Celebrating 25+ Years

 

Time flies and it is hard to believe that 25+ years have gone by since the founding of Tobacconist University.  We are so busy managing record level certifications and developing our future infrastructure that we fail to look back and appreciate what we have accomplished.  So we had to dig deep into our archives to put this timeline together and we were pleasantly rewarded with a trip down memory lane; we hope you enjoy it!

1996 Cuban Cigar University Is Born
Less than six months after opening his first store in Princeton, NJ, TU founder Jorge Armenteros goes to Cuba and accidentally meets the director general of Cubatabaco, getting access to farms, factories and rare educational materials which become the foundation of Tobacconist University's academic curriculum.  Armenteros returns to the US and creates a curriculum to train his tobacconists and starts doing consumer seminars under the brand name Cuban Cigar University.

"I wasn't even a fully developed adult human, yet I opened my first store in 1995 at the age of 21.  I went to Cuba in 1996 to further my knowledge of premium cigars.  When I got back I realized I needed to create a program to educate my tobacconists and customers.  I did this because I wanted to be the best.  By 1997 we were doing live seminars with customers in hotel meeting rooms." - Armenteros   

2005 Tobacconist University And The Certified Seal Is Born
While opening 3 stores in 3 states, Armenteros continues to train his retail tobacconists using the Cuban Cigar University (CCU) curriculum.   Until now, CCU was a proprietary educational program to train professionals for a single company.  The challenges of employee education/product knowledge, the proliferation of bad information on the internet, and the continual threats of new taxation and smoking bans incites the desire to turn the program ‘inside out’ and make it available to all retail tobacconists.  The power of the internet allows for the creation of a website to provide free and credible information for consumers and tobacconists.  

"For a decade, our original CCU curriculum consisted of giant notebooks, transparent overhead projector sheets, and paper exams... until we put it online." - Armenteros

"The TU Certified Seal and Lapel pin is the first and only symbol of a professionally trained tobacconist." - Armenteros

2007 Tobacconist University (TU) Arrives
TU becomes the official educational curriculum of the RTDA/IPCPR, today’s Premium Cigar Association (PCA).  This begins a 10+ year period of building out the online academic programs and administering free final exams at the annual tradeshow convention.  Funding is scarce but a few companies provide enough help for TU to survive.  Padrón Cigars provides a significant endowment and others like Tatuaje Cigars, Drew Estate, and Miami Cigars support TU as well.  Our first tradeshow booth for administering TU exams was 2008. 

"We spent the next 10+ years staffing a booth at the tradeshow and certifying more than 400 Certified Retail Tobacconists (CRT); it was slow, expensive, but steady growth." - Armenteros

2009 The Tobacconist Handbook 1^st Edition
The historic release of The Tobacconist Handbook marks the first time a comprehensive book is published to educate tobacconists.  As a distillation of the TU online curriculum, The Tobacconist Handbook can provide enough education for TU students to pass their final exams and give anyone a well-rounded education on luxury tobacco.

"Writing this book nearly killed me; it was like having a tiger by the tail and I couldn't let go.  While it is a distillation of the online curriculum, it still took a year to compile/write, working typically from 10pm to 3am, after normal hours of running my shops and TU.  While I am normally an avid reader, I didn't read a book for two years after this project!  It took a lot out of me." - Armenteros

2012 - 2015 R&D Cigars
Our revolutionary program to create educational cigars where we research and develop cigars along with their component puros and educational content.  This program created the R&D Brazilian Corojo and PA/CT Broadleaf cigars which were sold exclusively to Certified Retail Tobacconists (CRT).  Unfortunately, onerous regulatory threats from the FDA made the next Mexican San Andres and Organic Nicaraguan projects impossible to release.  Once again, over regulation kills another dream in the luxury tobacco industry.  Click here to learn more about R&D Cigars.

   

"R&D Cigars was my pride and joy, a grand educational cigar adventure that created cigars that only Certified Tobacconists could sell; a bona fide competitive and educational advantage.  Alas, it was extremely costly to execute and killed by the FDA." - Armenteros

2018 Online Final Exams for Everyone!
After a decade of administering final exams at the PCA tradeshow and through the USPS with Certified Tobacconists administering paper tests, we deploy online exams for everyone; making our certification programs (CCT, CRT, CST) 100% online and fueling unprecedented growth. 

