Founded by Tony Wilson (l) and Alex Lukoff (r), The Cigar Guys host monthly cigar events at local cigar friendly venues.  These include restaurants, clubs, and cigar shops just to name a few.   

Usually casual events, The Cigar Guys target professionals who desire to meet and network with other professionals while enjoying good cigars and great people. “We see a lot of connections being made and business being conducted at our events, along with a whole lot of fun and laughter”, Tony stated.   

Some of their events include cigar tastings, networking events, poker tournaments, wine tastings and dinners.  For information about upcoming events and functions, check out their website at www.thecigarguys.net.

The Cigar Guys are passionate about cigars and the social aspect that surrounds the hobby.  Alex moved here from Seattle in 2005.  He thought it would take him no less than 5 years to build the relationships that he has in 2.5 years.  Alex and Tony both say they have few friends that don’t smoke cigars.  

“Cigars are the great equalizer”, Tony points out. “I am often out and I will see someone smoking a cigar and we will end up in a 20 minute conversation, which then leads to a friendship, all because we both love cigars.”

In any given week, Alex and Tony will visit between 3 and 5 cigar shops a month.  If you check their site, they actually write reviews of the shops they visit.   They want people to have options. So if you are in the Pasadena area you know you can go to Ceniza’s or take a quick drive to the Eagle Rock area and visit Planet Hollywood.   If you happen to be in Long Beach, you can go to Taylors Tobacco or drive down for dinner and a smoke in the Naples are of Long Beach to Big Daddy’s Cigars.  When The Cigar Guys travel, they also like to find cigar shops to write about. Tony recent took a trip to Washington DC.  Along with visiting the Smithsonian and the Captial Building, he also found three great cigar venues.  Look for his reviews next month at www.thecigarguys.net.   

If you have any questions or would like to be added to their monthly evite list you may reach Alex at alex@thecigarguys.net or Tony at tony@thecigarguys.net.

A few weeks ago, I found myself with a rare Monday off. To celebrate this rare occasion, I called a good friend of mine who happened to be in the same situation. Together we met for breakfast in Long Beach, and formulated a plan.

“Well,” he said to me, “since we don’t have anything to do, why don’t we do a grand cigar shop tour? Maybe go to three or four shops in LA or OC?”

“Sounds like fun,” I said. “But let’s stick to Orange County, since traffic will be lighter.”

Little did we know what we were about to start.

We began in Costa Mesa at the liquor store Hi Time. Most Orange County wine aficionados are familiar with this 50 year-old store’s 24,000 square feet of retail space, featuring over 10,000 different wines. And much to our delight, we discovered their competitive pricing on over 400 different brands and sizes of cigars in their humidor! All in all, it’s a destination worth visiting.

Next we moved inland a little bit to Siglo Cigar Lounge in Newport Beach. Saeed (sigh-eed), the owner, has a sign posted next to the humidor that says “Hours: the party starts when you arrive, and ends when you leave!” Aside from an excellent cigar selection, beautiful accessories and a cozy lounge, the shop is located conveniently next to a Togo’s and a Shari’s. Hey- as much as we love to smoke, we’ve gotta eat! Overall, I was a little disappointed by how dusty everything was, but we still had a great time.

Heading south on PCH lead us into the jewel that is Laguna Beach. On our way through, we decided to stop somewhere new- Cubana Cigars. Cubana has a fantastic location on the second floor of a strip mall with a patio and view of the ocean, but the lounge in non-existent and the selection is disappointing. Unless this is a quick stop on a warm day, this is not a destination place.

Finally, after three shops and four cigars, we needed a break. We needed lunch. After a stroll around Laguna, we stopped at Polina Salerno Italian Restaurant. We found the service prompt and the food was tasty at reasonable prices, which was not expected! It’s also across the street from our next destination, Mr. Bones.

Mr. Bones is the kind of shop that you wouldn’t know of if you didn’t stumble across it. The store is located a few steps below the level of the sidewalk, giving the whole shop a very intimate feel. The humidor is small- the two of us struggled to change places and browse- but full of cigars. Large couches and strategically placed TVs would make it a fun place to hang out with a friend or two, but that would be a capacity crowd. We didn’t stick around.

Finally, we headed up the 133 to Cigar Oasis. And believe me, it felt like an oasis! Located around the corner in a poorly designed strip mall, we had to call one of our friends who’s a regular to find the place! Once we were there, we were rewarded with an excellent house blend cigar and a spacious lounge featuring a projector playing ESPN on what must have been a 10’ square portion of the wall! With well designed lockers and a combination snack/soda machine, this is a shop that we’ll visit again.

