Cigar Lover 101
ChestBeater
Lately I've been buying from Thomas Hinds.
Some people may disagree with me on this but I wouldn't bother with La Casa Del Habano in Toronto. I bought a La Gloria Cubana Sabrosos with box date of May 2002 in summer of 2007. It tasted horrible and the cigar fell apart.
The only problem I'm finding is most cigars I like others are too and thus the box dates are getting really young as I mostly buy singles. I gotta start buying boxes!
I live in Toronto and have been buying cigars for a long time and find the best spots for what I'm looking for in the downtown area is from either:
Holy Smokes at Loblaws on Queens Quay (the older woman is cool and really knows her stuff).
Thomas Hinds (they've updated their website with prices).
Cheers Smoke Shop is good but the owner is a bit of an ass but he has good prices. Weird thing about him is he doesn't like it when you ask for a box date as he gave me a big speech on how it wastes time and how it really doesn't make a difference because of Havana House and their warehouse or some crap like that. Honestly I've been buying from him for a while and every cigar I've bought has always been good.
I'm finding most of the other cigar stores located in downtown Toronto don't store their cigars properly and are really dry or have mold. I also find most of the other places overcharge on thier products. King Street and Bay area is IMHO catered to rich business men/women who don't have the time to go to a better cigar shop.
I know this might sound stupid but one of the best things I ever did in regards to trying and buying cigars was take a trip to Cuba this year and create my own sampler pack. For all the cigars I smoked/bought it cost me around $150.00 Canadian for about 15 different cigars. Cohiba, H. Upmann, Bolivar, Diplomatico, Trinidad and Sancho Panza. I could name the exact cigars if anyone wants to know them.
For what I smoked if I bought them here it would of cost me at least $400.00 Canadian.
Better yet, purchase a travel humidor and pick up what you want. Just don't buy any cigars at the airport. Check out Marty''s website:
http://marty.514crew.com/cigarsmain.html
It's the best site I've seen that lists a rough idea of what a cigar will cost in Cuba, plus the good shops to buy cigars at. A helpful tip when buying in Cuba, just because some of the cigars are not in a humidor and are on shelves, doesn't mean they are bad. I had some great ones, just watch out for highly air conditioned cigar shops.
I don't mean to be harsh but I've honestly given up on most of the B & M 's here in Toronto, plus it's becoming really hard to smoke them anywhere except at a private home, park or on the street.
I hope this topic I started was insightful, and by all means continue adding to it if anyone wants to but that's how I feel on the subject.
A dream of mine is to one day open up a cigar lounge/club in Toronto. Maybe one day it might happen if the laws ever change. Until then enjoy your smoke and life.
Some people may disagree with me on this but I wouldn't bother with La Casa Del Habano in Toronto. I bought a La Gloria Cubana Sabrosos with box date of May 2002 in summer of 2007. It tasted horrible and the cigar fell apart.
The only problem I'm finding is most cigars I like others are too and thus the box dates are getting really young as I mostly buy singles. I gotta start buying boxes!
I live in Toronto and have been buying cigars for a long time and find the best spots for what I'm looking for in the downtown area is from either:
Holy Smokes at Loblaws on Queens Quay (the older woman is cool and really knows her stuff).
Thomas Hinds (they've updated their website with prices).
Cheers Smoke Shop is good but the owner is a bit of an ass but he has good prices. Weird thing about him is he doesn't like it when you ask for a box date as he gave me a big speech on how it wastes time and how it really doesn't make a difference because of Havana House and their warehouse or some crap like that. Honestly I've been buying from him for a while and every cigar I've bought has always been good.
I'm finding most of the other cigar stores located in downtown Toronto don't store their cigars properly and are really dry or have mold. I also find most of the other places overcharge on thier products. King Street and Bay area is IMHO catered to rich business men/women who don't have the time to go to a better cigar shop.
I know this might sound stupid but one of the best things I ever did in regards to trying and buying cigars was take a trip to Cuba this year and create my own sampler pack. For all the cigars I smoked/bought it cost me around $150.00 Canadian for about 15 different cigars. Cohiba, H. Upmann, Bolivar, Diplomatico, Trinidad and Sancho Panza. I could name the exact cigars if anyone wants to know them.
For what I smoked if I bought them here it would of cost me at least $400.00 Canadian.
Better yet, purchase a travel humidor and pick up what you want. Just don't buy any cigars at the airport. Check out Marty''s website:
http://marty.514crew.com/cigarsmain.html
It's the best site I've seen that lists a rough idea of what a cigar will cost in Cuba, plus the good shops to buy cigars at. A helpful tip when buying in Cuba, just because some of the cigars are not in a humidor and are on shelves, doesn't mean they are bad. I had some great ones, just watch out for highly air conditioned cigar shops.
I don't mean to be harsh but I've honestly given up on most of the B & M 's here in Toronto, plus it's becoming really hard to smoke them anywhere except at a private home, park or on the street.
I hope this topic I started was insightful, and by all means continue adding to it if anyone wants to but that's how I feel on the subject.
A dream of mine is to one day open up a cigar lounge/club in Toronto. Maybe one day it might happen if the laws ever change. Until then enjoy your smoke and life.
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