Good Life Diaries

There is a new Zino in town.  We're not sure how long it will be here or when we'll get more, but the good news is we have a few... VERY few!  The Zino Chateau will officially launch some time in the future... however before it does, the Davidoff stores in New York City and our customers are fortunate to get a little sneek peek into this delicious new direction and new brand extension. The Zino Chateau is made by Davidoff in the Dominican Republic.  It features all aged Dominican filler tobaccos including Piloto Cubano, San Vicente and Criollo.  The binder is a specially fermented Dominican Olor, and the cigar is finished with a gorgeous Ecuadorian-grown Connecticut wrapper. The cigars are really beautiful, both in look and taste.  They have a wonderfully creamy character with a hint of spice right from the beginning.  The rich smoke has a touch of sweetness and is quite complex with lingering spiciness, nuts and a touch of earth.  The ro...

The Mayor of New York City is at it again.  The former smoker is supporting legislation to ban smoking from all of New York City's 29,000 acres of parks and 14 miles of beaches.  The argument for this particular measure is backed by unspecific "studies" and "experts" and uses both health risks and littering as the major arguments for the case. It is absurd to believe that the second hand smoke in a park is more dangerous than the already present pollutants from car and truck exhaust, restaurant hoods, street vendors, etc...  And there are already strict laws forbidding littering.  There is a hearing on Thursday, October 14 at City Hall.  Please take the time between now and then to express your opposition to this ridiculous legislation. CLICK HERE   for a virtual petition, or visit any New York City Retailer to sign a petition.  If it happens in New York it could happen anywhere.  EVERY SIGNATURE COUNTS!

WE WILL HAVE GREAT CIGARS, FOOD AND DRINK FOR YOU TO ENJOY DURING THE GAMES! PLEASE SECURE YOUR SPOT WITH ONE OF OUR SALES ASSOCIATES. ALL OF THE EVENINGS WILL START AT 8:30 PM. 212-823-6383 SPACE IS LIMITED!! SCHEDULE OF GAMES IN THE LOUNGE: WEEK 5- MONDAY, OCT. 11TH MINNESOTA AT NY JETS SPONSORED BY: ALEC BRADLEY CIGARS- $50 WEEK 7- MONDAY, OCT. 25TH NY GIANTS AT DALLAS SPONSORED BY: GRAYCLIFF CIGARS- $50 WEEK 10- MONDAY, NOV. 15TH PHILADELPHIA AT WASHINGTON SPONSORED BY: LA FLOR DOMINICANA CIGARS- $50 WEEK 13- MONDAY, DEC. 6TH NY JETS AT NEW ENGLAND SPONSORED BY: ASHTON CIGARS- $50

Upcoming Events.... We have two very special events coming up: Both hosted at the exclusive Grand Havana Room (Pictures below). Please call or email for tickets. They MUST be purchased in advance and are non-refundable. Both events have VERY limited availability. A Night of Tasting with Ashton's Manny Ferraro and launch of the new La Aroma de Cuba "Mi Amor"   13 SEPTEMBER 2010 GRAND HAVANA ROOM 666 5TH AVENUE $250 +TAX 7:00pm Cocktails 8:00pm Dinner This small intimate event will be an evening of great tasting and conversation with Ashton's Manny Ferraro.  It will feature a full dinner paired with wonderful wines and the finest cigars from the Ashton Portfolio including the introduction of the new La Aroma de Cuba "Mi Amor" by the great Jose "Don Pepin" Garcia in Nicaragua.  Padron Cocktail Reception and Launch Party for "Family Reserve No. 46" 7 SEPTEMBER 2010 7:00PM-10:00PM GRAND HAVANA ROOM 666 5TH AVE $250 +TAX Enj...

The Kahala Resort Presents.... Symposia- The Best of Northern California: Napa, Sonoma, and Carneros Ocean Front, Poolside Saturday, August 21st 6:30pm – 10:00pm The Kahala will be presenting wine selections from nine Californian wineries at this Symposia event. The Kahala's Executive Chef Wayne Hirabayashi will be preparing dishes that inspire while cigar connoisseur Michael Herklots will be beachside to showcase cigars from Davidoff. Guests will be able to interact with vintners and sample selections from: Black Sears Dyer Wines Plumpjack Winery Outpost Winery Realm Cellars Rivers-Marie Staglin Meteor Vineyards Schrader Cellars: including Aston Estate, Double Diamond Wines and Vieux-Os Wines $80.00 plus tax and 20% gratuity. Symposia - A Celebration of Wine Menu. For reservations, please call 739.8760 or email restaurants@kahalaresort.com.

In just a few days, I'll be boarding a Delta flight bound for New Orleans to attend the 2010 International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers annual convention at the Ernest N Morial Convention Center.  The first time I attended the show in New Orleans was just a month before Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast in 2005.  Since then I've been back almost every year to support and attend Emeril Lagasse's Carnivale du Vin .  Last year's trade show was in New Orleans and we're returning again this year since the accomodating folks of NOLA are willing to let us smoke on the show floor. I'm always reminded as the show nears some of the great launches of IPCPR's past (formerly called RTDA). The first show I attended was in Nashville in 2003. For me, the hottest release of that year was the La Aurora Cien Años.   A Dominican Puro, it was handed out in the corona format and I still remember what a unique departure that flavor was from the standard La Aurora line....

Despite the tireless efforts of the New York Tobacconists Association, New York State Legislators foolishly and irresponsilbly passed an emergency "extender bill" on June 21, 2010 that raises the OTP (Other Tobacco Tax) from its current 46% of wholesale to 75% of wholesale.  Just over a year ago, the same tax was raised from 37% at the time to the current 46%.  Although it was clearly outlined to the State Legislators that this tax is not only revenue negative but would be devastating to the countless small businesses throughout New York State, they decided to turn their back on New Yorkers and push the tax through anyway. It should be noted that taxes are collected in the state in which the consumer takes ownership of the goods.  TO OUR LOYAL CUSTOMERS outside of NY State, this type of ridiculous over-taxation can no doubt mislead other State Leaders into thinking this is actually a good idea, so please be sure you are following the budget discussions in your stat...