If ever find yourself in Asheville NC, Check out the Casablanca Cigar Bar very close to the entrance to the Biltmore Estate.
Cigar prices up there, of course, but not nearly so bad as other places like, for example, Shelly's in D.C. Example: a My Father - The Judge was $12.
Great selection of booze including one of my favorites, - Basil Hayden Dark Rye. They had a Russian Imperial Stout on tap that was outstanding. Several TVs all on sports and big armchairs as well and comfortable bar seats.
Since they don't serve food here they have to be a "club" to serve alcohol and you have to buy a "membership." A daily membership is $2, a yearly on is $5. Since I was going to be there the whole week, I splurged and got the whole year! One rule, no outside cigars. :(
If your wife is going to be spending the day at the Biltmore, this is a great place to wait for her. Several good restaurants nearby for food you can walk to.
Knowledgeable staff, although called one guy that was behind the bar out who was trashing a certain cigar and the places that sold them. I said, you can't talk too much, you have a whole wall of Gurkhas. He lowered his head and said, "well, yeah"
Another interesting place is the Carolina Cigar Company store in downtown Asheville. They sell almost exclusively Carolina Cigar Company Cigars (they had a few miscellaneous other selections but not many). These are made in the Dominican by a guy that was from Asheville - hence the name and the special store - supposedly from tobacco on farms he owns in the Dominican. They have a number of different blends, and I tried several but only really liked one that was worth the money. It was their "4-Blend" Green Label - corona size with a corojo wrapper. Nice smoke for a $4 from a retail outlet. Lasted a very long time for its size, well-made, slightly spicy, medium+ for the most part, with good tobacco flavor underneath - MUCH fuller, and tastier than I have had from other inexpensive Dominicans, which makes me wonder if he is not "cheating" on the blend and bringing in some Nicaraguan leaves. The "Cabinet Selection" blend, their highest-end, was OK as well, but they wanted $10 for a Toro-ish size on that one - not worth it.
They don't do their math so gooder though. I was going to pick up a few of the $4 coronas for the drive home when I asked if they have a box price and the guy said they take 20% off for all box sales, and that a box of 25 coronas would be $44.50.
Well, who am I to argue....
