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A FEW NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS |
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 Views from a Smoke-Filled Room
by Rich Perelman
Editor-in-Chief
CigarCyclopedia.com
Los Angeles, December 31 – On the eve of what we think will be a dynamic year for cigars in 2005, some New Year’s resolutions:
• Strike a blow for freedom!
It’s about time we all stood up for our place in the sun as consumers of a legal, if politically unpopular, product. Here in California, the anti-tobacco forces are still hard at work, although disappointed that despite millions of dollars being spent to convince people not to smoke, the rate of consumption is still around 17 percent of adults.
That translates to about 4.3 million smokers in this state, more than the 4.2 million votes Arnold Schwarzenegger received in winning the governorship in 2003!
With anti-tobacco zealot John Burton now out of the State Senate thanks to term limits, we will do our best to try and convince the Governor and the Legislature that a modification of the current rules on smoking will be in the best interests of smokers and non-smokers in the state:
> Allowing business establishments to choose whether their facilities are all-smoking or no-smoking, giving people a choice.
> Posting clear signage at the entrance which states that such facilities permit tobacco smoking and that persons entering do so at their own risk.
> Restricting entry into such facilities only to persons of smoking age or older.
And then leave us alone! A potential boost for such legislation might be the fact that revenues from tobacco taxes have receded, making the early-childhood-education-zealots led by Rob Reiner thirsty for anything which will raise more money for their pet programs.
• Stop being such a snob.
I promise to smoke more cigars I know nothing about. I promise to smoke some machine-made cigars. I promise to try and smoke at least one flavored cigar in the new year . . . maybe.
The search for new brands, new flavors and new excitement in cigars is a worthwhile pursuit. If we had stuck with the old, reliable names, we would have missed 2004 treats like Old Powder Keg and Nicarao, both stars of our ranking of full-bodied cigars.
Remember: the best cigar you will ever smoke may be the next one you try.
• Go to more stores, more often.
We spend a lot of time covering mail-order and on-line merchants who sell cigars at discount prices. They’re popular and have their place.
But nothing matches the excitement of the possibilities when you visit a large, well-stocked smokeshop. I’m a fool for new-fangled accessories, interesting cutters, vintage cases and lighters and some odd cigars I haven’t seen before.
So, take a trip to your local tobacconist, or maybe one that’s not so local. You won’t be disappointed.
• Go to Cuba, but if not, then to London!
I have enjoyed multiple trips to Cuba, thanks to licenses granted by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control. Maybe I’ll get to go in 2005.
But if I can’t. London is calling. Despite the encroachment of the anti-tobacco crowd, no other city outside of Havana has so many outstanding tobacconists, such a history of appreciation for cigars and so many places – public and private – to enjoy them.
• Make our site more fun and more informative.
We are very grateful for all of your support of this site. We’ve rocketed past 100,000 visits a month after just a few months in cyberspace. Thank you.
We’re going to work even harder to bring you more news, more rankings and more insights on what you should know – good and bad – in the world of cigars. Count on us as your source for news, views and information you can trust about cigars and everything that goes with them.
Red Lion Update:
We were a little hasty in declaring Red Lion, Pennsylvania devoid of cigar manufacturers in our story yesterday.
It turns out that one small factory is still operating: G.W. Van Slyke & Horton is still on the job, making machine-made cigars for a regional audience with brand names such as Canadian Club, Pennsylvania Dutchman, Have-A-Sweet and Moonshine Crooks!
Although handmade cigars from Red Lion are a thing of the past, there will be a cigar-rolling demonstration as part of tonight’s festivities at the Red Lion Historical Society. The weather may not cooperate, even though daytime temperatures are balmy for this time of the year in the mid-50. Forecasters predict a chance of showers in the evening.
Even so, it sounds like a good night to raise a cigar and bring in the New Year.
To all of our readers, our best wishes for a happy, healthy, safe and smokin’ 2005!
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