Weekly Email – May 6th, 2015

ASW is proud to announce the arrival of some outstanding cigars by Roberto P. Duran (more on this below), and to herald the occasion, we’re hosting a Duran event next Thursday, May 14th from 4:00 to 8:00 pm! Hosting the event is our old friend Miguel Schoedel (formerly of Toraño), who will expound upon the qualities of Duran’s fine wares (and offer some swell deals to boot). Come on by and sample the goods…because they ARE good!

Yes, PA Governor Tom Wolf has proposed a FORTY PERCENT tax on premium cigars (and OTP, or “other tobacco products”) as part of his new tax overhaul. That $6.50 Rocky Edge you love? It’ll cost you $9.74 after taxes. A $10Laranja? It’ll be $15.72. Let’s not mince words: Such an increase might very likely drive us out of business.What can you do? Visit this link and send a handy, pre-written letter to our state representatives informing them that this proposal is a horrible idea:

And tell your friends! Share the link and get the word out! The passing of this tax increase would be a devastating event for us all. Do your part and help us maintain the freedom we still enjoy!

Ever heard of Roberto Pelayo Duran? A Habañero* by birth, he was encouraged to become a banker in his youth. Rather than follow the path of least resistance, he instead followed a wise man’s advice and embraced his heritage: “A cigar is more than a cigar… it opens Cuba to the world.”Duran’s cigars are world-class, and in light of his new alliance with our old friendMiguel Schoedel (see above), we’re proud to introduce his wares to our shelves.

First up is the Azan series. Named in honor of Kwan Ben-Sen (a Chinese émigré who settled in Havana and built a cigar empire under the name “Domingo Azan“), the Azan is available in three varieties: White, Burgundy, and Maduro. The Azan White consists of an Ecuadorian Corojo wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and fillers of Nicaraguan (Jalapa & Esteli) and Brazilian Matafina; The Burgundy is comprised of Jalapa fillers and a corojo wrapper; the Maduro features Ecuadorian corojo maduro and fillers from a variety of unspecified regions.

Next is the Neya, another series featuring Ecuadorian Habano and Nicaraguan fillers. An extremely tasty “meat-and-potatoes” cigar at a price point that won’t dent your budget.

Top of the line is the Rio Toa, named after Cuba’s largest river and a truly outstanding cigar. Ecuadorian Habano criollo and Nicaraguan fillers (again blended with fine tobaccos from “various Latin American regions”) make this a fantastic addition to your rotation.

We have limited quantities on hand, so come on by and acquaint yourself with one or all…and remember that we have a Duran event coming up next week(see above), so make it a point to try some of this excellent product beforehand!

* A Habañero is a man from Havana. Ever meet an angry Cuban man? That, my friend, is where the name of the pepper originates.

The second entry in Perdomo‘s Small Batch series, the Sun-Grown line is a Nicaraguan puro featuring (surprise!) a flavorful sun-grown wrapper which adds a hint of peppery spice to the otherwise medium-bodied selection of tobacco. Elements of fruit and honey are detectable, as are notes of nut (pecan or walnut, unless my palate deceives me) and a meaty robustness which hovers pleasantly in the background. Not overly powerful, and enough savory flavor to make you crave another.

In case you missed it up above, the Connecticut version is our C.O.W. (that’s “Cigar Of the Week,” for the acronymically-challenged); try one, try both. You won’t be disappointed. And keep your eyes peeled for the maduro, due in sometime next month!

Bring your pipe! Bring your bowl! Bring your fiddlers! (On second thought, don’t.) The venerable Pittsburgh Pipe Club will hold their monthly meeting this weekend! Come on down and join the gang…and check out some of the more recent additions to our lineup of tasty tobaccos, including some great new stuff from G. L. Pease and a couple of blends from Comoy. Need some hardware? We’ve got it all, from pipe-cleaning solution to rubber softy bits and Czech tools. The Club is very informal, so don’t be shy; come hang out and have a puff!

By popular demand, the Western PA Cigar Crawl has included ASW in their itinerary as a featured stop, and we’re proud to take part in this annual extravaganza! Fantastic specials will be available to all of our customers (and anevent will be in progress, as well…see below), so get over here and see us before Rob and his band of happy herfers clean us out!

The Cigar Crawl and an event on the same day? What are we, crazy?? Bet your ass! Join us on Saturday, May 30th to partake of some fantastic RoMa Craftgoodness with our buddy Michael Rosales in attendance! And rumor has it that Mike will be bringing some very exclusive, hard-to-find cigars with him (some of which may be green… some of which may not…). Discounts! Rare cigars! Crawlers! What more does one need on a fine Saturday in May?*

*Don’t answer that.