Merry Christmas Folks. Wrapping up FOH 2022

[El Presidente]

Let's call a spade a spade. 2022 was a one shitty year. 

Firstly, we lost two greats this year in Mike Lindsey and Nino Munoz. Two giants, two givers. Whenever you get the chance over the break, choose a special cigar to you and toast these two exceptional friends of FOH and the cigar world. Their passing hit us all hard. Our hearts go out to their families. 

So how do you describe the 2022 Cuban Cigar World Cluster *uck?

It takes a special blend of incompetence and arrogance to tell 30-40% of your client base that they are "no longer good enough" to enjoy their product. What I have always loved about this hobby is the school teacher, house painter, plumber, taxi driver who would come into the B&M each week and purchase one Montecristo Number 4, a Partagas D4 and maybe on a special occasion a Cohiba Robusto. You would find these people all over the world and they were exceptionally good at what they did. They were passionate and generally at the top of their game. In 2022 they moved on. Habanos closed the door on their hobby by hanging a "not good enough for us" sign on the door via upto 300% price increases on specialty and 50% increase on most of the rest if you take into account the January 2023 increases.  Personally I think it is a disgrace. 

I feel for B&M's all over the world who worked out for themselves that they have been abandoned. Non Cubans by necessity came into the mix in many cases  for the first time and  I think that they should be supported for doing so. 

I love Cuban cigars. I love Cuba and its people. I detest what is going on. No one should get a hall pass on what has transpired. FU. 

In the meantime BR booms and we move into the serious realm of manufacturing quality and affordable Non Cuban cigars. You will love what we have coming out. More importantly, those teachers, plumbers, painters, taxi drivers will love them and that is what in many ways drives me in the world of cigars these days.

Looking forward, things will improve. Maybe. Since the Cuban revolution no industry has recovered once it has collapsed. Think of the sugar industry. Serious foreign investment is required alongside vertical integration from retail sale to farmer and a care factor that is non existent today. 

To all of you, thank you. Your sense of humour and grace in difficult times has been appreciated by all my team. I love you guys. 

To my team, thank you. I am always in awe of what you do and how you do it. I love you guys. 

To my Mods. You lift the weight off my shoulders and make FOH run like a well oiled machine. I love you guys.

It wasn't all doom and gloom in 2022. I met so many of you on my travels and I keep you all close to my heart. 

Next week we will be having an end of year FOH Zoom Friday local from 12 PM. Thursday 9PM NY, 6PM LA. lets make it a party 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[cgoodrich]

El Pres, as usual, you are never short of words. So well put about putting the screws to us average Joe’s. Eagerly awaiting all the splendid NC’s you and Hamlet are conjuring for us.

I never met Nino and Mike, but they are sorely missed. Those pictures are perfect. They will always be in my heart.

I wish a truly wonderful and peaceful holiday season to all the FOH members, to the wonderful Mod’s that keep us in line, to you El Pres for doing your best to look out for us, and for the best damn crew working hard and diligently behind the scenes that keep the machine working. Thank you all!!!

Chris

[benfica_77]

Well said Prez! Your perspective on a shitty year is refreshing and admirable. 

The only constant is change and this year in the cigar industry this slapped all of us in the face. 

Nothing but love for you Prez and rest of the FOH crew! 

[asudevil08]

Thanks for all you and your team do.  The honesty and integrity you give to this world/hobby is not overlooked.  

[Islandboy]

Rob, very well articulated year end summary, as usual. I’ll be sure to light up a fine cigar and raise a glass in honor of our compadres who are no longer with us.

As an introvert whose preferred means of staying connected to my fellow enthusiasts is the internet, I honestly don’t know what shady, depressing, combative forum I’d be frequenting if it weren’t for this ray of sunshine you and your team have created. It’s truly an oasis that allows all of us misfits (I speak for myself, of course) to congregate, discuss, lament, wax-nostalgic, and mostly laugh at ourselves and the world around us. You know, the important stuff in life. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you, Di, and the rest of the FoH ohana, and to all of you out there. May peace and reasoning prevail.

[BuzzArd]

Hear, Hear! 
Definitely looking forward to 2023.  Haven’t Zoom’d in a while and I’ll try to hop on of course. 
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year all!

