Cigar Pilgrimage to Mecca

[Badbeerbreath]

I don't have a top 5, but I've got a couple. I'd sure like to do Cuba one of these days and The Big Smoke in Vegas would be fun.

Slighly off topic but I'm curious ....what is the status now of Americans wanting to visit Cuba?

I thought I'd heard that it was easier now.

 

[AlohaStyle]

Slighly off topic but I'm curious ....what is the status now of Americans wanting to visit Cuba?

I thought I'd heard that it was easier now.

Yes it's much easier if you are willing to pay a lot of money to an authorized tour company and then (technically) stay on their tour schedule once in Cuba. It is also more relaxed for educational/church/non-profit groups to get travel visas so you can take some college classes and go to Cuba on their tour etc.

But my preference... just go on your own and do what you want to do.

 

[dscl]

Prior to reading some of these my list would be

Case de Montecristo (been there)
Cigar Fest (been there)
IPCPR (going this year)
Nicaragua (doing a 7 day tour this year)
Nat Shermans

 

[ar2381]

What's the big deal about Nat Sherman's? Obviously, I know they're a retailer and manufacturer. I've never had their cigars, but also haven't heard anyone mention their store to me in the past. What makes the store so good?

 

[Cigary43]

So many places could be considered a Mecca....I think of places like Nicaragua, Dom. Republic and others that actually grow the tobacco. Taking tours is the best way to really understand the whole process. If we were to talk about places that have a ton of cigar places then you can't beat Miami, Tampa and Key West. I travel to alot of places and some of my best travels had cigars associated with .....tobacco.

 

[Wicket]

Never knew about the Grand Havana Room... Might inquire about membership there once I actually can haha.

You better start saving your money!?! LOL I'm guessing it's too pretentious for my liking anyway... but just out of curiosity I wouldn't mind going.

And know 3 people to sponsor you. Trying my best to find a member just to go once. I have family connections at many "high end" clubs in NYC and they have reciprocity all over but none offer anything with Grand Havana Room.

 

[ENV]

Never knew about the Grand Havana Room... Might inquire about membership there once I actually can haha.

You better start saving your money!?! LOL I'm guessing it's too pretentious for my liking anyway... but just out of curiosity I wouldn't mind going.

And know 3 people to sponsor you. Trying my best to find a member just to go once. I have family connections at many "high end" clubs in NYC and they have reciprocity all over but none offer anything with Grand Havana Room.

Yea, I hear it is extremely exclusive.... Would love to go once though. Seems like fun.

 

[Zedman05]

I too have been lucky enough to travel around to cigar countries....aw, who am I kidding, I went to Nicaragua JUST for the Cigar Tourism trip. It was a blast. Been to Havana, but not long enough. Been to Miami's Calle Ocho and all the shops. I have yet to go to any over-priced/rediculously taxed European countries to go see their old B&M's.
I guess my next trip to Cuba will have to include the Robaina farm visit, and possibly the Partagas Festival or Festival de los Habanos. Maybe I can convince my wife to let me sneak out for a day when we hopefully go to Cuba in November, and visit Havana for the Partagas Festival. Here's to hoping >_<

 

[LigaPrivadaFanboy]

The major ones I want to hit are out of country stuff.

&#8226; The Safari
&#8226; Ajay Patel's LCdH

Went to Ajay's in April. He's an awesome guy with a hell of a private collection!

Already made it to Casa Fuente and Esteli (plus going back in 3 weeks). Making a point to check out Little Havana while I'm in Miami, even if it's just for coffee & food. Would also like to make it to a BOTL HERF someday.

 

[blessednxs65]

Nat Shermans
DE Cigar Safari
Havana
Dominican Republic Tour
Calle Ocho

 

[jeffturneraz]

What's the big deal about Nat Sherman's? Obviously, I know they're a retailer and manufacturer. I've never had their cigars, but also haven't heard anyone mention their store to me in the past. What makes the store so good?

Just YouTube "Nat Sherman Townhouse" I believe its called. You should find videos that give somewhat of a tour.

Being that its NYC, lots of famous people have lockers there and whatnot.

 

[King Kill 33]

DE Safari
BOTL Herf
Rev's House

 

[FragmagnetEOD]

Five seconds in AlohaStyles humi

 

[JLB]

No real great b&m's up here. So most would be that.

Casa Fuente
Casa de Montecristo
Federal/Emerson's to meet site sponsors
And Jfires man cave.
Cigarfest

 

[MDSPHOTO]

DE Safari
Habana

 

[fsfrancis]

I've been to Corona in Orlando, (Sand Lake Road location) and it's pretty impressive. Imagine a small grocery store with about 6-7 isles of just cigars with just about everything you can imagine. Then tack on a bar/smoking lounge with big screen TV's and an outdoor patio with tables, bar service, and umbrella's and you have Corona. They have some HTF stuff, but its expensive, otherwise, their inventory is impressive. I think that they said they have at least 4 million cigars at that one location. I heard that the downtown location is nice as well, and great for people watching, but I didn't make it there.

 

[Tj4orange]

I was able to stop in at Nat Sherman last year. I read somewhere that it was not the original location, but that place has a lot of NYC history. It comes across as a old school high end shop. Just real classy. Guys wearing suits. The staff is insanely knowledgable. They hang with you In the humidor with a tray for your sticks and can ramble off info on damn near any stick. Was just a really neat place. Could totally picture some mob boss' hanging there.

James, you staying in Nica after the safari? Saw you where going seven days.

 

[Deadman's Point]

Went to Ajay's in April. He's an awesome guy with a hell of a private collection!

Do tell... where was his private collection that he showed you?

 

[Phaedron]

Just got back yesterday from a week in Habana/Cienfuegos/Trinidad de Cuba. I could write a book. I went to two Casa de Habanos locations (Hotel Nacional and Hotel Bahia Cohiba) and the latter was the better of those two. But the hidden gem was the lounge on the third floor of Club Asturiano, adjacent to the Hotel Parque Central. A beautiful lounge where Pepe and two associates guided us through a three-hour cigar and rum pairing session. That was Mecca.

 

[jeffturneraz]

Just got back yesterday from a week in Habana/Cienfuegos/Trinidad de Cuba. I could write a book. I went to two Casa de Habanos locations (Hotel Nacional and Hotel Bahia Cohiba) and the latter was the better of those two. But the hidden gem was the lounge on the third floor of Club Asturiano, adjacent to the Hotel Parque Central. A beautiful lounge where Pepe and two associates guided us through a three-hour cigar and rum pairing session. That was Mecca.

Nice!