CigarCraig’s 2020 Holiday Giveaway!

OK, I know it’s not the CigarCraig’s 12 Days of Giveaways, it’s been 5 years since that whole thing ended. We had a good run, but when the FDA scared all the cigar companies off of giving cigars away, it complicated things. I knew that trying to do twelve days of swag giveaways wouldn’t fly, and adding cigars out of my own humidor would break me (shipping already puts a hurting on me!). So it went the way of the Dodo. Fortunately, I find myself with some goodies accumulated over the year, so I put together one great present to close out the year! First, let me get something off my chest. Yesterday I smoked a Deadwood Leather Rose, which I really enjoy. It irks me when people call this cigar, and the other cigars in the Deadwood series, “infused”, or dare I say it, “flavored”. They are not. Sure they have a sweet cap, there are several traditional cigars that have a sweet cap. I don’t count the sweet cap as flavored. I really wish the folks at Drew Estate would be more vocal about this. I’d love to be able to reference a link on their site that states boldly “this (and the Larutan, for that matter) is NOT an infused cigar”. It uses non-traditional tobaccos, Syrian, Perique, Latakia, tobaccos more traditionally used in pipe tobaccos. I hate seeing social media posts that start something like “I don’t usually smoke flavored cigars, but I smoked a Sweet Jane…”and I feel compelled to say “you still didn’t! I feel like Drew Estate should help me out a little here! Heck, I’ve seen people argue with Vaughn Boyd (who owned Deadwood) for crying out loud! OK, enough of my ranting, I really enjoy the Leather Rose, and her sisters, and the Natural/Larutans too, although I don’t smoke many for some reason. They have a lot of flavor, and I like that.

 

Let’s get to the Giveaway!  We have a lot of stuff s buckle up. Back in August I went to a Golf tournament Sponsored by Goose’s Montecristo Lounge, and Goose was very generous and supplied me with some Montecristo swag which included a Montecristo cap, a really nice Montecristo table lighter and a cutter in a humidor bag. I am adding a Montecristo Espada from my humidor, and I might find something else when I get to rooting around. Speaking of Drew Estate, since they canceled the Barn Smokers this year, they very kindly sent out they Barnsmoker swag. I’ll be honest, I was on the fence about giving up the backpack, it’s really nice, but I have a ton of backpacks, and I talked myself into giving this one up (my wife talked me into it as well). There’s another lighter and cutter (here’s a secret, this lighter you can get away with stashing in your luggage when you fly!), a bottle opener and a cigar stand. I put together a samper of Drew Estate and Joya de Nicaragua cigars from my humidor to go with it. Next there’s a nice Villiger ceramic ashtray, to which I’ve added some Villiger cigars (again, from my humidor, unsmoked!), and finally, a Foundation cutter (I forgot to add a Foundation cigar to try it on, one will be added!).  So that’s an OK present, right? A little something for everyone, goodies for you, a hefty USPS bill for me! (I might do UPS since USPS has been sketchy as of late). Many thanks to my friends who generously provided these goodies! You know the rules! Leave a comment on this post to enter. No comments on Facebook, twitter or anywhere but this blog post will count. You must be of legal age in your jurisdiction to win (and prove it), and if you are selected as the winner, you need to e-mail me your information, please don’t make me track you down! I like to think the folks who win my contest are regular readers and, therefore, will see that they won! I’ll pick a winner next Sunday, December 27, 2020. Let’s see a ton of entries! Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Holidays, whatever you like to celebrate.

 

Until the next time,

 

CigarCraig

 

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43 Comments

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43 Responses to CigarCraig’s 2020 Holiday Giveaway!

  1. Mathew Anderson

    This is amazing, very generous and would be greatly used. Thank you for your generosity this holiday season. Stay safe and happy holidays!

  2. R Simon

    Always enjoy your articles. Merry Christmas

    • What a perfect way to end the year! Some really great swag and a variety of smokes! Thank you for bringing your knowledge and enthusiasm to us. It is appreciated, especially by those of us who are fairly new to this. Your descriptions, research, and suggestions continue to guide us through this enjoyable journey!
      Happy Holidays to one and all!

  3. Happy Holidays and a very Merry Christmas . Someone will have an even merrier Christmas wining this Giveaway. Thank you and cheers to 2021!

  4. Brian Impson

    I was introduced to a sweetened cap cigar years ago by a shop in Chicago called Oakbrook Tobacco. It was their own Smithson series cigars that used a sweetened glue on the cap. They were awesome tasting cigars. I think they still have an on-line presence called OBTCigars out of Florida since they show the Smithson on their menu. I might have to give them a shot sometime. Merry Christmas Craig. Enjoy time with family and friends.

  5. Al wattley

    I always thought those deadwood were flavoured…I know for sure they have a sweet cap. Nice giveaway though

  6. Chuck

    Merry Christmas! Thank you once again for sharing your cigar bounty.

  7. Matthew Denico

    Merry Christmas, I enjoy reading your blog

  8. Bob langmaid

    Wishing you and your family all the best for the holidays! Thanks for the opportunity to win such an awesome prize pack!!

  9. Michael Hill

    Thank you for offering this giveaway.
    This article touched on one of my pet peeves, since the Deadwoods are made with tobaccos “similar” to pipe tobacco doesn’t mean they are made with pipe tobacco. I struggle to refrain from correcting sales people when they tell customers, “These are made with pipe tobacco. “.