"It was actually terrifying to put our final exams online; mostly due to fear of people cheating or releasing the questions to the public.  Fortunately, our community of luxury tobacco lovers has integrity and a deep commitment to the value of education and certification." - Armenteros

2019 The Cigar Sommelier Is Born
The Certified Cigar Sommelier Tobacconist (CCST) degree is released.  Capitalizing on the demand for education and certification for those in the ‘business’ who are not full-service tobacconists, this degree serves lounges, mobile/event businesses, media, restaurants and golf clubs and everyone in between.  Our CCST School is the first program we placed behind a paywall and allows custom branding and configuration for individuals or companies with many employees and locations.  It is a streamlined distillation of our broader curriculum and it focuses on creating knowledgeable and competent premium cigar service professionals.  Click here to learn more about the CCST program.

"The success of the CCST program took us by surprise.  We were always so focused on full-service tobacconists that we didn't realize the massive growth and demand in the cigar-centric space.  The need for credibility and education was real and the CCST has become our fastest growing certification." - Armenteros

2020 Certified Cigar Reviews Is Born & The Tobacconist Handbook Is Updated
After 'perfecting' the online educational and certification programs for professionals and consumers, the TU focus turns to creating post-graduation value for certified tobacconists.  The Certified Cigar Reviews (CCR) platform allows users to create comprehensive reviews for online sharing and printable options like shelf-talkers.  Most importantly, CCR educates and empowers users and viewers by defining terms and creating a professional structure for an admittedly subjective process. 

"By the mid-2010s, the internet is proliferating with cigar reviewers providing their own opinions.  We believe tobacconists are the ultimate reviewers since they do it all day long, face-to-face with customers.  This leads us to create (over the course of 4 years) the CCR platform.  In the process, we realize the need to create post-graduation value and leverage for our certified professionals and consumers.  How can we help certified tobacconists? becomes our new focus." - Armenteros

The Tobacconist Handbook: An Essential Guide To Cigars & Pipes is upgraded, updated, enhanced, improved and re-released by Skyhorse Publishing.  Sales continue to surpass all expectations and reach consumers and professionals around the world.  Take a look here...

   

2020 CIGARS 101 Introduced
Our CIGARS 101 program was released outside of the TU website on a modern learning platform; this experiment is part of our long term plan to potentially move part or all of our certifications onto more technologically advanced and responsive platforms.  CIGARS 101 is also intended to create a strong educational/knowledge foundation for all levels of consumers.  Click here to learn more.

2021 CCST Maestro Released
Compelled by the growth and success of the Certified Cigar Sommelier Tobacconist (CCST) program, the CCST Maestro program is introduced.  This historic program empowers CCST Maestro to certify others for profit while administering their own CCST School.

"While still in its infancy, this program will change everything!  The CCST Maestro gives certified tobacconists the plug and play ability to educate and certify their own customers while profiting from the process.  Helping tobacconists profit through education is an unbelievable dream come true! " - Armenteros

2022 Benchmark Cigars Database Is Born
The dream of Certified Cigar Reviews (CCR) was stunted by a worldwide pandemic and a garbage-in/garbage-out problem:  reviewers were overburdened by having to input too much cigar data.  This led us to create the Benchmark Cigars Database, which allows manufacturers/distributors to upload their cigars into the CCR platform for free: then users can create reviews in just seconds!  Populating the Benchmark Cigars Database in the Certified Cigar Reviews website started in the Summer of 2022 and will continue into the foreseeable future.

"This project has nearly killed me physically and financially, but the hardest part is now behind us.  The technology and database we have created are the foundation for projects we will be releasing in the near future: projects which benefit all professionals and consumers but especially help Certified Retail Tobacconists compete.  So stay tuned as we roll out exciting new developments in 2023 and beyond." - Armenteros

2023 And Beyond
TUECOM, Online Career Center, educational content improvement, deeper discounts for retail tobacconists and many more things are in development…  Stay tuned….

