SCHIP Leads to Closure of Cigar Factory
I was on Twitter last night (@Travis_Lindsay) and I saw this Tweet from @taxfoundation about a cigar manufacturer closing down due to a new tax, SCHIP. Here is the important part of their post:
Tampa will lose part of its cigar heritage in August when Hav-A-Tampa shuts its factory near Seffner and lays off about 495 employees, closing a factory that has been operating since 1902.[...]
However, the company attributed much of its trouble to the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP, a federal program that provides health insurance to low-income children. It is funded, in part, by a new federal tax on cigars and cigarettes. McKenzie couldn’t say how much sales of Hav-A-Tampa cigars had fallen off, but the numbers have dropped significantly, he said.
Previously, federal excise taxes on cigars were limited to no more than a nickel, said Norman Sharp, president of the Cigar Association of America trade group. The tax increase, which took effect April 1, raises the maximum tax on cigars to about 40 cents, Sharp said.
Hav-A-Tampa cigars aren’t premium cigars so I personally won’t be affected by this closure but, still, 500 employees is 500 employees and there were people who did smoke these wood-tipped cigars. It’s too bad that SCHIP has caused this company to close. I just wonder how this will affect the “jobs saved or created” metric and what other small scale cigar companies will eventually close because the taxes are too injurious.
CAO Criollo Pato Cigar Review
Pigtails. Who does not love pigtails? But, if you do, this cigar might not be the one for you because it does have a pigtail on the cap. Alright, other than the pigtail there is a good amount of oils. The construction looks fine but I have to say that it is visibly lopsided. That is a little bit disconcerting but, as long as the cigar smokes fine, I’m OK with it.
My Previous Review of this Cigar
Cigar Stats
Robusto
Length: 4 7/8″
Ring Gauge: 50
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $6.00
Chuck Light!
Oats, wheat and charred wood. There is also a nutty flavor going on here. Medium-full bodied and burns evenly. I like these flavors and they work well together.
I’m halfway through now and the flavors are still very, very good. Loving everything about this cigar. Good flavors, good draw and a decent burn. It’s definitely better than the last one of these I smoked (Which I gave 88 points to).
It does not end very well though. There is an ashiness to it as it gets close to the nub. However, I don’t think that this needs to overshadow what is good about this cigar and there is a lot that is good about it. Still, these bad flavors do last for a half an inch or so and that does hurt my score for this cigar a little bit.
Hmmm. The bad notes leave as soon as they came. That’s good. What is also a good thing is that those enjoyable flavors come back.
91 points
My Birthday at The Cellar
It was a great night full of amazing food, out-of-this-world bourbon and surprisingly good cigars (I like Punch cigars but they just seemed significantly better Thursday night. I’m sure it had something to do with the setting.). Here is what I had at The Cellar:
The Bourbon
Evan Williams Single Barrel – The world’s only vintage-dated Single Barrel Bourbon and is one of the world’s most acclaimed whiskeys. The first American Whiskey ever to win The Spirit Journal’s Whiskey of the Year award.
Elijah Craig 18 yr. old – The oldest Single Barrel Bourbon in the world at 18 years, Elijah Craig Single Barrel is a rare marvel of whiskey-making.
Parker’s Heritage 27 yr. old – Simply one of the oldest bourbons on the market. This smooth spirit features silky and sweet nose with hints of caramel and vanilla. The taste is amazingly balanced and smooth…sweet without being too sweet…and dry without being too dry!
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The Cigars – Punch
The original Punch cigar was created in 1840 by a Cuban cigar manufacturer named Manuel Lopez. In an effort to attract the British market, he named the cigar after Mr. Punch, the cantankerous half of the Punch and Judy puppet shows.
Punch Champion Natural – bold, full-bodied taste with a wrapper that is Ecuadoran Sumatra. Filler: Honduran, Nicaraguan, Dominican (Piloto Cubano). Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf. 90 pts cigar insider.
Punch Rare Corojo Magnum – these cigars are made with extra rich, dark Sumatra wrapper leaves that are grown in the mountains of Ecuador. Medium to full bodied. 92 pts cigar insider smooth, earthy, slightly sweet flavors of clay, charcoal, stewed meat, and raisins.
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Dinner – By Executive Chef David Kelser
Seared Ahi Tuna served under a spicy Mango salsa and fresh micro greens
Ratatouille veloute with Pesto croutons and crème fraiche
Slow roasted Short Ribs over herbed Polenta and Shallot-Thyme Jus
Chocolate-Espresso soup with Vanilla Ice cream, Fresh Berries and Pistachio crisp
I was lucky enough to have a man from Heaven Hill’s Distillery at my table – an entertaining fellow who I am extremely jealous of. Wouldn’t it be great to have a job selling such amazing libations as the ones we had? Of course it would!
My favorite cigar was the Punch Champion Natural. It’s a perfecto with a good amount of kick to it. My only regret is that I smoked it first because I am certain it would have mixed much better with the older bourbons. As far as regrets go this is but a pittance. The cigar definitely belongs in the 91-93 point range.
Everyone at the table was great. They were all extremely accomplished men and the stories and jokes they told were a lot of fun. Before I continue with my Saturday I need to thank my professor, John Jackson, for inviting me. That cigar dinner was a great way to cap off my birthday. Thanks JJ!
Happy Birthday to Me!
I am 24-years-old today. [Yeah for me!]
Tonight, I will be attending a swanky cigar event, which is totally unrelated to my birthday. But so what? I’m going to be smoking some Punch cigars and drinking fine whiskey. Oh, and having great French cuisine. Can’t think of a better way to be spending my birthday.
If you want to take a gander at what’s in line for me tonight go here. It’s under the heading “Cigars Under the Stars“.
CAO L’Anniversaire 1968-1998 Maduro Belicoso Cigar Review
Before I took a couple of months off from posting reviews I had forgotten about all the CAOs I had smoked. I’m looking through my review book and there is only this one and one more from CAO and then there are some really interesting reviews after that.
The maduro wrapper looks mostly good. There are some spots on it and there is a tear near the foot. It’s a box pressed cigar. The cap looks a little misshapen but there is a good amount of oils on this cigar.
Cigar Stats
Torpedo
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 54
Wrapper: USA/Connecticut
Binder: Ecuador
Filler: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua
Price: $8.00
OC Lights!
First impressions: decent draw, mild earthiness, a gritty cocoa flavor as well. Medium-full bodied. Nothing really special.
The cigar is burning evenly and there is a mild sweetness. But my overall impression of these flavors? So-so. Nothing to write home about.
Halfway through and things have not changed all that much. There’s a slight chocolate flavor that is coming through but, besides the chocolate, it’s boring. I also have to mention that it is medium bodied at this point and has been for about an inch.
Perhaps the only good thing about this cigar is that I am smoking it while watching the movie “Orange County.” It’s a hilarious movie and you should watch it. If you do pick up the DVD then the best parts, besides the movie itself, are found in the “Interstitials.” Oh, yeah, I’m still smoking a cigar.
The cigar doesn’t get harsh but it does get bitter after the halfway point. Specifically, it’s a chalky bitterness that completely ruins any good feelings I may have had about this cigar. The previous CAO L’Anniversaire Maduro I had was much, much better.
84 points
The price point for this cigar demands a higher quality cigar than this one. It’s also worth pointing out that the previous one I had scored 93 points. There really shouldn’t be this kind of disparity between scores for the same vitola of the same cigar. For my money the Cameroon line is a better choice than the maduro one.
