Big Sticks Fine Cigars - Mesa, AZ

Intriguing, beautiful, sexy, perfect - Some of the first words that come to my mind when I think, and visit, Big Sticks Fine Cigars. Big Sticks is centrally located in Arizona at the Mesa Riverview shopping center just off the 202 (Red Mountain) and Dobson Rd, snuggled behind Bass Pro Shop and next to Toby Keith’s bar.

Big Sticks has a wonderful 380 sq ft walk-in humidor that will tailor to every kind of smoker. According to their website Big Sticks offers “a wide variety of cigars ranging from $0.95 per stick to $37.50 per stick” and I have yet to see someone visit the store and not come out with something they were looking for. Carrying the big names in cigars along side the “boutique” cigars means you will have about 1,000 open boxes in the humidor to choose from (the website says 958). So visit Big Sticks to try something new or something familiar - all the cigars are reasonably priced.

Walk into this Mesa cigar lounge - and I dare you - to tell me of a time where you, or anyone else you see come in, is not warmly greeted by the shop owner Bob. Bob is a stand up guy that is always willing to share his fascinating stories and general conversation making me feel like I have just returned “home“. On top of that his staff is just as attentive and adds to the experience always making sure I’m comfortable while enjoying my smoke. This lounge is one of the most comfortable atmospheres to smoke in - just stop in on a Thursday and smoke to an antique piano being played live.

Big Sticks Fine Cigars has got to be one of the most beautiful cigar lounges in the country - giving you the perfect smoking experience. I will start out by saying that it feels like you are relaxing in a private club made just for you. Walking into the store you notice dark red walls, full wood walls, and brick facings that add quite the character to the store. A plasma screen hangs on a wooden wall centered between big over sized leather chairs - this is the main sitting room.

A 98 year-old piano sits against a red wall and just below a hand drawn sketch of the world (so that cigar bands can be glued on to the originating country) that breaks up the next sitting section. A few circular tables are provided so that a small group may sit together and not have to talk across the lounge. Finally, and this is the best part, is the third seating area that has two oversize chairs facing each other allowing for private meetings / conversation / enjoyment. All sitting sections contain antique checkers, chess, or domino’s sets to play with. Don’t forget to continue past the lockers to find a billiards table and card/domains table.

My favorite part of the Big Sticks Fine Cigars has got to be the history that’s in the shop. Bob has spent countless hours, and what I expect lots of money, to put together some of the greatest vintage tobacciana collectibles in one area. Ask bob about any particular sign and listen as he rattles off the history of the company, sign, and the work that went into locating the piece.

Thank you Big Sticks for creating such an establishment. Feel free to visit the Big Sticks website as they have more pictures of their amazing cigar lounge, update the news and event section quite frequently, and provide you with more detailed shop information.

Big Sticks Fine Cigars
(480) 668-6099
1017 N. Dobson Road, #106
Mesa, AZ 85201
Visit Big Sticks Fine Cigars Website

Smoke ‘M - Chandler, AZ

Smoke ‘M is a head shop located in Chandler, Arizona masquerading as a cigar shop. Passing by Smoke ‘M you will notice multiple sings that boast of a “walk in humidor“, a new “cigar lounge“, and other cigar references. While this shop does sell some cigars, but I have to warn everyone: Smoke ‘M is NOT a cigar shop.

When you enter the Smoke ‘M establishment you see the “cigar lounge” is nothing more than a couch facing a wall. Yes - just facing a wall. There is no TV, music, or even a cigar ash tray to sit your smoke on.

Next to the “lounge” you will find the humidor. The humidor is just large enough to hold two adults. It is very empty, and not taken care of very well. I noticed a box of La Gloria Cubana Series R No. 5 Maduro sitting on the shelf. I took the liberty to open the lid to find the cigars were all dried out, cracked, and well…. not smokeable. Most of the cigars are flavored acids, there was a Gurkha infused tray, and other random smokes. To be honest my local grocery store Basha’s has a bigger selection of cigars.

From the limited inventory that Smoke ‘M offered I can tell you that the prices were quite high.

Smoke ‘M has had one person working in the store at every visit I made (Yes, I still did multiple visits). Never being greeted, never being offered any kind of assistance, and never even having eye contact with the worker made me never want to go in the Chandler head shop again.

Smoke ‘M has a great selection of Hookah’s, knifes, metal pipes, and other items some people might love. This little shop is not worth visiting if you are looking for a real cigar experience. Advertising as a full blown cigar lounge with a great cigar selection is a lie; I must provide the thumbs down.

Smoke ‘M
1250 N Alma School Rd # 32
Chandler, AZ 85224
Smoke ‘M Does not have a website I could find.

Ford and Haig - Scottsdale, AZ

Ford & Haig - The Tobacconist is a small cigar shop located in Scottsdale, Arizona. Ford & Haig’s little cigar shop is in the artistic, and oh-so chic, Old Town area; providing great eateries, art galleries, bars and scenery (eye candy) in a short smoking distance.

Ford and Haig’s website lays claim as a cigar shop that is frequented by “professional baseball players” and in general “famous people“. Knowing this I somehow imagined walking into a grand cigar shop laced with fine leather chairs, beautiful women, and only limited edition cigars.

Opening the door to the Ford and Haig cigar shop I quickly realized the cigar shop is very small and very packed (packed in a good way). I overheard a conversation about the fluctuation of the oil market and the effect of their portfolio (yes I am now in Scottsdale). Two gentleman working warmly greeted me and I walk straight into an oddly shaped, triangle-ish, humidor.