"It is difficult to put an exact date on the birth of Tobacconist University, so I have chosen, partly for sentimental reasons, September, 8 of 1997; by then we were certifying professional tobacconists and consumers.  Looking back, it has been a wild ride and I feel like we have accomplished the impossible.  Despite the blood, sweat, dollars and tears, it has been worth every sacrifice.  As I look back, I am proud to say that we have accomplished everything we set out to do and layed a strong foundation for an extraordinary future... It feels strange to say, but I definitely feel like we are just getting started!" - Armenteros

CIGAR CUTS

                       

Premium cigars have a finished/closed head which must be cut to draw and smoke properly.  While there is no right or wrong cutter to use, there are fundamental techniques which will keep you from damaging the cigar you are smoking.  You can read about the many types of cigar cutters in Accoutrements College and learn about The Perfect Cut in our FAQ section.

                              

ACCOUTREMENTS COLLEGE:  CIGAR CUTTERS

🔴

THE PERFECT CUT

CIGARS 101.8: Selecting, Cutting, Lighting, Ashing & More...

Selecting cigars begins with a real life visit to a retail tobacconist - preferably a Certified Retail Tobacconist.  Partly because you can't really see, smell and touch cigars on the internet and also because real human interaction, including body language, verbal inflection and passion can only be communicated in a face-to-face environment.  Internet and mail order companies specialize in hyperbole, story telling, and discounting brands on the back end of their life cycle.  While retail tobacconists must be accountable to their customers in real life.  Retail tobacconists test and pioneer new products and get personal feedback from customers every single day.  This hands on experience is the difference between professional excellence and just pushing cigars. 

The average retail tobacconist store has between three to five hundred facings of cigars, all curated to serve their unique customer base.  If a retail tobacconist works full time and smokes two cigars a day, that means they are smoking five hundred cigars per year.  This means they would only get to smoke through their own inventory once per year - at best maybe they would get to smoke two of everything in their inventory!  At this rate it would seem impossible to become an expert on every cigar in the inventory; halfway into the year a professional tobacconist would have forgotten the details and nuances of what they smoked six months ago!  And of course a person would have to smoke multiples of a particular cigar to become well versed in its nuances and properties and then be able to communicate about it.  Fortunately, the retail environment has the benefit of creating a feedback loop where the tobacconist becomes a repository of information and impressions from customers.  Customers help educate tobacconists as much as tobacconists help to educate customers!  

Practically speaking, professional tobacconists are just passionate consumers with a little more experience and information.  Furthermore, tobacconists have the same preferences and biases as other consumers.   Rather than smoke every product in a store, they will tend to smoke cigars in the style and format that they prefer.  Some tobacconists will prefer large ring gauge Nicaraguan style cigars while others prefer lighter Dominican coronas.  

The process of finding the right tobacconist will involve getting to know them and understanding their strengths, preferences, and personal style.  Above all, a well educated and certified tobacconist will know their fundamentals and be able to educate you and point you in the right direction.  A great tobacconist will share their own knowledge and experience with you as well as all that they learn from their customers!  In summary, selecting the right tobacconist is the first step to selecting the right cigar(s).    

SELECTING CIGARS
When you are in a walk-in humidor you will be surrounded by hundreds of cigars in varying sizes, shapes, and wrapper colors, with an astronomical variety of components and flavor profiles: it is simply overwhelming.

STEP 1
The first thing you should do is ask yourself, "what am I in the mood for?"  What ring gauge and length are you in the mood for?  What will feel comfortable in your hand and mouth?  How much time do you have/how long do you want the cigar to be?  This process will narrow your options significantly.  

STEP 2
The next step is to narrow your options even further.  Do you prefer a certain flavor profile?  Are you looking for full bodied? Spicy? Complexity? Or are you in the mood for a richer and sweeter maduro wrapper?  Are you in the mood for something like XXX which you smoked previously?  You are in charge of your mood and palate and your tobacconist can help guide you through the inventory with short descriptions and personal impressions and opinions.

STEP 3
Now, pick a cigar and smoke it.  Ultimately, there is no right or wrong selection, there is only experience!  You must smoke them to get to know them and you must smoke them to form your own opinions.  There is no substitute for the experience of smoking a particular cigar and there are no amount of adjectives or other people's opinions that will give you the experience of smoking a cigar.  

