Cigars

[Premium Parrots]

Do you guys mainly buy from tobacco shops, or online? Also I noticed in above that non cuban Cohibas are strongly warned against, why is that?

I got mine at a government store in Cuba.........

Good thread and info. LX......... I like the Swisher Slims and Backroads too. Much prefer them over the Cubans. Tho, I only smoke a very few cigars each year. Don't get me wrong the Cubans are great but you want to have the time to sit back and enjoy them. They aren't a cigar for everyday IMO. [unless you are rich, lol]. That said...........theres about 200 left in my humidor and I will never be able smoke all of them....hint hint


pm me

[Badfish74]

I don't know about the Cohibas.

I found pretty good prices at pipesandcigars.com

Of course, if you want it right now, you can buy them at BevMo

Good deal! Thanks Snuffie!

[Badfish74]

LOL PP! My financial situation has me limited to Phillies Blunts and Dutch Masters! And i keep getting those "knowing" looks from the clerks! No matter how much i protest and explain that i'm actually going to smoke the cigar, they still look at me like "yeah right!".

[Roo]

I would take you up on that offer PP, and I've thought about it before, but like you said you need to have a time commitment and a special occasion to enjoy a good Cuban, or any good big fat cigar. I often buy them then have trouble finding a good reason to smoke them. I think I'll wait until I'm in Beijing in September, then put on the best clothes I have with me, walk into the lobby/bar of the Grand Hyatt as if I belong there, drop $30 on a good cigar, and order a double Johnny Walker on the rocks. They will have NO idea how broke I am lol. They will not understand that I don't "belong" with the other white men sitting around smoking Cubans and drinking scotch. They will not understand that I will be traveling on a free trip and that I actually have less money saved up than they do. I'll post a pic.

[Badfish74]

Who cares what they think Roo? As long as you rock the Crocs and tote that big ass sword with ya! :wink:

[Snusophile]

As most of you have said, you've all got a special place in your heart for Swisher Sweets. Me too, brothers. I remember the first time, I was standing outside my dorm on a cold winter night in December as the snow was falling all around me and all I had was a winter coat and a flask of wild turkey to keep me warm. Hot damn..

Here's some more advice:
1. An expensive cigar is not necessarily good, and a cheap cigar is not necessarily bad. I have had $20 Padrons that tasted like they were rolled on Osama Bin Laden's thigh. I've also had $2.00 Punch London Club's that tasted fantastic. I visited a snobby cigar joint the other day with a megador (humidor the size of my house, almost), and found the La Gloria Series R's to be completely dry and brittle. Needless to say I got the hell out of dodge.

I have never ordered cigars online, and since I don't smoke them often I generally go to a reputable shop and smoke it the same day.

There are a few haunts I enjoy in the Chicago area that anyone visiting from out of town MUST try.

1. Up Down Cigar (Downtown Chicago) -- If you can only go to one, this is the place to go. Top notch service and not too snobby. A bit pricy but worth it. They have great pipe and cigarette blends as well. (Swedish Snus is sold here)
2. Iwan Ries (Downtown Chicago) -- Good selection, they cater to the stockbrokers and board of trade slaves here. Fresh stuff, attentive staff. (Swedish Snus is Sold here)
3. Bull & Bear (Naperville, IL) -- Amazing service, staff is the real deal. Down to Earth and no snobbery here. Better prices. (Swedish Snus is sold here)
4. Belicoso Cigar Lounge (Orland Park, IL) -- Hot babes work here. Clientele is snobby and I have to doubt their storage methods sometimes. Dry La Gloria Series R...Go for the babes and the good espresso. (Swedish Snus is sold here)

So there ya go, folks. If you're ever in Chicago and need a good cigar or maybe even some snus, you'll have these places to think about!

[Premium Parrots]

Don't forget about that place in Long Grove

[Snusophile]

Don't forget about that place in Long Grove

I haven't heard of it. What's the name? I'd like to check it out.

[Badfish74]

I stopped by the convenience store just now to pick up a pack of cheap stogies....may the good lord strike me dead if i didn't just find some Dutch Masters that actually have a natural leaf wrapper. They are Dutch Masters Masters Collection...I know it's just mumbo jumbo to make them sound fancy, but they claim to be made from Cuban seed tobacco and imported natural wrappers. I know that behind all the smoke and mrrors, they're just American made cigars, but at $5 for a 4 pack, I swear they taste and smoke better than the $7 Macanudos I've been buying!

For anyone on a budget, I highly recommend these!!

[Snusophile]

I stopped by the convenience store just now to pick up a pack of cheap stogies....may the good lord strike me dead if i didn't just find some Dutch Masters that actually have a natural leaf wrapper. They are Dutch Masters Masters Collection...I know it's just mumbo jumbo to make them sound fancy, but they claim to be made from Cuban seed tobacco and imported natural wrappers. I know that behind all the smoke and mrrors, they're just American made cigars, but at $5 for a 4 pack, I swear they taste and smoke better than the $7 Macanudos I've been buying!

For anyone on a budget, I highly recommend these!!

If you like em, smoke em. Don't let anybody tell you they're better than you because they buy more expensive cigars than you do. It all comes down to taste. I will point out however that those are machine rolled and Cuban seed tobacco doesn't matter terribly much. It has to do with where its grown and how its made and all that mumbo jumbo. But hey, like I said, if you like it better than a Macanudo then by all means, enjoy em. Money isn't that common these days so whatever will substitute is fine. A natural wrapper is what you want. Most of those cheap stogies are made with paper wrapping and they're just plain gross.

edit: PS the guys on the package have funny hats. +1 point

[Havana Joe]

I've been into cigars for about 4 years now and I've tried a ton of different brands, but for my personal taste - you can't go wrong with anything made by Don Pepin (Blue/Black/White Labels)

Over the last year or so, I was just about a daily Rocky Patel Corojo Edge smoker. Excelelnt cigar and for $6 bucks, you can't go wrong!

[Premium Parrots]

Don't forget about that place in Long Grove

I haven't heard of it. What's the name? I'd like to check it out.

I'm referring to that huge humidor with all the cubans available in my basement.

[Snusophile]

Don't forget about that place in Long Grove

I haven't heard of it. What's the name? I'd like to check it out.

I'm referring to that huge humidor with all the cubans available in my basement.

LOL

[TheJanitor]

Just smoked my first CAO.It was a MX2 robusto.Very,very nice cigar for $6.Starts off a little too mellow but halfway through I was in love.