Q: Hi Javier, can you explain to me why there is a cost difference between purchasing cigars online versus a cigar store.
A: Hello and thank you for the question. Depending on your personal perspective, aside from the cost difference there are several pros and cons. Online retailers/mail-order warehouses or storefronts both serve a purpose. In reference to cost, most customers that purchase cigars online living in the state of California are unaware of California tobacco tax law. The law states, if you purchase cigars from an out of state company you must pay the current state tobacco tax rate. Currently the rate is 45.13%. If the out of state company sells cigars to you they must disclose who is liable for this tax. Your invoice should state if the tobacco tax has been paid or if the customer is liable. If the invoice states that the customer is liable you are required to pay the tax on your California income tax return. If you look at a California tax return there is a line to report and pay the excise tax. The State Board of Equalization requires all out of state retailers to keep records of all transactions including the customers name and address. The State Board of Equalization audits returns in conjunction with out of state cigar retailers/mail-order warehouse records. As a cigar retailer in California the retailer is required to keep records of cigars purchased for resale not who the cigars are sold to. The cigar tax is based upon the cost of the cigars purchased for resale and paid by the retailer directly to the state on a monthly basis. Sometimes online retailers/mail-order warehouses have cigars made only available to them and sometimes its the same cigar with a different box and label. Other things to consider: If you live in a remote area that does not have a cigar store then the internet sites/ mail order warehouses are there to deliver your cigars. Most cigar smokers consider purchasing cigars a personal experience and/or reward. They designate a time to visit a cigar store. In addition, when you purchase cigars from your local cigar store there are many benefits: You are supporting YOUR community in many ways: providing employment (Those employees also shop locally) and local sales tax revenue benefits the community. Knowing that consumers have various options I try to reciprocate by providing a little cigar knowledge, host cigar tasting and also try to give back a little to the community through local fundraisers and charities. I am grateful to those customers who support my store enabling me to make another friend to enjoy a cigar with and I still respect those who purchase online. Hope this helps. Relax, Enjoy and Live with Passion! Javier Hernandez Valencia Cigars & Int'l Newsstand Open 24 Hours!
Q: Hello Javier, I love smoking a cigar after a good meal but I can't find any restaurants that are cigar friendly. Please help. Ruben Ochoa
A: Hello and thank you for the question. We are lucky to have several restaurants that allow cigar smoking on their patio areas. Here is the list that I am aware of in no particular order: Roast House Mojito Cuisine Oaks Grille TPC Valencia George's Bistro Gallaghers My favorite is the Roast House because it offers a complete package. The only con is that during the rainy season there is no roof shelter. Aside from that, they are they are the most cigar friendly restaurant that is family owned and operated. The principal owner Mike always walks the tables making sure everything is up to your standards. It's the only restaurant that has a designated cigar night on every Thursday including live entertainment. It is for this reason we hold our cigar tastings at The Roast House. These tasting our usually at max capacity. The event calendar is as follows: March 27 Ashton April 17 La Flor Dominicana May 8 Romeo Julieta June TBA July TBA Aug 14 Tatuaje Sept TBA Oct TBA Nov TBA All this being said, I like to take into consideration not to offend anyone with the smoke. The location of the Roast House patio is one that you feel the most comfortable at. The foot traffic is not really exposed to the smoke. At the other locations you need to be a considerate cigar aficionado. Doing so will keep our options open in hopes of there being no outdoor smoking bans like in other cities. Hope this helps. Relax, Enjoy and Live with Passion! Javier Valencia Cigars & Int'l Newsstand Open 24 Hours
Q: There was a recent publication that listed the top 25 cigars. Would you recommend any of these for new cigar smokers? Besides Macanudo, what is a reasonably priced, mild to slightly bolder brand to try?
A: Hello and Thank you for the question. First, allow me to apologize for the delay in my response. I have just returned from a 12 day Cigar Journey in the Dominican Republic. Now to your question. Publications are a good starting point for recommendations. Keep in mind: cigar tasting is very subjective and cigar blends are always changing. In an effort to keeping cigar blends consistent, some manufactures have at least a couple years of cigar tobacco warehoused. Because all the tobacco is not from the same harvest it is not identical and therefore when the particular harvest being used runs out and they start using a different harvest the taste can change. When I say "harvest" I mean a particular seed, on a particular farm, picked at a particular time, exposed to particular weather and processed a particular way for one of 3 parts of the cigar (wrapper, binder, filler). Aside from Macanudo, there are various cigars I would recommend. In addition, if you haven't done so already, I recommend you try the same cigar on different days at different times of the day, before or after meals and or drinks. When you are trying a new cigar I highly recommend you dedicate the time and place (a non windy location will allow you to enjoy what it offers from a sense of smell (aromatic satisfaction). and ideally you want to taste it earlier in the day because as the day progresses your palate is introduced to other flavors that can sometimes make it more difficult to fully taste what a cigar has to offer. As long as you are tasting mild cigars you shouldn't have any uncomfortable side effects. At this current time the cigars in our walk-in humidor (Kept at proper humidity and temperature) that I would recommend, varying in price would be: Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real,Santa Damiana, Montecristo White, Gispert Natural, Griffins Natural, CAO Gold Natural, Diamond Crown Natural, Arturo Fuente Hemmingway Line, Cuesta Rey Natural, Ashton Classic Natural, Rocky Patel Connecticut ( white label), Cusano 18, Oliva Series G, Aurora Preferidos Cameron, Partagas 160, Partagas Limited, Torano Casa Natural and many others. Please feel welcome to visit our store. I am usually at the store Monday to Friday and stay late on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I would enjoy the opportunity to properly guide you and have a cigar together. Thank You Relax, Enjoy and Live with Passion Javier Hernandez from Valencia Cigars & Int'l Newsstand Open 24 Hours!
Q: A friend of mine gave me a "Cuban" cigar to smoke last summer. I thought Cuban cigars were illegal in this country. Can you get them here or is it just a "type" of cigar?
A: Hello and Thank You for the question. First, please allow me to apologize for the delay in responding as I have been on a Cigar Journey in the Dominican Republic for the past 12 days. The U.S. embargo with Cuba was enacted in 1962. Presently under The Trading with the Enemy Act, it is illegal for a U.S. citizen to purchase any Cuban products in any part of the world. We do not sell Cuban cigars at Valencia Cigars & Int'l Newsstand for two simple reasons. We respect the law and in addition we respect those families who were stripped of their tobacco farms and cigar factories. Most reputable cigar tobacco families exiled Cuba taking some seeds with them and now are continuing their passion by farming or manufacturing excellent cigars in countries such as the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Honduras (Do you think there might be some extra motivation there?). The latest trends show that even countries that do have access to cigars made in Cuba are importing more and more cigars from the Dominican Republic, Honduras and the Nicaragua. The reason for this is that while Cuba does produce great cigars they are limited to what they can work with. When you smoke a Cuban its ingredients are only from Cuba (there's only so much you can do with the same ingredients). The other countries that manufacture cigars have access to great tobacco from all over the world: wrappers from the U.S., Ecuador, Sumatra, and others, binders and fillers from the D.R. Nicaragua, Mexico, Honduras and others. Simply stated they have more ingredients to work with for those of us with forever increasing sophisticated palates. Generally, when someone says it's a Cuban cigar, they are referring to the illegal ones (made in Cuba). Some cigars, for marketing purposes, use the words "Cuban seed", referring to tobacco from seeds that originated in Cuba and planted somewhere other than Cuba. Relax, Enjoy and Live with Passion! Javier Hernandez from Valencia Cigars & Int'l Newsstand Open 24 Hours