Cigar Inspection
In an ideal world, you are welcome to pick cigars up and feel them for consistency, proper humidification, etc... But best to check with your tobacconist first.  A well-conditioned cigar (70% humidity) will allow a little compression when gently squeezed and the wrapper will not crackle or crack.  If the cigar feels dry or hard, don't pick that one.  You are welcome to smell the foot of the cigar and the wrapper from a distance, but keep in mind not to touch the head of the cigar as that will end up in someone's mouth.  If the cigar is sealed in cellophane, ask your tobacconist if it can be removed if you want to smell it: don't bother smelling the cellophane because it smells like cellophane.

The X Factor
Everybody has personal preferences and biases, whether we are aware of them or not.  A beautiful oily wrapper in a certain color shade may strongly appeal to you while a beautiful band or box dress may attract another person.  We are all consciously and subconsciously influenced by many factors.  It is important to note our own biases or at least be aware that they exist.  We encourage you to get out of your comfort zone and make counter intuitive choices.  In the world of premium cigars things are not always as they seem and our own preconceived notions can limit our enjoyment.  There is very little black and white in the world of cigars.  For example, dark wrapper cigars are not necessarily stronger,  and lighter wrapper cigars are not always lighter in body.  Just because you did not enjoy a particular brand several months ago does not mean you will not enjoy it today.  Our tastes and preferences are always evolving and there are myriad things which influence our taste perceptions in real time.  Be open to new experiences and don't overthink your options.  Great luxury tobacco products are full of surprises so be open to the experiences and you will continue to enhance your appreciation.        

CUTTING CIGARS
Premium cigars have a finished head that needs to be opened for the cigar to draw, light and smoke.  A good tobacconist will offer to cut the cigar for you so make sure not to put it in your mouth first.  Well conditioned cigars do not need to be slobbered on before they are cut.  While the straight cut provided by guillotines and scissors are the most popular way to cut a cigar, the punch, piercer or V-cut are also popular alternatives.  Pick a style that suits you as there is no right or wrong choice: there is only proper technique.

Click Here To Learn More About Cutters...

Cigar makers go to extraordinary lengths to create a strong and beautiful cigar head that will stand up to hours of smoking, saliva and teeth.  In the case of parejo and box pressed cigars, care must be taken to hold the cigar firmly around the shoulder so the wrapper will not shift or crack.  In addition, make sure not to remove too much of the cap: always leave a little shoulder on the cigar.  Cutting too much off can lead to the cigar unraveling and/or feeling untidy in the mouth.  Many figurados, due to the tapered head, will allow you to choose the size of your cut opening; so do what feels right for you.

Click Here To See The Perfect Cut Video...

LIGHTING CIGARS
After cutting the cigar you can test its construction and pre-light flavor by puffing air through it: this is called a cold draw.  If the cigar's draw is tight, try to cut a little more off the head and massage the body a little; this will usually open up the filler tobaccos.  If the cigar is plugged it is defective and you deserve a replacement.  After cutting and the cold draw test, you are ready to light.  

Evenly lighting the foot of a cigar is the most important part of cigar lighting.  If a cigar is not evenly lit, it will not burn or taste properly.  The best cigar lighting technique involves bringing the flame to the tobacco by gently drawing air through the cigar (a.k.a. puffing).  While puffing, rotate the cigar over the flame to ensure the foot lights evenly without getting charred.  Note, you can keep your match or lighter flame just below the foot of the cigar as the act of puffing/drawing will pull the flame gently to the tobacco. 

Click Here To Learn More About Lighters & Matches...

DO:
- Remove cellophane and any cedar, ribbons, or bands around the foot of the cigar.
- When using a match, allow the chemicals to burn off the match head before taking the flame to the tobacco.
- Hold the flame slightly off of the tobacco.  Traditional flame = 1/8"  while Torch = 1/2".
- Rotate the cigar to evenly light the foot.  
- Puff of the cigar in order to draw the flame to the foot.
- Touch Up the cigar if it starts to burn askew: some oily or dense wrappers may need correcting; its not a sign of poor quality, just a fact of life.

