Top 6 Favorite Cigar Shops / Cigar Bars of 2009
Monday, January 11, 2010
Today, we have the fifth and final list of 2009 here on The Weekly Cigar. First, I’d like to take a second and thank everyone for checking out the site. The site has been getting an incredible number of visits from these lists, and I’m guessing a lot of you are new visitors to the site. I hope all you new readers or viewers are enjoying the site, and please feel free to leave any feedback you might have for me. Anyway, today, I have a list of my favorite cigar shops or cigars bars that I have visited over the past year. There were a lot to choose from, but I’ve picked my favorites. What I generally look for in a shop is a great selection, reasonable prices, and a comfortable lounge. All of the shops on this list offer that, and some of them even offer a bar, which is just icing on the cake. If you are ever in Miami or Atlanta, make sure to check out the shops below.
- Puff ‘N’ Stuff Cigars, 2523 Lawrenceville Highway, Decatur, GA 30033, (770) 908-9388
Puff ‘N’ Stuff Cigars holds a special place in my heart, as it was the first shop I ever bought cigars from. I distinctly remember picking up a few Drew Estate Acid Blondies as my first cigar, and loving that experience. Al Tybor, the shop’s proprietor, has a wealth of knowledge about cigars and the cigar industy. I’ve learned much of what I know today from sitting and talking to Al about different cigars, manufacturers, and more. Al is just a great guy, and it’s easy to talk to him about any topic. He’s also a poker fanatic, and can spend all day telling you tips and tricks about the game. On top of the great conversation that Puff ‘N’ Stuff provides, their selection is great. Al has great relationships with many manufacturers, and gets some really cool stuff in stock. For example, his shop was where I found a couple boxes of Tatuaje Noella Reservas when they came out. Al also has a good lounge, although it does get a little snug sometimes when there are too many regulars there. - Ole Stogie & Son Cigars,1124 Lawrenceville Hwy. Ste 301A, Lawrenceville, GA 30045, (770) 277-3633
Ole Stogie & Son is run by Ed, his wife Ren, and his son Bo. They are all great people, and have a great new cigar shop in the Atlanta area. The selection at their shop is growing every day, and their prices are very reasonable. The main draw to Ole Stogie & Son, for me, is the lounge and the people that frequent the shop. Ole Stogie & Son has a large lounge area, complete with plenty of seating, a TV, Nintendo Wii, darts, and poker on Saturday nights. Poker every Saturday is a ton of fun, with the buy in set at a $5 cigar. The winner at the end of the night takes home the whole pot of cigars which, depending on the number of players, can get to be 20 or 30 cigars. The atmosphere is fun and laid back, and there’s always someone there to talk to. It’s a great place, and I really hope Ed, Ren, and Bo continue to do well. - Sabor Havana Cigars, 2600 NW 87th Avenue, Doral, Florida 33172, (305) 436-8860
Sabor Havana Cigars was one of the first shops I visited when I moved to Fort Lauderdale, and I was amazed at their selection and hospitality. They have everything from Avo to Zino Platinum, all at great prices. They also get an incredible amount of limited cigars, including the La Flor Dominicana Museo, E.P. Carrillo Edición Inaugural 2009, and Padron Reserve 45th Maduro. They were the first shop in the country to have the Tatuaje Black Tubos and Tatuaje Red Tubos. Also, Jorge Valdez and Aquiles Legra, the shop’s proprietors, are great tobacconists and truly know the industry. One of my favorite features of the store is the dominoes table and Presidente beer. I can spend all day there smoking cigars, drinking beer, and playing dominoes. Sabor Havana Cigars is a must visit when in Miami. - Aromas of Havana Cigar Lounge, 14781 Biscayne Boulevard, North Miami Beach, FL, (305) 940-0988
The first time I went to Aromas of Havana Cigar Lounge, it was with Pete Johnson of Tatuaje Cigars. We had just finished the interview and dominoes at Sabor Havana, and decided to go hang out at Aromas since it was open late. I was expecting the typical shop, a few leather chairs and a couple of TVs. When I walked in, I felt like I had walked into a nightclub. The only thing that kept me from thinking I was in the wrong place was that cigars lined the walls and cigar smoke was lingering in the air. From that point on, Aromas of Havana has been one of my favorite shops in Miami. The icing on the cake is that they have a full liquor bar that serves an amazing selection of scotches, and also a great selection of craft beer. They actually have the Dogfish Head 120 minute IPA, which is a very difficult beer to come by. They also have an incredible amount of limited cigars, including very limited Opus X and Tatuaje offerings. - Cuban Crafters Cigars, 3604 NW 7th Street, Miami, Florida 33125, (305) 573-0222
First of all, for complete transparency, I did work at Cuban Crafters for a little while, but do not work there anymore. We parted ways as friends, and I still visit their shop and lounge regularly. With that out of the way, let’s talk about their shop and lounge. Cuban Crafters has a well stocked humidor, and sell many of the major cigar brands, including their own cigars. They also have a free Cuban coffee bar, free (with tip) shoe shine station, and are putting in a free barber shop. They have an great wine lounge, and you can buy bottles of wine at normal liquor store prices and drink them in the lounge. You could literally buy a few cigars, buy a bottle of wine, and hang out all day drinking and smoking. They also have an incredible deli, with a hot pastrami sandwich that rivals those of New York delis. This is another must visit in Miami. - Speakeasy Cigars, 7902 NW 36th Street #9, Miami, FL 33166, (305) 599-1153
Speakeasy Cigars (formerly Capital Cigars) is another great shop in the Miami area. Their selection is great, their prices are reasonable, and they have dominoes tables. What more could you ask for, right? David, one of the shop’s proprietors, is a great guy, and always has something new for me to try. Their events are also great, and generally feature cigar deals and raffles. This is also a favorite hangout spot for David Levy, owner of Mederos Cigars. I’ve met and hung out with David at Speakeasy on many different occasions, and he’s a great guy with a great new cigar.
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[...] Top 6 Favorite Cigar Shops/Bars of 2009 (published on 01/11/10) [...]
Johnny, you know I support your site but this is a silly list……you travel from ATL to FLA only……..when you’ve visited a bunch of states and have visited a bunch of different shops than maybe this post would make more sense??!?!?!?!?! am I being too critical? LOL
I figured it could be useful to the Floridians and Georgians who visit my site, lol. A good portion of my hits actually come from Florida, and Miami is a destination location for cigar smokers, so I figured I’d put one together.
There are many cigar bars in Florida that are very cool. Cigar Snob magazine has ran articles about their bars, if there is a beer/wine/liquor selection etc, and this might be a cool site for ppl (like myself) who have visited a few along the way to spread the yay or nay. You’ve got Havana Joe’s, Origins Cigars, a few good buddies of mine opened up The Three Stogie’s in Coconut Grove, across from the improv comedy club. Carlos Ponce, a close friend of mine is one of those Stoogies, I mean Stogies lol…. Check em out!
I actually appreciate the list! I may not live in either of those locations, but if I ever visit, I have a good idea where to start! I hope one day you have a chance to visit the Tri-State area and review us as well. Might I suggest when the weather is warmer though. Thanks for the review!
Who in the heck voted PUFF ‘N STUFF Atlanta’s No. 1 Shop. It’s not bad, but certainly not Number 1. Ever been to Tobacco World or La Casa Del Tobacco?
That would be me. Al is the BEST tobacconist I have ever had the pleasure of talking to. He really knows his shit. Go, sit with him, get to know him, you’ll see what I mean.