Great story for you guys. Yesterday, as I was traveling through Ct. I drove through Ridgefield which is a small upscale town in the NW quadrant. Of course while I was there I had to ask if there was a cigar shop in town. A man replied "Oh sure, Chief Catoonah Tobacoonists, he's been there for years." I stop in and see that he's been in business for over 25 years and had probably the best selection of rare smokes I had ever seen. I began to ask him for all the over-priced usuals like Opus X and Anejo, VSG etc.. and he said to me, " Are you looking to buy a cigar or a name?" Knowing that I was looking for a more full-bodied smoke, he went into the humidor that had hundreds of different cigars and pulled a box out from way down buried at the bottom. He tells me that he wants me to try this, a La Vieja Habana maduro shorty that he picked up on his visit to the nicar. factory when the brand first started off. It had the original plain yellow band and the cello had that yellowish tint that only comes from beautiful aging. "Thats what I do" he said. Every couple of months he pulls out a new box of something special he bought years back and offers it to his good customers. For the next 30 minutes I had the best conversation with him about cigars and the industry while enjoying that super smooth La Vieja that he gave me free to try. I wish guys like this could be in business forever, but the truth is they are a dying breed. We all may be able to get the best deals on-line, but it's the invaluable service people like him provide that will keep me going to him until his doors are shut. Have a good holiday everyone.

Great story Frank. This guy needs to go on tour, and he could start right here on the left coast.

Great story! I get a lot of smokes on c-bid but still try to support our local store in Baton Rouge! You are right, they are a dying breed but there is nothing better than going there and listen to people chat about cigars that really know them.

Burky

Burky, Burky, Burky and what "local" store is that?

...not sweet 'ol JJ?

or

...humble Churchills?

or

...Sara and her tacky Cigar box purses?

Seriously, aside from JJ hating women at Havana House, he has the best smokes....hell, Churchill's resident punk cigar smoker buys Short Stories directly from JJ!

BTW, I like the people at Bayou Tobacco, they just suck as far as selection......I even mentione cbid to them to pick at least some more upscale smokes.

Great story and a great cigar. I still have a couple of the original release made by Perdomo in nat and maddy. Hmmmm.....think I'll go digging fer treasure. X

Sonny-

Usually Bayou, but you are right, **** selection. Churchills prices, oh my!

What do they say at Batou when you tell them about the selection???

Burky

Anytime you guys want to chat about cigars, give us a call. I know its not the same as sittin' face-to-face in a store, but I know I love to give my optinion about 'gars that I like. When someone asks me about Opus X, Ashtons, etc... I always love to offer up a box of FANTASTIC cigars that are uner $60!!

The best is when I get a call a few weeks later and someone tells me that they have found a new favorite cigar and its $100 cheaper than what they used to smoke!

Marke

Burky,

Try the Cigar Merchant in Lafayette. They have a great selection of smokes at decent (somewhat high) prices. Better than anything I've found in Baton Rouge or Lake Charles.

PS New cigar shop is opening in Alexandria on MacArthur.

Cheers,

grond

Good Story Frank,

The good ones always seem to just happen when they're not planned out! Now how to replicate? Take Care & Have a Good weekend.

Cookie

C-Bid is awesome, but I still love to go to my local, they treat me right and he will dip into his private stash for his regular customers. He gifted me a DC Maximus Toast Across America Cigar from 2003 for my birthday. Thats good service.

But for fivers and non super premiums C-Bid cant be beat.

JohnL

I've always tried to be tactful when telling them to invest because they are good folks, but it just doesn't sink in......I really think their available funds are short. BUT, if they want to get more business, it is gonna take a risk (i.e. loan). I've been in there buying solution and several times someone comes in asking if they have Fuentes and they solemnly, yet honestly, refer them to Havana House.

grond, Havana House's selection is VERY respectable...how much better are you looking for? They don't stock crap for the sake of saying their selection is large (i.e. no Macanudos, Royal Jamaica, etc.).

Sonny,

I've never been to Havana House. I'm sure they're good and I'll make sure to stop there next time I'm in Baton Rouge. I was just offerring another shop (fairly close) which has a very good selection, has a smoking section, a poker game most every evening and tons of good company (The Cigar Merchant).

Cheers,

grond

Regretfully, the days are long gone when you could stop into a small cigar shop and the proprietor would ask what flavor profile you prefer, then roll you a few, while you talked tobacco.