DON'T:
- Light or char the outside of the wrapper.
- Use a candle or liquid fuel lighter (ie. zippo type) to light the cigar.
- Light the head - it happens!

Other Lighting/Burning Issues: Click to learn more...
- Re-Lighting
- Uneven Light
- Inward Burn
- Canoeing
- Tight Draw
- Smoking Too Hot


ASHING CIGARS
Premium cigars are made with long filler (whole leaves), while machine made cigars are made with short filler - chopped up pieces of leaves.  Short filler cigars will produce a short flaky ash while premium cigars can produce a firm ash structure over an inch long.  The long ash can help keep the cigar ember cool and help the cigar burn slower.  The long ash of a premium cigar will naturally fall off when its ready - just gently tap the cigar body over an ashtray and it should fall off leaving behind a flat ember.  If the ember is pointy then the cigar is smoking too hot and you are not tasting the cigar as it is meant to be.

Click here to learn more about cigars Smoking Too Hot.

Some people have the habit of tapping their ash off more regularly and never letting the long ash form: it this works for you, so be it.  Once again, remember that cigar smoking is a personal pleasure and you are in charge of your process. 

Finally, the cigar's journey will come to an end when you are done smoking it.  You can smoke the cigar as long and far down as you want as long as it is pleasurable: if this means removing the band and nubbing the cigar, feel free to do so.  When you are done smoking a cigar, simply put it in the ashtray and let it go out on its own.  It is best not to crush the cigar and try to smother it as it will probably start to burn unevenly and create much more smoke than before.  When your'e done, just rest the cigar in an ashtray and enjoy the finish... 




         
   

CIGAR HEAD & FOOT TYPES

CIGARS 101.3: Ring Gauge

Ring Gauge (rg) is the diameter of a cigar, as measured in 64ths of an inch (in the United States).  A cigar that is 64rg is exactly one inch in diameter.  

In general, thinner rg cigars will express more of the cigar wrapper's flavor (see Wrapper Geometry) while thicker rg cigars will contain more filler tobacco and have the potential to deliver a broader range of flavor.  Thicker rg cigars will also tend to smoke cooler and produce a larger volume of smoke per toke (see Cigar Shapes & Sizes).   

While the ring gauge (rg) of a parejo is consistent from foot to head, the rg of a figurado usually refers to the thickest part of the cigar.  The specific tapering of a figurado is unique to its vitola, but if two rg, such as 16/40rg are given for a figurado, then the smaller number refers to the thinnest part of the cigar.  The shape of a figurado will create a unique and specific flavor journey.  

Click below to learn more about:

Cigar Shapes & Sizes

 American Ring Gauge Standards

Figurado Geometry

Wrapper Geometry

CIGARS 101.1: Parejo & Figurado

Cigars have evolved from rustically shaped clumps of tobacco into beautifully crafted instruments of tactile and sensory delight.  The two main categories of cigars are parejos and figurados.  Premium cigar parejos are the traditional, straight sided, perfect cylinder with an open foot and a rounded and capped head.  Figurados, or 'shaped' cigars taper and bulge in a specific way to create a unique presentation and smoking effect.  While all premium cigars take immense skill to roll, figurados are the most difficult shapes to create.  

Vitola is the general name for the specific size and shape of a cigar.... LEARN MORE

CIGARS 101.0: Fundamentals First

Here are a few important things to know about cigars before you begin to learn about cigars...

LEGAL & TAXATION ISSUES
Cigars are heavily taxed and age restricted products.  In addition, indoor/outdoor smoking laws vary at the municipality and state level.  In the U.S., there are a couple of states with no taxes and other states where the retail price of cigars is double the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) because of taxation.  

In the U.S., there are states where you can smoke inside retail tobacconists, bars and restaurants and states where you can't.  There are even many municipalities where it is illegal to smoke outdoors.  The rules and regulations governing cigars vary everywhere and impact everyone, for better or worse.... mostly for the worse.          


SANITARY STANDARDS
Cigars must be cared for with strict sanitary standards.  Because consumers place cigars in their mouths, they must be treated like any other food product.  Cigars and their boxes should never be placed on the floor, or touched with dirty hands.  In addition, cigars should not be placed in the nose or mouth by customers or tobacconists.  If your retail tobacconist does not appear to keep things clean and sanitary, pick another retail tobacconist.  

