VIP and General Admission tickets to The 11th Annual Draper’s Little Puff are SOLD OUT. However, due to occasional last minute cancellations, Drapers will maintain a wait list. Call (202) 638-2555 to sign up.

Approximately 10 Non-Smoker tickets ($100 each) to the Little Puff and 10 tickets to The 2nd Annual Draper’s After Puff Recovery Lunch ($50 each) are still available. Call (202) 638-2555 to purchase.

Tickets for The 11th Annual Draper’s Little Puff go on sale Tuesday, August 17, 2010 at 9:30 AM.

To purchase tickets visit W. Curtis Draper Tobacconist, 640 14th Street NW (Between F & G Streets NW), Washington, DC or call Drapers at (202) 638-2555. Store Hours: Monday-Friday 9:30 AM-6:30 PM or Saturday 10:00 AM-4:00 PM.  Due to the popularity of The Little Puff, tickets must be purchased in advance at the shop or via telephone, no exceptions. Visa, MasterCard and American Express accepted.

Event Information:
The 11th Annual Draper’s Little Puff
Friday, September 24, 2010
6:00pm – 10:00pm
The Roof Deck at Charlie Palmer Steak DC
101 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC

The “Little Puff” is Draper’s signature fundraiser, an intimate gathering of cigar lovers (limited to 300 people). Proceeds from ticket sales and the auction benefit three local DC academic scholarships (The Erik Kristensen Memorial Scholarship in honor of a Navy SEAL killed in action; The Pat Krimm Scholarship & The Anne Berman Memorial Scholarship). Attendees can interact with representatives from the best names in cigars (i.e., Ashton, Fuente, Padron, La Flor Dominicana, La Aurora, CAO, Carlos Torano, Rocky Patel, Camacho, Davidoff, Zino Platinum, Cuesta-Rey, Gran Habano, Hoyo de Monterrey). Past attendees have included: Carlito Fuente, Arturo Fuente; Pete Johnson, Tatuaje Cigars and Jorge Padron, Padron Cigars among many others.

VIP Tickets (Limited to 25; includes early access and exclusive giveaways): Cost $600
General Admission Tickets (Limited to 225): Cost $175
Non-Smoker Tickets (Limited to 25): Cost $100

Food Courtesy of: Charlie Palmer Steak & Shelly’s Back Room
Drinks Courtesy of: Jim Beam Global, Future Brands and Republic National Distributing

Navy SEAL & Author Marcus Luttrell

Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell, the sole survivor of Operation Redwing and the non-profit Boot Campaign will be joining guests at The 11th Annual Draper’s Little Puff on Friday, September 24, 2010. 

One of the beneficiaries of the Little Puff is The Erik Kristensen Memorial Scholarship Fund. Kristensen, a Navy SEAL and friend of Draper’s Matt Krimm, made the ultimate sacrifice for his country in 2005. From NavySEALs.com: 

Erik S. Kristensen (1972-2005)

On June 28, 2005, LCDR [Erik] Kristensen led a daring mission to rescue a four-man SEAL reconnaissance squad engaged in a fierce firefight with overwhelming Taliban forces in rugged 10,000 foot mountains. Kristensen, seven other SEALs, and eight Army “Nightstallker” commandos died in the heroic attempt when their MH-47D Chinook helicopter crashed after it was shot down by a rocket-propelled grenade. LT Michael Murphy, Matthew Axelson, and Danny Dietz fought on courageously, enabling a fourth SEAL in their squad to escape, before they were killed in the firefight by overwhelming Taliban forces with superior firepower.

Marcus Luttrell was the fourth SEAL. He chronicled his experience in the 2007 book Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10.

Boot Campaign Official "Give Back" Combat Boots

Luttrell will be joined at the Puff by representatives of the Boot Campaign. Created to generate American awareness about the needs of our military men and women coming home from combat, the organization raises money by selling Boot Campaign Official “Give Back” Combat Boots. The money raised from boot sales will go to the Lone Survivor Foundation (founded by Marcus Luttrell) and the USO to support returning active duty and combat veterans.

For more information visit www.wcurtisdraper.com/littlepuff.

(L to R) Former proprietor John "Duke" Cox alongside current proprietors John Anderson and Matt Krimm.

Former proprietor John “Duke” Cox and pipe expert Jimmy Lawton return to W. Curtis Draper the week of August 9, 2010. They join Ted Meeker at the shop while current proprietors John Anderson and Matt Krimm are in New Orleans at the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers (IPCPR) trade show.

Anytime Duke and Jimmy are in the shop is cause for a great time. They’re a part of the Drapers family and it means a great deal to John and I every time they see fit to step behind the counter again. – Matt Krimm

Duke owned Drapers along with the late William “Bill” Martin (who had worked under W. Curtis Draper himself) and eventually brought John Anderson in as an employee-owner. Anderson and Matt Krimm assumed ownership of Drapers upon Duke’s retirement.

Drapers will be open as usual Monday to Friday 9:30 AM-6:30 PM and Saturday from 10:00 AM-4:00 PM. Come by the shop, enjoy a good smoke and the camaraderie of Duke, Jimmy and Ted. For more information call (202) 638-2555.

Image courtesy of Room 101 Cigars.

Room 101 Cigars has announced that a new stronger cigar, The Room 101 LTD Conjura Edition, will premiere at next week’s International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers trade show in New Orleans.

The Conjura (Conspiracy in Spanish) is described as “cedary, yet savory.” Adorned in a Rosado wrapper, Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers are complemented by a Honduran binder. Just 12,500 cigars of each size have been made. The Conjura will be available in four sizes 48 × 4″; 50 × 4 3/4″; 60 × 5″ and 54 × 6 1/2″.