Our last stop was that old standby, Maxamar’s in Orange. The owner, Amare, is the number one Davidoff and Graycliff retailers in California. With one of the largest humidors of any shop in California, Maxamar’s is a great place to stock up and sample new sticks. With two barber’s chairs in the main lounge and a poker table with a projection-screen TV and Xbox in the back, it’s a great place to meet new friends.

By this point, it was 8:00pm and we were tired and smoked out. My friend and I had each smoked 8 cigars, and were nearly falling asleep on the drive home. We had started dragging when we pulled up to Maxamar’s, but found that a donut and a bottle of water from the donut stand on the corner was just enough sugar to get us over the hump. We’ll be sure to report on the inevitable LA Cigar Shop Tour when it happens.

Until then, may your cigars be oily and your draws easy!

On September 29th, over 200 cigar enthusiasts from around the world gathered at Hotel Bel-Air (www.hotelbelair.com) in Los Angeles for the 2007 God of Fire Dinner for Cigar Family Charitable Foundation (www.cf-cf.org).

Keith K. Park, Founder and CEO of God of Fire and Prometheus (www.prometheuskkp.com), co-hosted the event with Joe Mantegna. Joe Mantegna is a world-renowned actor, who has been nominated for the Emmy Awards three times. He played Dean Martin in The Rat Pack and was nominated for the Golden Globe Awards. He has appeared in many films including The God Father III. He is currently starring in Criminal Minds (www.joemantegna.com). Park thanked his co-host, Joe Mantegna. “Joe is my dear friend. He is not only a great actor but also the nicest guy in Hollywood. Without Joe, this evening could not have been possible.”

The Fuente family traveled from Dominican to make the evening even more special. Carlos Arturo Fuente, Sr. and Carlito Fuente, father and son, are the world’s legendary cigar makers who produce God of Fire cigars. Eric Newman, President of JC Newman Cigar Company, Cynthia Fuente Suarez and Wayne Suarez, also attended the 2007 God of Fire Dinner. Eric Newman generously sponsored Mollydooker Wines (www.mollydooker.com) served during the dinner.

Charity Auction

The stars came out to help the charity auction, which was held during the dinner. Along with Joe Mantegna; Paul Reiser, Robert Davi, Paul Feig, Peter Falk and Jason Gedrick attended the 2007 God of Fire Dinner for Cigar Family Charitable Foundation. Thanks to their enthusiastic help, the charity auction was a great success and over $200,000.00 was raised.

Before the charity auction started, Park told the dinner attendees, “I realize how fortunate we are. We are sitting on the front lawn of this beautiful hotel and are about to have special dinner prepared by Chef Bruno. This dinner will be paired with Mollydooker Wines and God of Fire cigars. I realize how fortunate we are to be together this evening. Let’s not forget somewhere out there tonight, there are children going hungry and their basic needs are not met. During the dinner, we are going to have a charity auction. I hope that we can share our fortune and privilege with the less fortunate children of the world.”

Paul Reiser, actor and stand-up comedian, who is well known for his leading role in Mad About You, co-auctioned the donated items with Joe Mantegna. Reiser made the crowd laugh and entertained. One attendee said the day after the dinner, “My face still hurts from laughing so hard during the charity auction.” Later in the evening, Robert Davi, who has appeared in many block buster movies such as James Bond License to Kill and Die Hard, joined Joe Mantegna and Paul Reiser on the stage and kept the magical energy of the evening last until the very end of the charity auction. Jason Gedrick, who is known for his work in the television series, Desperate Housewives, Murder One and Boomtown, and the motion picture, Iron Eagle, also joined Joe Mantegna on the stage with Peter Falk. Peter Falk, a two-time Academy Award-nominated and five-time Emmy Award-winning actor, is well known worldwide for his role as Lieutenant Columbo in the television series, Columbo (www.peterfalk.com).

The proceeds from the charity auction were donated to Cigar Family Charitable Foundation (www.cf-cf.org) and Operation Iraqi Children (www.operationiraqichildren.org).

