Two days ago, we received our first shipment of Four Kicks. Yesterday, we shipped product to each of our 66 retail locations. Today, we discovered that at least 2 of those locations have already SOLD OUT of all Four Kicks inventory. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for following our journey this past year, and for supporting Crowned Heads and Four Kicks. On behalf of Mike, Nancy, Michael, and myself, ‘THANK YOU.’

By the end of this week, the vast majority of our retail partners will have received their initial shipments. While I’ve seen a couple of positive reviews, and received excellent feedback from those that’ve smoked Four Kicks, I remain that the ‘jury is still out.’ And by ‘the jury’ I’m referring to YOU–the person reading this blog. Everyone will have their own individual opinion; which brings me to the subject of this entry.

Almost a month ago, I wrote a blog entitled, “A Special See-Gar.” In that entry, I discussed the topic of cigar bloggers/reviewers and, apparently, it created quite a buzz saw. While I believe that some ‘got it,’ many others completely missed my point and misinterpreted what I said.

Subsequent to that blog, I receive numerous emails and text messages from bloggers asking, “Were you talking about me? Do you think I’m ‘too egotistical?’” Wasn’t there some Carly Simon song about “..you’re so vain–you probably think this song is about you?” That, in and of itself, I found quite ironic. I also read some of the comments on that blog written by some bloggers–some of which had, let’s just say, a ‘defensive’ tone to them.

For the record: No, I was not talking about all bloggers. Quite the opposite, I was referencing the minority not the majority.

For the record: I am a fan of the online cigar blogger community (check out the interview I did with Stogie Review during the recent Chattanooga Tweet-up).

People seemed to stop reading that blog entry after this sentence (quote):

“That said, I’m seeing a trend with cigar reviewers–with some, not all–where the reviewer seems to be adopting a growing level of self-importance and inflated ego.”

Nobody seemed to read the paragraph that followed (quote):

“At the end of the day, we can’t take ourselves so seriously. This business of ours (premium cigars) isn’t going to change the world. We’re in the business of a consumable product–one that is meant to provide enjoyment and relaxation to people’s lives. It’s supposed to be FUN.”

It’s fairly ironic that a blogger/reviewer is in the ‘business’ of providing criticism–sometimes good, sometimes not-so-good–but it seems that it’s not quite so easy to swallow the medicine when the ‘criticism’ is turned around for a minute.

Lighten-up (no pun intended), people. I was just saying let’s keep all of this in perspective. The reality is that cigar bloggers/reviewers exist because cigar-makers make cigars. As I tweeted today, “Filmmakers can exist without film critics–but it doesn’t work the other way around.”

That said, we (cigar makers and cigar bloggers) can co-exist. And we should. In the end, I’m still the ‘cigar geek‘ that I was when I began enjoying cigars some 16+ years ago. I still check out the cigar blog sites when I begin my day. I still look forward to reading Charlie’s ‘Cigar News‘ each Monday (The Cigar Feed). I still get excited to download and read Cigar Aficionado’s ‘Cigar Insider‘ every other Tuesday. Cigars are in my blood (and I have the life insurance premium to prove it).

So, let’s chill out a little, not take ourselves so seriously–and as I said, let’s get back to just smoking and enjoying our personal “special see-gars.” In the meantime, I will await ‘the jury’s‘ verdict on Four Kicks. God bless you and thank you for providing the support we need here to do what we love to do each and every day.