: Bucanero Cigars: Z

Recently one of my cigar buddies that comes into Corona Cigar every now and again, shared with me a boutique cigar that he recently discovered at one of his local Cigar Lounges in West Florida near Tampa Bay. Being that Steve is very much a cigar aficionado himself, I take his suggestions to heart. He just so happened to have one Bucanero Z in his Cigar sleeve and decided to give it to me to smoke and review. So here it is. the Bucanero Z lit well and had a nice draw and decent burn. This cigar was very mild to mild-medium bodied and had a pleasant nuttiness. Initially I thought I tasted some woodiness, but this was over come by a nice roasted almond flavor with some hazelnut notes. I feel that at a price point of $6.75, it was a little more than what I would have paid for it and is a little overpriced for what you get. I think at a perhaps a $4 to $5 price point this particular cigar would do very well, but unfortunately this is not the case. For my palate, this stick was not complex enough to gain that kind of price, but overall this is a decent stick that should be given a chance.

CIGARS: Oliva Series V

Several months ago at the Oliva Series V launch event at Corona Cigar Company, I had the opportunity to meet Ovi Guerra of Oliva Cigars. He turned to me handed me a Series V Figurado and said,"So, your a fan of our cigars, do you like full bodied cigars? Light this one up." I have to admit, other than the Master Blend 3, I was not really that big a fan of Oliva. I found many other cigars,although complex and smooth, did not have the uniqueness of other, fuller bodied cigars offered. That is until i found the Series V. This cigar is nothing short of amazing. With their unique fermentation process, Oliva has been able to harness the bite of the Ligero tobacco from "biting" the lips and throat while keeping the flavor that is signature to a good Ligero cigar. What is left is a smoke stick that is smooth, VERY full flavored and gives you that kick in the gut feeling that Ligero offers. Seriously, this cigar punches you in the gut, pleasantly if I might add, and for me, even gives me hick-ups, no kidding! Try this cigar. I have already converted many from regular ligero smokers to Oliva Series V smokers, you wont be sorry.

Cigars: Fight for your Cigar: Hillary Clinton Hates Us

In recent months there has been a scare in the cigar community after congress devised a bill that would essentially tax the cigar industry into extinction. This proposed tobacco tax is geared so that cigars would be hit hardest because of volume. So far it has passed in congress and the senate, but is waiting for Bush's approval. Bush, being a cigar smoker and Republican, has vowed to veto this bill. FYI: It was a Democrat that devised the bill. Hillary Clinton, one of the largest proponents of the tax, is now with the stance in her presidential campaign that she is for the banning of smoking in ALL public places. Listen, I am all for the banning of smoking in places where 10% or more of their revenue comes for food sales, but where is this going to stop? Cigars are not like Cigarettes. I am a cigar smoker. I enjoy socializing and good conversation. Is the only place where I will be able to enjoy both at the same time going to have to be reduced to doing so in my own living room? What is your stance on the issue?