  10. David Jones

    Great Read. Hope you have a great Holiday Craig. Would be awesome to win.

  11. mike mccain

    Happy Solstice to you and Jen, another smashing giveaway setup…thanks for the opportunity. USPS has been slammed as late, the removal of a bunch of sorting machines from PDCs, FedEx and UPS both locking out USPS overflow doesn’t help either. Merry Christmas to everyone

  12. Barry Kamen

    Happy Holidays and thanks for the oppertunity to get some new and different smokes

  13. Matt Wells

    Awesome giveaway- thanks for the opportunity!

  14. Kevin

    Great info about infused versus non traditional tobaccos. Happy Holidays

  15. Jerry B.

    Thanks Craig. Merry Christmas!!

  16. DCT

    I’ve smoked a Deadwood, also thought it was infused. I want to try another now, knowing it’s not. Happy holidays, Craig! Thanks for the giveaway!

  17. Adam Stevens

    Aweome stuff to giveaway Craig. I was bummed that we never received our stuff for the Barnsmokers this year. I couldn’t agree with you more on the deadwood cigars and the whole “infused” issue. The leather rose is definitely my favorite out of the sisters.

  18. Jeff Ketcham

    That is one fine looking collection of goodies! It’s going to make someone’s 2020 a little more bearable. Thanks for the contest and have a great holiday!

  19. Michael Lanier

    Thanks for the info on Deadwood, I will try another this week at my local b&m with this in mind 😃. As always it’s another awesome giveaway.

  20. Stephen wells

    Happy and healthy holidays to you and yours

  21. Swede Lindstrom

    Craig, MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and your family. Thank You, for thinking of us, your readers of your blog. Your prizes are always great.

  22. Mike Weinstein

    Happy Holidays to you and your family! Great giveaway, thanks! I agree about DE. They should let us know, one way or the other.

  23. Tommy Berry

    Craig…what a gift selection! Props to you for listening to the wife on the backpack, lol! Merry Christmas to you and your family and may the best B/SOTL win!

  24. Dennis Shaffer

    Merry Christmas Craig! And to your family as well.

  25. Dave Wisniewski

    Quarantine Santa, please make my Christmas!

  26. Wow, that’s an amazing and generous package.

    Merry Christmas!

  27. Frank Germaine

    Merry Christmas Craig! Thanks for the chance!

  28. Craig Roth

    Very generous gift. Merry Christmas to you and your family

  29. Arline

    First, happy holidays to you my friend!
    Second, I 100% agree with you on the Deadwood series! I am a huge fan of it and I really like the fact that something non traditional is used. You know me and my love of big bold flavors, and the fact that I like this one is a surprise to some people. But I have to say that DE got it rigjt with the blend. The sweet cap is something I could take or leave, but the other flavors that come with this like the cherry and cream (that is what I pick up anyway) along with the rich tobacco is really something else. It warms my soul and just puts me in that easy going, relax and find my bliss on a warm sunday afternoon with a good book kind of a feeling.
    Hope you and the family are well.

  30. Duane D Holmes

    Happy Holidays to you and yours!

  31. George

    Happy Holidays Craig! It’s a nice prize pack. Good luck to all!

  32. Czerbe

    Craig as always, I enjoy your thoughts on cigars and life in general, it’s been to long since we have gotten together, let change that’s shall we!!! Merry Christmas to you and your Family

  33. Ray Holthaus

    Hey Craig. Merry Christmas and make mine a Happy New Year!

  34. Brian Diggins

    Heck of a haul for one lucky winner. Good luck to all

  35. Joseph

    2020 was a crap year, but your hopes helped make it a little better. Merry Christmas to you and yours Craig.

  36. Jeffrey Dunlop

    Merry Christmas pal

  37. Mike Cavanaugh

    Not going to lie, this is my first time checking out your blog. Normally an LFD, Tatuaje, MF, BLTC smoker, not a huge DE fan. Decided to light up the Leather Rose, smoking it as I type, and its a nice change of pace from what I normally smoke, might become a somewhat regular in my rotation, thanks for the heads up!

  38. Steve Christopher

    Thanks Craig, love all your stuff for years. Merry Christmas All!!

  39. Christopher Walmer

    Merry Christmas and Happy new year
    Thank you for all you do for the Cigar Culture/Community

  40. Narciso Lopez

    Merry Christmas and Happy New year to everyone here!

  41. Travis keet

    What a year it has been! A lot of crazy adventures and even more new and exciting sticks.

    Wishing everyone a happy, enjoyable and successful holliday season and new year.

    The swag is outstanding this year. Especially for the winner of the Drew estate swag, seeing the festival was canceled.

  42. Randy E Miller

    Hey… I’m a newbie here but that’s ok, right. We all start that way. I have seen some of your commentary here and there, so, Thanks for the info.

    I was just watching and older vid from Cigar Prop. You had sent Kevin and Jessica a couple sticks from Danli Honduras Tobacco.

    So I will be checking out more of your work and I like a good giveaway, even better if I win lol. Being it’s 1 am Sunday morning I hope I still can be entered in this one.

    Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.

    Until next time…

    Red