Click here for cigar shop cleaning tips...

CARE & MAINTENANCE
Cigars must be kept at 70% relative humidity and at 70ᐤF.  The humidity will preserve the essential oils which contain and convey the flavor (taste+aroma) of the tobaccos, while the cool temperature will keep microscopic larvae (Tobacco Beetles) from hatching and destroying the cigars.  Proper temperature and humidity must be maintained at all times.  If you find yourself in a store that is hot and/or the cigars feel dry, find another retail tobacconist. 

DON'T INHALE
Cigars are not meant to be inhaled, they are meant to be savored...

Cigar Civility & Freedom Fighting

CMT Contribution by Mark Brownlee, CMT

Consumer Board Member of Cigar Rights of America

ci-vil-i-ty

/se’viledē/

noun

     formal politeness and courtesy in behavior or speech.

     “I hope we can treat each other with civility and respect”

synonyms:  courtesy, good manners, graciousness, politeness

Why begin an article this way?

I like to refer to a cigar as “A TOOL OF CIVILITY”.

I have often espoused this phrase to whichever of my friends or fellow cigar enthusiasts within ear shot, that will entertain the idea.  I truly believe the concept is sound and would like to explain.

I have enjoyed cigars with close friends, friends, accomplices, and new acquaintances in nearly every state in our country and several countries abroad for well over 30 years.  The one over reaching takeaway I have learned from these experiences is I can sit down in any kind of an environment, any place in the world, with complete strangers or those I know well, and experience meaningful conversation and friendship, over a cigar.

Not only is it usually more than interesting, most times we laugh, and occasionally there have been tears.  We give earnest consideration to issues that concern us, our families, and friends.  Also importantly, I always, always learn something from the experience.  Please understand it’s not all pleasantries.  Some of the conversations become passionate and go to serious depths, however, they all end pretty much the same.  We acknowledge the good company, and that we agree or that it’s okay to agree to disagree, shake hands, and then we go about our day.  We can be from completely different social economic, or political backgrounds.  From different races, religions, sexual orientations, or cultures and despite our differences the enjoyment of a premium handmade cigar together, has allowed us to be civil towards each other.  The Tobacconist University Handbook refers to the bi phasic effects of tobacco which may explain a part of this phenomenon.  I also believe, however, that there is a true comradery and mutual respect amongst cigar enthusiasts.

If you think about the world we live in, I have to believe these are traits that are becoming increasingly rare yet more valuable every year.  Also, these are traits that are worth preserving and protecting.

Why would I choose the word protecting?  Plain and simple.  There are people in our country that want nothing more than to impose their political will upon you and I and to put an end to the cigar industry in this country.  These same people don’t understand or appreciate the social dynamic of “Cigar Civility” nor do they provide any current scientific data proving they fully know or understand the true health impacts they tout as the basis for their arguments. 

Over the past 10 years, municipal, state, and federal government bureaucrats have increasingly misunderstood, maligned, and marginalized cigar enthusiasts and the handmade premium cigar industry.  As consumers if we don’t stand up to defend our positions we will certainly be accepting a fate we would not choose.

In an effort to provide disclosure, I am a consumer board member of the Cigar Rights of America.  I started by joining when I saw the original internet post for membership and then began helping with events across the country, and enrolling membership at other cigar events locally.  I’ve met and talked to literally thousands of cigar lovers all over the United States and Central America.  I have met some amazing people and made lifelong friends.  All because of a cigar!  It has been an extremely meaningful experience and is the motivation to put these thoughts to paper.

My intention is a call to action.  To continue working diligently in any way you can, for those that are currently involved, at all levels.  I also am asking those of you who have not yet chosen to become involved to do so now.  Before we have to refer to enjoying a great cigar in the context of what we did in “the good old days”.  Believe me, left unabated, this is a reality you need to accept.  I would suggest we a s a group deserve and should demand something better!

