DeBeers diamond company, thank you for the cigars

[FUEL]

So I get to the mail yesterday and there is some sort of check I got mailed to me. Opened it and it stated it was a check for settling a class action lawsuit and it was my piece of the pie. I thought is this a con? One of those deals where if you deposit the check you are on the hook for the money plus interest.

As it turns out it was legit. I spent a pretty penny on the ex-wife's engagement ring, wedding ring, my wedding ring as well as other jewelry gifts for her over our 8 years. Apparently I filled out the online form over 2 years ago and DeBeers coughed up about a $500 million I believe and they just started distributing the checks last week.

I have not bought cigars since long before the flying humidor incident and yes, could the money have been used elsewhere, yes, but after the year I have had I thought you know, treat yourself to something already and fact of the matter is its not your money. So popped over the border today to pick up a few things in Hudson, WI.



You only live once right?

Now off to a Viaje event tonight and tomorrow the mack daddy of the summer, the largest Liga Privada / Drew Estate / Joya de Nicaragua event in the upper Midwest sans Chicago.

Can't wait!



J.

PS - "Lone Star Mafia," they may not be quite as big as the bombs you sent me as they are spread over 3 people but payback is coming...

[equetefue]

Wow. How cool. Congrats! Very nice selection to boot

[big_jaygee]

Those are some great looking cigars James

[Don Fernando]

nice.

Now those 2 cigars on the bottom row, with the black & silver labels, what are those? I don't recognize them

[JenksAnejo]

Ferdinand,

They look like Gurhka Ghosts.

[FUEL]

Originally Posted by JenksAnejo

Ferdinand,

They look like Gurhka Ghosts.

Correct. Not a Gurkah fan by any means but I love the Ghost and at $4.49 a pop I'll smoke em all week long.

I know Gurkahs aren't the most popular stick around but if you have not given it a dance try the Ghost. They are very well and consistently constructed, have a very very nice balanced strength and flavor profile and much like Liga Privada's the smoke output is off the charts. To be frank, I don't even like smoking them inside at the club or B&M as the smoke output of one is equal to about 3 Ligas and 6 of any other cigar lol.

Try em, I think you will be happy you did.

[bstarrs]

That's quite the haul you got there

[Porch Dweller]

Unexpected cigar bounty, one of life's great pleasures!

[kelmac07]

Some dark & yummy goodies for sure.

[mahtofire14]

Damn James. Is it worth driving over there to grab cigars? I'd much rather give my money to my local, but with taxes so much lower over there I've been thinking about it for a little while now.

[FUEL]

Originally Posted by mahtofire14

Damn James. Is it worth driving over there to grab cigars? I'd much rather give my money to my local, but with taxes so much lower over there I've been thinking about it for a little while now.

Got the low down as well about the new MN taxes. Its going from 70% to 95% in August. However its a good thing as there is now a $3.75 cent cap per cigar that retails for $12 or over meaning that pricing on higher end sticks such as the Ligas, Padron, Opus, God of Fire et al will actually come down due to the cap. Biggest impact will be to cig smokers and chewers.

I was told the goal was to separate cigs, flavored cigars & chew from premium hand rolled cigars which was accomplished this legislative session.

Now the goal is to show the state over the next two years that cigars need to broken out into their own tax bracket or to lower the cap by 25% to 50% as the upcoming new cap will actually bring in less tax revenue for the state vs their current methodology.

What a pain in the ass but that's the latest scoop directly from a MN State Senator that was at the Viaje event tonight.


J.

[mahtofire14]

Yeah that's what I heard as well. I'm just so sick of paying almost more money on taxes than the cigar itself. Not to mention the shop owners don't see any of that money.

[FUEL]

Originally Posted by mahtofire14

Yeah that's what I heard as well. I'm just so sick of paying almost more money on taxes than the cigar itself. Not to mention the shop owners don't see any of that money.

Yeah I got into a long conversation with the owner of BURN and a TobaccoGrover about that tonight. They are happy as the higher end sticks will come down in price due to the cap which means they will sell more and they won't have to lower their retail price thus, at least in theory, profits will go up due to more bang for your buck...in theory.

The Senator is a big cigar guy so are two of his closest friends. Inge Thulin and Greg Page, CEO's of 3M and Cargill respectively.

And quiet as its kept, look for a new B&M with a large "ultra lounge" in a joint venture from BURN & TobaccoGrove coming to a Twin Cities suburb towards the end of 4th quarter 2013 to 1st quarter 2014 with a big big name sponsoring the Grand Opening weekend.

[mahtofire14]

Originally Posted by FUEL

Yeah I got into a long conversation with the owner of BURN and a TobaccoGrover about that tonight. They are happy as the higher end sticks will come down in price due to the cap which means they will sell more and they won't have to lower their retail price thus, at least in theory, profits will go up due to more bang for your buck...in theory.

The Senator is a big cigar guy so are two of his closest friends. Inge Thulin and Greg Page, CEO's of 3M and Cargill respectively.

And quiet as its kept, look for a new B&M with a large "ultra lounge" in a joint venture from BURN & TobaccoGrove coming to a Twin Cities suburb towards the end of 4th quarter 2013 to 1st quarter 2014 with a big big name sponsoring the Grand Opening weekend.

I would hope that this "ultra lounge" will be in the east metro as the other two are in the west?

[Ciro]

Very Nice Pick Up! It's always a great feeling when you receive "Surprise Money"!

[FUEL]

Pete if I posted what I actually paid no one here would believe me. Send me a PM with your eMail addy and I'll explain or pdt447 Gmail. Its a BS "ghost shadow" account but forwards automatically to my private email. I am very good friends with the owner of the two MN stores (U of MN & Oakdale) and the one in Hudson, WI as well as personal friends of the GM in Hudson. I work there when I want to just for fun. No pay, like Tim Tebow with the Patriots, sticks as a "thank you."

One box of the UF -13's is for a friend who will be at the Viaje event at Fuegos tonight and the box of Undercrown Corona Viva!'s was a gift from Hattem the owner.

I support local everytime I go into a B&M. I might not smoke what I bought that day (can't get Ligas here) but however many sticks I herf not from there I buy the equivalent from them. Not to mention when going good to events or like Fuegos it's worth the drive to buy in bulk there due to his deeply discounted prices due to volume, low WI tax (MN is 70% and going up in August) and a personal discount hence why I requested your email. Admittedly he is the bane of every Twin Cities B&M but welcome to capitalism.

[TJarv]

Glad to see you stocking back up James

[big_jaygee]

Originally Posted by TJarv

Glad to see you stocking back up James

if what he says is true Tony....he might be sending some of that to us.....

James just an FYI....thats a big mistake brother

[FUEL]

Originally Posted by big_jaygee

if what he says is true Tony....he might be sending some of that to us.....

James just an FYI....thats a big mistake brother

Pfft my turn baby!

[cmitch]

Originally Posted by FUEL

Pfft my turn baby!

whoop up on Jason, good! He deserves a good smacking!