The humidor had a great selection of smokes. Something that immediately caught my eye, as you can see from the pictures below, is the nice selection of Don Carlos cigars. Pricing was all around fair and nothing was too high or a great deal; I did expect a Scottsdale cigar shop to be overpriced. After multiple laps in the small humidor I selected a nice Cabaiguan cigar.

I had no real intention of smoking the cigar in the shop due to the limited seating area. Out of no where I hear a “Are you going to smoke that bitch?” Okay - That’s the kind of invite I like. While checking out the friendly staff v-cut my cigar. I like people who can offer creativity and suggestions in smoking.

The atmosphere portion of the review has always been good for this Scottsdale cigar shop. Seating is limited to about 5 seats in the very front of the store. You wont be able to have any kind of private conversation and if the company is not good, or there are more than 5 smokers at once, you will be quite uncomfortable. Another thing I noticed is the lounge is in front of large windows that face the bright Arizona sun - so be careful.

Overall I give this Scottsdale cigar shop a thumbs up. They have friendly / knowledgeable staff, a great location, and some pretty unique cigars at a fair price. Just hope you get some great smokers to sit with!

Ford & Haig - The Tobacconist
(480) 946-0608
7070 E. Fifth Avenue
Scottsdale, Arizona 85251
Visit the Ford & Haig - The Tobacconist Website

Tinder Box Ahwatukee - Phoenix, AZ

Tinder Box Ahwatukee, operated by Jeff Cayton, is located off the intersection of Chandler Blvd and 48th Street just west of I-10. The sign on the storefront now reads “Tinder  Box” is the traditional green sign we are used to seeing. I am in the process of getting a picture of the building. I will update this posting when the new pictures come in.

Tinder Box Ahwatukee has one of the largest humidors in the state of Arizona with 900 square feet of selection. I have to assume that filling a 900 square foot humidor allows for some major purchasing power and discounts from his suppliers since the shop stocks more than 200 brands. The prices of the cigars are great and you will not find any price gouging with the popular cigars.

I must also give Tinder Box Ahwatukee credit for carrying more humidors, pipes, pipe tobacco, magazines, and even knifes than any other shop I have been to. It makes it quite fun to browse the store. Prices on these items are also great.

Every visit to the cigar store has involved an enjoyable conversation with Jeff Cayton and a friendly greeting/farewell from all his knowledgeable employees. They allow you to browse the huge humidor in peace and always seem to step in only when you were about to ask a question. It’s a great shopping experience for a great shopping atmosphere.

Tinder Box Ahwatukee is also known for their very large - very luxurious private cigar club: Camacho Cigar Club. Mr. Cayton has graced me with a tour of this club (it requires a secret pin to enter). A custom pool table, private lockers, multiple LCD HD televisions, beautiful leather chairs, and perfect lighting for the PERFECT smoking experience. Perfection comes with a price.

Unfortunately I can not afford to pay the yearly dues for a private club. This makes the public smoking area of the shop my only other option. The public area contains three high-tops and 12 chairs in a small cramped corner. While smoking there with a friend you can not enjoy a private conversation or while alone you can’t stretch out to be comfortable. I have never enjoyed smoking a cigar with this seating arrangement but I LOVE shopping there. I also want to mention that all his customers, regulars, and people who hang out at the shop are a great bunch of people and always find my self forgetting about the seating and running to the humidor for my second stick.

Tinder Box Ahwatukee is a shop first and then a lounge for the select few (and now I have motivation to ask my boss for that raise).

Jeff Cayton’s Tinder Box Ahwatukee
(480) 961-7777
4611 E. Chandler Blvd., Suite #106
Phoenix, AZ 85048
Visit the Tinder Box website

Stogie Cutter - Gilbert, AZ

Stogie Cutter cigar shop in Gilbert, Arizona is located on Guadalupe Rd and Cooper Rd. This gem of a cigar shop may be hard to see from the street, but once you find it – you will not be sorry. This is one of the most personable and friendly cigar shops I have ever encountered.

Pricing at Stogie Cutter is a reasonably-priced cigar shop. Cigars did not have any outlandish markups; Stogie Cutter actually had very popular cigars that are sold out / hard to come by at other shops, for a reasonable price (the nub).

As you open the door to Stogie Cutter you have just let in a minuscule amount of light that just cuts across the dark, smoky filled room. The windows to the outside are completely covered. The walls are very dark, the furniture is deep rich leather, and even the bar is black with dark wood. Light comes from the few deep yellow lamps and the large plasma screens plastered across the walls. The cigar mood is set, and set well.

Richard, the owner of Stogie Cutter, has been in the shop at every visit. I have always stepped foot in the shop with a warm visit (so has everyone else who has come in). All the shop visitors are friendly and always willing to involve you in conversation.

The atmosphere is wonderful. On my 4th visit or so (I visited multiple times prior to making any review) I decided to have a beer with my smoke. I sat down, lit the cigar, and without even asking – had the beer in front of me. Richard had remembered the beer I had on the very first visit month’s ago.

I will be making this my personal shop, getaway, and cigar supplier.

Stogie Cutter
(480) 813-2628
833 N. Cooper Rd., Suite #106
Gilbert, AZ 85233
Visit the Stogie Cutter website