Like many of you, I was raised to work hard, deal honestly, and to standup for what I believed.  If you weren’t willing to take a position and defend it in our household you lost your right to discuss the topic.  This of course, means fighting to protect something you care about.  Cigar activism is one of those things for many of us.  Just imagine getting up one day thinking about heading to your local shop to enjoy a cigar with friends and you can’t any longer as the bureaucrats prohibition by increments has reached its final goal.  It can happen.  Say what you will but that’s a loss to all of us on many levels.  We should not allow it to take place!

Based upon the actions of those that are committed to protecting your rights and keeping the government out of your humidors.  I would like to cite a few statistics that reflect what those efforts have produced for all of us.

·       [1]Between April 15, 2011 and December 31, 2016, 407,684 consumers used the CRA petition system to express their support of exemption from FDA regulation to their respective members of US House of Representatives and US Senate.

·       [2]Of the over 119,000 comments filed during the Public Comment Period on regulating cigars by the US Food & Drug Administration, over 6,000 hand signed comments pleading for the exemption for premium handmade cigars were submitted by consumers via CRA.  This figure does not count those filed electronically.

·       [3]Consumers have used the petitions to oppose tax measures on cigars in six different states and in the City of Chicago.

·       [4]Using the relatively new White House petition system called “We The People”, consumers pleading for premium cigar exemption from FDA oversight amassed 25,000 petitions to the President’s Administration in less that 60 days.  Politically speaking, the significance lies not in the response or even actual impact on the process or policy, but in the act of getting cigar consumers to actually take action in defense of their affection for cigars, and the industry as a whole.

·       [5]In the words of Glynn Loope as CRA Executive Director, “I knew we were making headway in changing the psychology of the consumer, when they started actually taking the time and effort to fax or email to us the responses from their lawmakers.  They took that extra step in not only expressing their opinion on a cigar legislative matter, but following through with letting us know of the words they received back.  A sure sign of what’s possible in the future.”

These are the results of you, cigar consumers that have stepped up to help an industry and a pastime under siege.  These are significant contributions!

Thank you to those that have spent time and or money helping preserve what I and many of us consider one of life’s undeniably fulfilling pleasures.  I also hope those of you that have not yet chosen to be part of the solution can consider what you can do to contribute.

The following are a few ways to protect your rights to enjoy premium handmade cigars:

1.      Send a handwritten letter to your state and federal Representatives and Senators.

2.      Visit the CRA website to learn about current FDA/Government issues and to sign petitions or send automated letters to congress.  www.cigarrights.org

3.      Hold an event/herf to raise funds to dedicate to political defense.

4.      Join CRA.

5.      Talk to your friends about what is happening to you rights and offer the above suggestions.

Please contribute in any way you feel you can to help preserve your pastime, a noble culture, and provide your fellow citizens with civility.  One cigar at a time!

Yours Sincerely,

Mark Brownlee

---

[1] CRA Petition Report/Consumer Analysis, J Glynn Loope, 12/13/2016

[2] opt.cit.

[3] opt.cit

[4] opt. cit

[5] opt. cit

The Dark Age of Cigar Making & The FDApocalypse

As the FDA forces our industry from the 'Golden Age of Cigar Making' to the 'Dark Age of Cigar Making', there are many changes taking place.  Not the least of which is the government allowing Cuban cigars to circumvent the new rules by being imported by tourists for unlimited personal use.  Currently, the largest manufacturing/distribution companies are gobbling up small manufacturers and importers.  Furthermore, it is clear that the 'big boys' in our industry are becoming more vertically integrated and establishing retail operations or buying existing stores to cement their market domination - all of this in addition to their ever growing mail order operations.  Even worse, is the unseen fact that executives throughout our industry are polishing their resumes while trying to figure out where they will go next.  All the while, retail tobacconists who have invested their lives and capital into their businesses are just trying to survive... as usual.       

While massive landscape changes are occurring in the cigar industry, consumers will see very little change in the short term, thanks to good marketing, spin & pivot public relations, jive talk, jibber jabber, deflection, and the fact that most of the changes we will see will happen incrementally.  They have taken our rights, little by little.  They have compounded and beat us with taxes, little by little.  They have passed smoking bans and new regulations, little by little.  And that's how it happens... little by little.  