Image courtesy of Rocky Patel Premium Cigars and zencigar.com

As part of a nationwide launch, the Rocky Patel 15th Anniversary Cigar will hit Draper’s shelves on Friday, July 30, 2010.  The pre-release reviews are excellent! This promises to be another great addition to the Rocky Patel line and a fitting tribute to Rocky’s 15 years in the industry. For information on the line visit www.rockypatel15th.com.

Call the shop at (202) 638-2555 beginning July 30, to inquire about product pricing and available stock. Phone orders welcome.

Read this review of the 15th Anniversary Toro from Zen and the Art of the Cigar.

Litto Gomez image courtesy of La Flor Dominicana.

Cigar Aficionado reports that Litto Gomez of La Flor Dominicana is coming out with a stronger Air Bender in a chisel shape, the first new chisel shape since 2004. The cigar will be formally introduced at the August 2010 International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailer (IPCPR) trade show in New Orleans.

Read more here.

For Immediate Release

W. Curtis Draper Tobacconist Announces Date for
The 11th Annual Draper’s Little Puff Fundraiser
Cigar Industry Luminaries, Capitol Views, Fine Food, Wine and Cigars Highlight Annual Event

Washington, DC — July 21, 2010 — W. Curtis Draper, the oldest full-service tobacconist in the District of Columbia will host its signature fundraiser, The 11th Annual Draper’s Little Puff on Friday, September 24, 2010 on the Rooftop Terrace of 101 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC.  Festivities commence with cocktails at 6:00 PM courtesy of Jim Beam Global, Future Brands and Republic National Distributing, followed by light fare by Charlie Palmer Steak and Shelly’s Back Room.  The program and auction begin at 7:00 PM.  Since 1999, The Little Puff has raised nearly $500,000 for many worthy charitable causes.

Three hundred attendees will enjoy Capitol views, fine food, wine and cigars alongside luminaries of the industry (past attendees have included:  Carlito Fuente, Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia.; Litto Gomez, La Flor Dominicana; Pete Johnson, Tatuaje Cigars; Tim Ozgener, C.A.O. International and Jorge Padrón, Padrón Cigars).  Proceeds from The Little Puff benefit three local scholarships:

• The Erik Kristensen Memorial Scholarship Fund at Gonzaga College High School:  LCDR Erik Kristensen, SEAL Team 10, courageously gave his life for his teammates and country in 2005 while serving in Afghanistan. The Kristensen Scholarship was established by his family, friends and classmates to benefit two worthy Gonzaga students from military families.
• The Pat Krimm Scholarship Fund at DeMatha Catholic High School:  Pat Krimm helped establish the hockey program at the Hyattsville, MD school.  Funds raised provide financial aid for students who would not otherwise be able to attend DeMatha. 
• The Anne Berman Memorial Scholarship:Named for the wife of a loyal Drapers customer, the Berman Scholarship offers financial assistance to women pursuing advanced degrees in the sciences. 

“Draper’s success has always been based on personal relationships,” states John Anderson, co-owner, “the industry veterans join us from throughout the globe, but our customers also make the effort to come out, from as close as Alexandria and the District to as far as Colorado and Washington State.”

“We have a great time each year, but everyone attending knows the causes supported by The Little Puff are extremely personal to us.  Our friends and customers take the causes to heart and make this event a success year after year,” concluded Matt Krimm, co-owner. Krimm was a friend of the late Erik Kristensen and is the son of Pat Krimm the former hockey coach of DeMatha Catholic High school.

Little Puff ticket categories are:  VIP (limited to 25 with early access and exclusive giveaways): $600.00; General Admission (limited to 225): $175.00 and non-smoker tickets (limited to 50): $100.00.  To purchase tickets contact Drapers at (202) 638-2555 beginning at 9:30 AM on Tuesday, August 17, 2010 (ticket requests cannot be honored prior to that date and are not available online).  Visa, MasterCard and American Express cards accepted.

About W. Curtis Draper Tobacconist
W. Curtis Draper Tobacconist (Drapers) was founded in 1887 by William Curtis Draper.  It is the oldest full service tobacconist in the District of Columbia and the fourth oldest in the United States.  Proprietors John Anderson and Matt Krimm offer a full array of cigars, pipes, pipe tobacco, snus and smoking accessories to a national clientele.  Drapers has been profiled in numerous media outlets including:  Bloomberg, Cigar Aficionado, Newark (NJ) Star-Ledger and The China Daily.  The shop is located at 640 14th Street NW (at G Street), Washington, DC 20005.  For information call Drapers at (202) 638-2555 (outside Washington, DC (800) 572-2382) or visit www.wcurtisdraper.com.  Phone orders welcome.

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Press Release Download (PDF)

Image courtesy of The Stogie Guys and Tatuaje.

From Patrick Semmens and The Stogie Guys comes a list of new cigar-related trademarks we may be seeing in the near future.

Read the full story here.

Image courtesy of 106.7 The Fan

W. Curtis Draper Tobacconist will be an official media sponsor and partner of The First Annual 106.7 The Fan Golf Classic Presented by Geico. The Classic takes place Monday, August 9, 2010 at 2:00 PM (Tee Time) at Blue Mash Golf Course, Laytonsville, MD. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project.

The Classic will feature live broadcasts by Mike Wise and Holden Kushner, as well as LaVar Arrington and Chad Dukes. The Junkies, Brian Mitchell, Bill Rohland and maybe more will be playing in the tournament! Special appearances by The Wizards Girls.

Listen to 106.7 The Fan August 2-9 for mention of you favorite tobacconist, Draper’s! For more information, pricing or to register for The Classic visit: http://1067thefandc.cbslocal.com/events/2010/08/09/106-7-the-fan-golf-classic/