Graycliff Factory In Nassau Bahamas
edelrionyc
Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 312
I'm going on a cruise in a few weeks and one of the stops is Nassau Bahamas. I researched and there seems to be a Graycliff Cigar Factory 10 minutes away from where the ship will dock. Has anyone gone there? How is it and is there anything you recommend to do? The factory tour is free but they do have a Learn How To Roll class for $75 per person and a Cigar & Rum Pairing for $105 per person. Also their lounge and restaurant is additional which I plan to go to as well. Any insight feel free to respond.
Comments
Well, the good news is you're going at a good time of year. My wife and I went during June which, to me is the absolute worst time to do it. Being 'off-season', the restaurant was closed, no tours were offered, no learning how to roll a cigar, nothing. We had hired a driver who had connections and he got us into the dinky little showroom where I was able to buy some cigars at prices higher than anywhere else. I was also allowed to step into the rolling room and watch a couple torcedores do their thing. Of course, the tip jar was prominently displayed at their work station. All in all, it was quite underwhelming.
Now, the bad news is that those exhorbitantly high-priced sticks I bought had some beetles in them. Even worse, they were found in sticks I had bought for a BOTL here on the forum. Pretty embarrassing....
And as for learning how to roll a cigar, save your money to buy cigars with and learn how to roll for free on YouTube. Not only will you have extra bucks for cigars but you'll get a better view of what the torcedores are doing.
Just my $.02. Being the better time of year, you'll probably have a better time than we did. I sure hope so.... I now have a one-man boycott going against all Graycliff products. im jus' sayin.....br>
And, to make matters worse, after my calling the cruise line to verify that there was a cigar lounge aboard before I even bought my tickets, and being assured that the Captain Cook lounge was a cigar lounge, once we were aboard we learned that it was NOT a cigar lounge and the only place I could smoke a cigar was on the highest rearmost deck on the ship - where the wind continually blows furiously. Needless to say, I was royally P1SSED.....
I went down December 2005 and someone on this forum gave me the advice to walk to the hotel and go to the cigar shop. I bought 3 or 4 sticks, and like others they allowed me to walk in where they were rolling the cigars. I thought that was a pretty cool experience and it made me a big Graycliff fan.
And then I said to the worker "now that i've bought some of your brands, I was wondering if you could let me know where I could buy some other brands nearby...since i've heard you have to be careful with counterfeits."
They took me around the grounds, past the hotel's office, and into a room where they kept their non Graycliff stash. He basically told me "grab whatever you want and i'll give you the price."
I still see the Monte #2 I took back to the ship in my dreams at night. If you are cordial and willing to spend money, I bet they will take good care of you. At least that was my experience years back. Still a fan to this day, and used to always buy a Graycliff at the lounge in the Nashville airport traveling for business. Good luck!