Patrick Lagreid

The news, reviews and more from the past week.

It seemingly wasn't the cigar lounge part of the bill that generated the veto. Rather, a new tax on e-cigarettes was its downfall, much like it was in 2023.

The Conquistador is the fifth installment in the non-Cuban Montecristo Espada line. Like the others, it is made by Plasencia Cigars.

Ohio adjusts its cigar tax annually, and the time has come to implement the most recent change. Thankfully, it's just two cents, going from 65 to 67 cents per cigar.

Kentucky now has one of the lowest tax rates on cigars in the country, as legislation passed in April is now in effect. The rate goes from 15 percent to six percent of the wholesale price, which means about 50 cents less tax on most cigars.

The line debuted in a sampler last year, but now gets its widespread release. Blackfin's Parlay also arrives with a refined blend and comes in three new sizes as it heads to stores.

The festival celebrates Nicaragua's cigar industry, bringing people from around the world together for a week of visits to cigar factories and other facilities. The 2027 edition is scheduled for Jan. 25-30, beginning in Managua before heading to Estelí, the cigar-making capital of the country.

The Tobacconists' Association of America will hold its annual meeting in late October, and Kristoff will once again have an exclusive for the retail members. It's a medium-plus profile, with production limited to just 10,000 cigars.

Led Zeppelin's best-selling album, "IV," is the inspiration for this new line. While the band has sold more than 37 million copies, only 100 of the cutters inspired by the album's artwork are being produced.

The news, reviews and more from the past week.