Gary Sinise, the 2007 God of Fire Man of the Year

Gary Sinise, who is the star of CSI: NEW YORK, received the 2007 God of Fire Man of the Year Award for his charitable work for the children in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the children affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Gary Sinise has traveled to Iraq and Afghanistan several times in support of the troops. Inspired by his conversations with soldiers as well as tours of Iraq and Afghanistan, with author Laura Hillenbrand (Seabiscuit: An American Legend), Sinise co-founded Operation Iraqi Children (OIC, www.operationiraqichildren.org) in March 2004. OIC is a grass roots program to provide concerned Americans with a means to reach out to Iraqi kids and support American soldiers’ efforts to assist the Iraqi people. Since then, Sinise and Hillenbrand have expanded their program to include children in other nations, such as Afghanistan and Djibouti, served by American troops.

Gary Sinise’s portrayal of Lieutenant Dan in “FORREST GUMP” earned him nominations for Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards and Screen Actors Guild Awards. He received the Best Supporting Actor Award from the National Board of Review, and the Commander’s Award from the Disabled American Veterans. He then went on to take starring roles in the acclaimed “APOLLO 13″ opposite Tom Hanks and Kevin Bacon; the thriller “RANSOM” with Mel Gibson and Rene Russo; and in Brian De Palma’s psychological thriller “SNAKE EYES.”

Currently, Sinise is starring as Detective Mack “Mac” Taylor in CBS’s wildly successful “CSI: NEW YORK,” produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and Anthony Zuiker. He was last seen on the big screen in Columbia Pictures’ “THE FORGOTTEN” with Julianne Moore, and “THE HUMAN STAIN” for director Robert Benton and Miramax films, opposite Anthony Hopkins, Nicole Kidman and Ed Harris. He provided the voice of Shaw in the fall 2006 release of Sony’s debut animated feature, “OPEN SEASON.”

Cigar Family Charitable Foundation

Cigar Family Charitable Foundation was started by the Fuente and Newman families in 2001, who are longtime business partners in the cigar industry. They came together with the vision of improving children’s lives in the Bonao region of the Dominican Republic. What began as a simple dream of adding a wing onto the local elementary school has evolved into Cigar Family Charitable Foundation’s 23-acre complex that includes: primary and high schools; health center; sports and recreation facilities; and an organic farming area. Today, the Complex serves well over 5,000 families and has achieved tremendous results.

Because the Fuente and Newman families pay all administrative expenses such as accounting and legal, 100% of the donations benefit the children and families served by Cigar Family Charitable Foundation (www.cf-cf.com). Prometheus and God of Fire have raised over $850,000.00 for Cigar Family Charitable Foundation since 2000.

During the dinner, Keith K. Park, Founder and CEO of God of Fire and Prometheus, expressed his great appreciation for the support and contribution made by the special God of Fire dealers, who made the event such a success. The following special God of Fire dealers attended the 2007 event with their customers and friends (in the order of their last names):

In addition to the above special God of Fire dealers, Park thanked Jean-Pierre Boladian, Johnny Lopez, Frank Mancuso, Jr. and David N. Zahler for being the great benefactors of the 2007 God of Fire Dinner.

When Fuente puts out a special edition, they do it right. It’s rarely a marketing gimmick, it’s truly something specials. The God of Fire by Carlito 2005 may be one of the best editions put out by Fuente not only this year, but the best since I’ve ever first lit a cigar.The God of Fire by Carlito was a limited release of 900 boxes with 10 cigars each, so finding one nowadays may be tough, but not impossible. And if you find one, it will be well worth any and all effort.The God of Fire is a Cigar Smokers cigar.
It is strong. Really strong. Extremely, sit the hell down, get a stiff drink, keep the wife away ’cause she’ll hate the smell strong. And it’s spicy. Really, really, really spicy. I can’t emphasis either of those two points strong enough. It’s important to note, because that is the basis for the rest of the joys this cigar has to offer.This stick has a perfect draw of some of the most gorgeous white smoke I’ve ever seen produced by a cigar. The tastes are bold and rich – a complex mixture of wheat, earthy aged tobacco, and peppers of all kind. The cigar held a tight ash through out the entire smoke.

The one and only thing I disliked about this cigar was the burn. It was uneven for most of the time, and caused the ash to split near the end. But other than that, I can’t say enough about how absolutely great this cigar is. Had the Gurkha Genghis Kahn not set such a high bar a couple of weeks ago, this would be hands down my favorite cigar of the year.

