Shopping Around for Cigars

There are as many cigar types as there are smokers. Nevertheless, one can break the smoker down to three basic categories. The first is the average cheap cigar smoker. This individual generally smokes more out of habit than anything else. It generally doesn’t matter how cheap it is, they will smoke it. Next, there is the general cigar smoker. This person smokes medium priced, mid-level cigars. They aren’t exceptional, but not bad either. Occasionally they will fork over a little extra money to get a premier smoke, just for a special occasion or when the urge hits them. Lastly, there is the cigar aficionado. This person will accept nothing less than the best, but never sticks to one primary cigar. They have a set goal to try every high-profile cigar there is. They own at least one humidor, sometimes more, and these are always well stocked.

This brings us to our subject, where to get your cigars at. For the true cigar entrepreneur, the cigarette shop with the two dollar five packs of swisher sweets is absolutely out of the question. That narrows down the possibilities considerably, as many regions and locales do not have a nice cigar shop that carries premier cigars. Still, there are other possibilities.

First, there is the option of Internet shops. Be very wary here though. Never accept one of these institutions as being legitimate. You might just end up with a two-dollar cigar that you paid twenty dollars for. Check the feedback on the site, the local review sites (such as Cigar Inspector) and any other possible sources for information on the site before you buy.

Also, when ordering online, do not forget about the issue of the Cuban Cigar Embargo. You cannot order a fine Cuban cigar from the United States. Of course, there are other fine cigars, such as those made in the Dominican Republic, that you may have access to, depending upon your location.

Many cigar smokers prefer to see and smell before they make a purchase. In this case, you will absolutely have to find a shop. We suggest that you check every nearby big city in your region. One of them will most likely have what you want. Call them ahead of time before making a long trip and find out for sure. If they don’t have the brand that you are looking for, there is a fairly good chance they would be willing to order it for you.

For those within the boundaries of the United States, you have only one option, and that is to take a long trip beyond your border. Once in a country that does actively trade with Cuba, you will find that virtually every tobacco shop will carry premiere Cuban cigars. However, be warned that trying to smuggle Cuban cigars back to the states is highly illegal and can end up leaving you in a lot of trouble.