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So what are everyones go to places in 2026? I was almost exclusively B&M with CI. I have been dipping my toes out more.
Most of my local B&M's have gone down hill or closed.
I stick to the big ones online.
Cigars international
Famous Smoke Shop
Corona Cigar
Smoke Inn
I get Small batch emails but buy only once every 2 years or so.
Share with us your secrets and hidden gems.
I like the HVC Half Coronas, Famous has them on sale for $61 for 25 cigars in a box. High quality little boogers they are
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Another big one to add is Cigar Page. Join their Discord for deals.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tombstone
Beyond that (and the recent JR Cigar coupon hack), I watch a lot of the small ones for deals.
Locally, Emerson's and Smoke Shack. Great selection at both. More offerings, a bit cheaper, and bigger lounge at Smoke Shack, though I prefer Emerson's. Smoke Shack doesn't carry some boutiques like Tatuaje and Crowned Heads, but you can find some HTF stuff there regularly from Fuente.
A bit out of the way - Willy's (Newport News / 45 mins away). They do a lot of events (that I don't get to), and they have Rojas custom and house blends. Wish I lived closer.
Most orders are online, with whoever has what I want at the best price. Lots of great online vendors and pretty much sales regularly. Let me know if you want a list.
Online I've shifted alot to Cigar Page but you have to sift thru the daily emails to find the real bargains. Like TJ said - join the Discord for the really good prices.
The other one I use more is Atlantic. They run some deals on better cigars and they have really good everyday prices.
I've got four B&M's / Cigar Bars within 15 min of my home. There are at least 10 or more in the city within 30 minutes of my home.
The local I frequent almost exclusively anymore is under 10 minutes away. Cozy, familiar, not fancy, homey, well-worn almost second-hand looking furniture, smoke-stained ceiling tiles, regulars that greet you by name.
A former patron, who used it as his working office most days, purchased it about 5 years ago. Really turned it around. He's always bringing in new stuff. Not big into a lot of the boutiques (No CH, limited Tatuaje, no Oveja Negra) but carries enough. If a line doesn't sell well, he drops it and moves on (Rojas, Warped). The locals don't always appreciate the lesser-known boutiques. He gets every Viaje release though and is the largest AF retailer in the region, getting most of the rare or exclusives. Carries quite a few pipes and pipe tobacco.
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There is a Cigar Bar that is a 1-to-2-minute drive from my house. Walking distance. It has all the upscale atmospheres. Leather chairs, multiple fireplaces and fire pits, a well-stocked bar, efficient and friendly wait staff, live music, open late. The humidor is smallish, but adequate. It's more of a place where patrons like to be seen smoking cigars. Bar first, cigars are secondary. I often bring my own.
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One Cigar Bar I go to occasionally for events is not quite as upscale as the one above, but still very nice. A bit smaller, much better stocked humidor. It has an exotic big game hunting theme (the owner is into big game).
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The fourth one near me has a lot more of the boutiques. I've never stayed there to smoke though. It seemed a bit cliquish. At one time, the main smoking lounge was members only, with a few chairs in the main area for non-members. Don't know if that is still true or not.
There are others, each with their own personalities, but no reason to drive the extra distance.
Online:
You all know from my cigar postings I get quite a bit from Privada Cigar Club. Their Farm Rolled became my daily smokers at $4 apiece that I rarely post (no bands or identifiers). There are some hidden gems there, but you could almost never re-buy or I didn't know what I was smoking, just the factory it came from, and that is if I took the time to look it up and kept them straight as they came in.
I used to get a monthly subscription from Cigar Federation (Nomad, Ezra Zion) but dropped that a few years ago. I still get some of their specials now and again.
I will buy from Cigar Page occasionally. That's about it anymore. Haven't shopped CI or Famous in quite some time.
So i wonder what his region is? There was a huge Fuente retailer in Des Moines which is what an nourish away?Quote:
Originally Posted by Nature
I don't know if they are THE largest, but probably one of the larger, as defined by the volume of Fuente, including rares that are available. They had at least 4 of the Opus X 25 perfecto (Green) in the special black humidors last year if that's any measure. Plus a a few more boxes of the El Tributo. I imagine, only the larger accounts get these.Quote:
Originally Posted by josh lucky 13
The point was, they are a large Fuente account that sees most, if not nearly all the limited or HTF. (read $$$)
Des Moines is a little over 2 and a quarter hours east on I-80.
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