[TR]

Merry Christmas to all at Team Czar!

[helix]

If only we could go back to a pre-covid world . Rob , you and your team are Giants. Thank you all so much for this island of sanity . 

Happy holidays to all.

[TobaccoRoad]

Cluster f*** about sums it up. Unfortunately I'm one of the 30 to 40% that are "no longer good enough" to enjoy CC's. I may have showed my redneck side with a small "tanty" over some cancelled orders. My apologies if I offended.  But at the end of the day I've been treated with courtesy and respect here and have nothing but thanks for the FOH Leadership and team. Hopefully things level out and I can go back to enjoying my "cheap and cheerful" everyday smokes. Much respect and Best Wishes.

[Lewberry]

Merry Christmas everyone, it’s been a great hectic run this year. Stoked to meet/join and take it on with all of you. To 2023 and all that and whatever

[Tradesman]

Only joined FOH 1.5 months ago, and 8 boxes in, I can already see myself being a life-long customer

Cheers to the FOH team and everyone who makes this possible!

[Connoisseur Kim]

2022 is definitely one of the worst years I've ever had too since there were many tragic things happened to me such as death of my grandparents and losing one of FOH BOTLs I knew including Mike Lindsey 😭.

For next FOH Zoom, I'll try my best to hop in as I really miss FOH Virtual Zoom Herf. I really appreciate for our host and FOH crews and I wish everyone have merry Christmas 🎄.

[La_Tigre]

A completely surreal year here for us. The Catch-22 totally delivered. May ‘23 bring us all straighter fortunes. 

[RDB]

Sadly, I think this is a real turning point for Cuban cigars. They have been significantly repositioned as a global luxury good, and I can’t see that going back to before. 
 

Brilliant job @El Presidente @WarriorPrincess @MoeFOH and the team, on so many levels. Life goes on and we will adapt!

[madandana]

Well said Rob.

Cheers to Mike and Nino- Until we meet again where the best cigars and rum are plentiful.

 

Rob and team-Thank you for keeping our family together and alway putting a smile on our faces.

Merry Christmas Brothers and Sisters.

[hrs1]

Crazy year on a number of fronts, but FOH remained a bright spot.  The FOH team and community are really something special.  Wishing you all a very happy holidays 🥂 

[bishop532]

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you! Many thanks to Rob and the FOH crew for continuing to be the best thing to happen to cigars this century 😁 May 2023 be a better year for all of us. 

[SMELTZ]

This year was definitely a roller coaster ride. I am not one to ponder the negatives and I try to spend more time thinking about the positives and that makes me happy. I hope in the new year everyone spends more time on the good things in their lives like Faith, Family, Friends and a damn good cigar. Loving what El Presidente has done with this forum and loving everyone here, Merry Christmas.

[SpecialK]

Merry Christmas to all . I very thankful to FOH for providing a refuge for friendship and cigars.. 

[Paladin865]

Merry Christmas to everyone. I look for to the following year with optimism and hope. Cuban cigars have survived through 500+ years of history . Got to keep the faith.

[Lamboinee]

Harumph Harumph Harumph! Well said. Cheers to all. Hope to see everyone at the zoom!

[LizardGizmo]

FOH has become my favorite place to be on the internet. Unlike mind numbing social media and news sites, I know every time I venture onto FOH I'm going to have a laugh and learn something. While I don't post all that often, I'm grateful for the anonymous internet friends I've met here and for the Zoom chats. It's a very unique community. The Czar staff have been excellent through a challenging period for CCs and I appreciate their patience with us. Di telling me I can't have a box I want on 24:24 is always humbling too 

and Rob, you're a legend.

[SigmundChurchill]

Well said, Rob.  Merry Christmas to all!

[houdini]

Merry Christmas all!

[oneizzzz]

Thanks for your recap, Rob.  As others have said, FOH is a real bright spot in my life.  I always look forward to logging on and seeing what everybody is up to, and there's always something for me when I get here too.  Hope you all are smoking some fine cigars this holiday season.  It's been a pleasure to share this hobby with you on this forum in 2022.  Merry Christmas!