vancouver b and m

nsezell

im visiting vancouver over the weekend and i was thinking about getting an isom while im there. anyone know of a good shop in the area? same question about seattle. minus isoms...ill be there too.

FDS

Hi Nsezell,

As far as I am concerned the only place to go in Vanouver is City Cigar. Not sure where you are going to be staying but it is located just outside downtown, just over the Cambie Street bridge.  I guess a good testament to their quality is the fact that every time a certain Governor of California is in Vancouver he makes a special visit to this store and they close it while he shops.  They refuse to confirm or deny whether he buys any cigars from ISOM.

It is the largest cigar shop in Western Canada and has an extensive selection of ISOM cigars and some of the most knoweldgable employees you will find.  I have included the link below.  My personal suggestions would be to try a Montecristo #2, Cohiba Siglo, or Romeo & Julieta Churchill or Short Churchill.  Better yet, explain your ideal flavours to the staff and they will recommend the best cigar for you.  I have been in numerous cigar stores throughout North American and this one is far and away the best I have found!  I would be remiss if I didn't warn you the prices for ISOM cigars in Canada are steep.  For one of the larger Montes or Cohibas you will be in the $25-$40 range as a minimum.

Enjoy one of the best cities you will find anywhere and let me know if you make it to City Cigar.

http://www.citycigarcompany.com/

nsezell

Thanks for the info. I'm actually staying in Seattle, but I'll be in Vancouver one of my days. Why are prices so high in Canadia?...That's pretty rediculous! The place looks sweet though. I'll have to pick up one or two sticks at least to try before I cross back over...

FDS

The high prices are a combination of taxes and the simple fact that they can. Tobaccco sales in Canada are taxed at quite the high rate and with most major Canadian cities being so close to the US border they know the demand for ISOM cigars is always quite high.  Back in the day when the US exchange rate was much better, it wasn't rare to see some young Americans crusing the streets smoking a nice big Cohiba Esplendido as the US dollar went very far in Canada.  Now with the currencies pretty much on par it doesn't exactly work the same way.

Either way, you should definitly give a ISOM cigar a shot as it is a very unique smoking experience.  If you steer clear of the marque names like Cohiba and Montecristo (which defintiely come with a premium price) you can actually get a very good ISOM cigar in the $15-$20 range.  Hope it works out for you!

nsezell

can u recommend a few isoms for me to test drive as this will be my first experience. im gonna stop in at the place u mentioned. maybe like a top three or something...

FDS

A lot will depend on your own, unique flavour profile and if you go in there and simply explain some of your non-Cuban favourites I can assure you they will find the perfect cigar for you. With that being said, if I had to recommend a few I would say:

1) Montecristo #2

2) R&J Short Churchill

3) Try a Trinidad which is the official roller of Fidel Castro's cigars

4) Any of the Cohiba Siglos

Let me know how it works out for you.

nsezell

I went all out and got 1,2, and 4 (siglos II). I'm gonna smoke the american counter parts before and after to compare. I'll let you know how it goes.

FDS

Glad to hear it worked out for you nsezell, great choices.  Did they treat you well at City Cigar?

 

Definitely keep me posted on your thoughts on the cigars.

nsezell

Yeah, it was the best experience I've ever had at a B&M. They walked me around the store with a little tray and picked out the best cigars of the box of each stick I wanted. I had my own personal attendant. The strange thing was that they were all women, and they all knew a TON more than me about cigars. Strange cause we don't have any women at my B&M's at home. I also picked up a box of punch london club maduro's when I crossed the border home, in the duty free shop. Got a really good price on them. Now I just have to get all these sticks home on the airplane from seattle back to arkansas without getting them taken...

Hays

nsezell:

Yeah, it was the best experience I've ever had at a B&M. They walked me around the store with a little tray and picked out the best cigars of the box of each stick I wanted. I had my own personal attendant.

This is how my b&m does, if you want them to. If you want to be alone, they'll give you the tray and let you have at it.. I love my b&m..

nsezell:

Now I just have to get all these sticks home on the airplane from seattle back to arkansas without getting them taken...

It's pretty easy, to be honest. Just don't mention the cigars. My buddy flew with a full box of ISOM Montes and a box of ISOM Monte Minis in his luggage and had zero problems.

FDS

Awesome to hear nsezell.  The women they have there are incredibly knowledgable and a great resource.  Having been in a fair number of cigar stores, they truly are heads and shoulders above the rest.  The whole experience right from the time they give you to browse, to the selection of the best cigars in the box, to the complimentary cedar on the way out to light your cigars with, it truly is all FIRST CLASS. 

 

Enjoy your ISOM treasures nsezell, I think you will find them to be quite the treat.  Especially, those Cohiba Siglos you scored, those are some of the best cigars out there and legends in their own right. 

 

Happy Smoking!