Think that the only place in the United States where good cigar tobacco can be grown is Connecticut?

If so, you are mistaken.

Deep in the Bluegrass State, in an area more known for thoroughbred horses and fine bourbon, something unusual is happening. Some fine cigar wrapper tobacco is being grown because of the vision and efforts of Mark Barrow, a man who decided to try something no one else had tried.

“I think Kentucky’s heritage is tobacco, bourbon and fast horses, and I want to keep all three of them going,” said Barrow.

Mark Barrow is not just a visionary. He is a visionary who has succeeded.

The story continues after the jump.

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In the Dominican Republic last Friday, the National Tobacco Institute (INTABACO), the Attorney General’s Department, and Dominican state security institutions impounded 2,871 boxes of counterfeit cigars from tourist centers and stores in that nation.

The latest raids, part of a crack-down by Dominican authorities, netted 40,000 cigars counterfeiting famous brands that included Romeo y Julieta, Cohiba, Montecristo, Davidoff, Partagas, Gloria Cubana, Macanudo, Punch, Troya, and others. The cigars were seized in shopping centers, stores, beaches and tourist plazas in Santo Domingo, Bayahibe, Higuey and Bavaro.

Yesterday, on August 9, INTABACO incinerated 7,000 boxes of confiscated cigars, most with fake Cuban brand labels, seized in this most recent round of raids. The incineration took place in a lot next to INTABACO’s offices, located in the community Villa González, in this northern province.

INTABACO director Adalberto Rosa said that with these actions against the fake cigars, the national tobacco sector will obtain a market free from irregularities that will allow the development of healthy business practices. “These actions represent a hard blow for the cigar forgers who have affected the image of the Dominican Republic abroad,” he said.

Would that it was true and it was that easy.

More on the counterfeit cigar problem after the jump.

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From Rich at Cigar Cyclopedia:

Los Angeles, November 23 – Just when you think the Cigar Renaissance will slow down, it keeps chugging along.

Figures for U.S. imports of premium cigars for the nine months ending September 30 were released by the Cigar Association of America showed that imports kept pace with the hot 2004 totals and then did just a bit more.

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Now, both cigar fanatics and neighborhood cigar stores can buy their cigars just like the big boys. CigarAuctioneer.com has begun auctioning boxed and bundle cigars in bulk “Wholesale Lots.”

Wholesale Lot auctions are English auctions containing multiple identical items in which each bid placed is for the entire lot and sold to the highest bidder. The “Wholesale Lot” auction is simply an English auction containing multiple identical items. However, unlike a Yankee auction, which also involves multiple items, each bid placed is for the entire lot. If a cigar smoker usually buys a particular brand and size in quantity, they’ll now be able to bid on three, four, five boxes or more at once. Local “Mom & Pop” cigar stores, who normally buy in this manner, will also be able to take advantage of these auctions for brands that they already stock, or can’t get through the manufacturer.

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From Jon Huber at CAO International:

“CAO, one of the world’s foremost premium cigar manufacturers, was awarded an almost unheard of two perfect ‘10′ ratings from Cigar Buyer Magazine in the Autumn 2005 issue.

“Cigar Buyer, the magazine for cigar trade professionals, is one of the UK’s leading authorities on the premium cigar industry. All cigars were rated on a scale of 1-10 and were evaluated in six categories: appearance, combustion, draw, flavor, aroma and balance. Both the CAO L’Anniversaire Maduro Robusto and the CAO Black Gothic each received a perfect score of ‘10,’ each garnering an “Editor’s Choice” distinction in the process.

“CAO unveiled two new releases, CAO Cx2 and CAO The Sopranos^(SM) Edition at the RTDA 73rd Annual Convention and International Trade Show last month.”

Congratulations to the folks at CAO International, who continue to produce top quality smokes. CAO International, Inc. was founded by Cano A. Ozgener in Nashville thirty-seven years ago and produces six cigar lines that have been rated 90 or above, by Cigar Aficionado and Cigar Insider.

From Cigarwise:

CAO, one of the world’s foremost premium cigar manufacturers, was awarded European Cigar Cult Journal’s illustrious “Best Nicaraguan Cigar 2005” Trophy for its CAO Criollo Mancha cigar during an awards presentation held on August 7, at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel.

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