Sadly, five years from now, we fear there will be less retail tobacconist stores than today.  Not because the public wants less, but because the business environment is too scary to operate in.  Small business owners cannot fight and compete with local, state, and federal governments while trying to service their customers - that is a game created by and best left to the 'big boys'.  But, despite the challenges, many retail tobacconists will survive and some will thrive.  And Tobacconist University (TU) will continue to serve our Vision:

To build and project the credibility of the luxury tobacco industry in order to gain cultural acceptance around the world - preserving luxury tobacco for generations to come.

We are not packing up and calling it a day... nor are we changing our strategy, goals, or tactics.  We will not compromise.  We are doubling down.  Over the next year, TU will deploy more new and unique programs and enhancements than ever before.  We will continue to grow and support tobacconists... so stay tuned!  

If you want to make a difference, get politically involved... join Cigar Rights of America, and support the IPCPR... and GET CERTIFIED!!!


Sincerely, 

Jorge L. Armenteros, CMT
President & Founder
Tobacconist University

IPCPR, CAA, & CRA File Lawsuit Against FDA

Three major cigar and tobacco industry associations file suit against FDA's deeming rule

CAA, IPCPR, & CRA ask District Court of Washington D.C. for declaratory injunction 

For Immediate Release: July 15, 2016 WASHINGTON D.C. - The three major cigar and tobacco industry associations filed suit Thursday against the United States Food and Drug Administration's "Deeming Rule." The Cigar Association of America, International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association, and the Cigar Rights of America are asking the District Court for the District of Columbia for a declaratory injunction "vacate, set aside and enjoin the enforcement of the final rule" because it is violates numerous federal statutes as well as the federal rulemaking process. A full copy of the filing, which details nine counts against the FDA and the United States Department of Health and Human Services, can be found here.

"Just over one month ago, our three associations pledged to work together to develop the appropriate response to the FDA's new deeming rule. After a thorough and detailed legal review, we are challenging this unlawful regulatory action in federal court to protect the statutory and constitutional rights of our industry and its members. The fact that all three of our organizations are acting in one voice speaks to the urgency and seriousness of this action," said Mark Pursell, CEO of the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association. The complaint challenges:

• FDA’s improper application of the February 15, 2007 grandfather date to cigars and pipe tobacco, which subjects those products to more intrusive regulations than cigarettes and smokeless tobacco
• FDA's impermissible assessment of a tax in the form of user fees, and its allocation of these user fees only to cigars and pipe tobacco and not to other newly deemed products
• FDA’s failure to perform an adequate cost-benefit analysis to take into account the effects of the Final Rule on small businesses as is required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act
• FDA's unjustified decision to require cigar health warning labels to be 30% of the two principal display panels of packages
• FDA’s unlawful designation of tobacconists who blend finished pipe tobacco or create cigar samplers of finished cigars as “manufacturers," which subjects those businesses to greater regulation than if they were “retailers”
• FDA’s incorrect decision to regulate pipes as “components” or “parts” rather than as “accessories”

"The FDA ignored the law to craft these expansive and sweeping regulations and cannot justify many of the arbitrary and capricious regulations it purports to enact," said Glynn Loope, Executive Director of Cigar Rights of America. "This lawsuit is a specific and detailed challenge to the FDA's unprecedented assertion of rulemaking authority. "We are acting in one voice to protect the legal rights of our industry at all levels, from the manufacturer, the community retail tobacconist, to the adult patrons of cigars."

Speaking about the lawsuit, Cigar Association of America President Craig Williamson said, "We all worked in good faith to inform and educate the FDA on the unique nature of our industry, its members and our consumers. We hoped the FDA would craft a flexible regulatory structure that accounted for the uniqueness of our industry. Instead, we got a broad, one-size-fits-all rule that fails to account for how cigars and premium cigars are manufactured, distributed, sold and consumed in the United States. The FDA exceeded its statutory authority and violated the federal rulemaking process when crafting this set of broad and sweeping regulations. This challenge asserts nine violations of federal law and rulemaking authority. We are asking the court to enjoin the enforcement of this unlawful regulatory scheme. We are confident that when the court reviews our case on its merits, we will prevail."