My buddy Alex and I attended this year’s Big Smoke held at the Venetian Hotel.  The Saturday evening event starting promptly at 6:30PM, but the line began to form by 5:00PM. It was surreal to see no smoking signs posted by Cigar Aficionado, which applied to the areas outside of the ballroom, not inside the event itself (God forbid!). There were different strategies employed by attendees to efficiently gather up cigars, eat, drink, and check out all the amenities. It seems that the best strategy was to go for the cigars first, but only if you were near the beginning of the line. If you were hungry and near the back of the line, it was better to go for the eats first, before the food line formed. Some cigar makers gave away cutters and other cigar accessories, which were in limited supply. To go immediately to a certain cigar maker, diagrams were posted to show the layout of the room.

Surprisingly, the room did not feel like a gas chamber, even with more than 3,000 people smoking cigars. Cigar Aficionado has been doing this for 12 years, and they know how to handle a large number of cigar smokers without any major snags. Some opted to arrive at 7:00PM, in order to avoid standing in line before the event. However, those folks ended up standing in longer lines at the various booths for cigars and food.

I talked with many cigar smokers at this event, and there were quite a few repeat customers, who religiously return every year. Rudy Giuliani happened to be in town, and talked to the various cigar makers and Cigar Aficionado executives before the doors opened to the public.

Coupon Books to Claim Cigars

There were 32 cigar makers giving away cigars, usually one cigar per designated coupon. However, a few cigar companies gave away 2 or 3 cigars, and others provided complimentary cutters, matches, and other token items. The Cigar Aficionado tote bag came in handy when visiting the various booths to collect cigars. It took more than an hour to visit all 32 cigar displays, so there was still plenty of time to eat, drink, and enjoy all of the other amenities.

TOAST ACROSS AMERICA

Friday, Sept. 28 from 6 – 10 pm

Taylor’s Tobacco House, has been selected as 1 of only 3 retailers in California to host the 5^th Annual “Toast Across America” event. This event is to benefit the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation. This event joins retailers and connoisseurs from all over the country who will help raise funds needed to continue the development of the first Cigar Family Community Complex in the Dominican Republic.

The dream of this foundation is to improve the lives of the people in the cigar producing areas of the Dominican Republic and give them an opportunity for the future.

This event will feature two special cigars – Fuente Fuente Opus X and a Diamond Crown Maximus, sold as a two-pack for this event. These cigars have been rolled in exclusive shapes and aged especially for this event. Taylor’s will also be featuring our refreshment bar and hors d’oeuvres, as well as other cigar specials all evening. Cigar Life is asking that you join Taylor’s for a very special evening of giving and lots of fun!

Taylor’s Tobacco House is located at 5937 East Spring Street, Long Beach, CA – you may reach Albert or his staff at 562-377-0700

YOU MUST ACT NOW!

Click here for a contact list of U.S. Senators with telephone numbers and electronic mail addresses. Every call counts, because almost all elected officials will open a new file on a matter if they receive 10 or more contacts of any kind.

 
 

If you decided to receive the cigars, you will be advised when they are being sent.   Once you receive them, we request you smoke at least one of them within the first month of receiving it.  Six weeks after they are shipped we will be sending out a short 5 question survey asking your opinion of the cigar.  Also, if you know of any other cigar smokers that may want to try these cigars or to receive Cigar Life, please email their name and email and we will add them to the list!

Thanks!

This is Cigar Life

“Its a Good Life, Enjoy!”

“This legislation is deeply flawed on several counts. Senate Bill 625 would harm American consumers, raise taxes, cause injury to a competitive business environment, dilute FDA’s vital mission to protect America’s food supply and approve life-saving drugs, and ironically create a federally sponsored tobacco cartel system.”

That’s a piece of a letter sent by the Coalition of Protect Free Markets to the U.S. Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee chair Edward Kennedy (D-Massachusetts) and ranking member Michael Enzi (R-Wyoming). It will likely be blithely ignored as the anti-tobacco witch hunt continues in the U.S. Congress.

A bigger battle may come in the House of Representatives, but the bill has a good chance of being passed by the Congress and sent to President George W. Bush, whose stance on it is unknown. However, his own head of the Food & Drug Administration, Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach, has come out against the bill, telling reporters “We could find ourselves in the conundrum of having made a decision about nicotine only to have made the public health radically worse. And that is not the position the FDA is in; we approve products that enhance health, not destroy it.”

The bill is lengthy, but speaks almost not at all to cigars, but clearly puts cigars in the purview of the FDA and will impose about a $1 per cigar tax to raise funds for FDA administration of tobacco. It’s a disaster waiting to happen . . . and may happen.