Arizona Cigar Events - October

Beer and Cigars
When: Friday the 10th - 6:00 p.m to close.
Where: Stogie Cutter
Info: Four Peaks Beer Tasting w/ live music from STARR! Specials on 8th Street Ale & Kiltlifter & Buy 3 cigars get one free

Gurkha Cigars (Tasting Event)
When: Saturday the 11th - 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Where: Blew Smoke
Info: It will be a buy any 3 Gurkha cigars in stock and get 1 Gurkha Ancient Warrior cigar free! OR buy any 5 Gurkha cigars get 2 Ancient Warrior cigars free! (Only one buy 5 get 2 free deal or buy 3 get 1 free deal per person)

Montecristo & Romeo y Julieta Cigars (Tasting Event)
When: Sunday the 12th - 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Where: Blew Smoke
Info: It will be a buy any 3 Montecristo or Romeo Y Julieta cigars in stock and get 1 Robusto Reserva Real Romeo Y Julieta cigar free! OR buy any 5 Montecristo or Romeo Y Julieta cigars in stock and get 2 Reserva Real Robusto Romeo Y Julieta cigars free!(Only one buy 5 get 2 free deal or buy 3 get 1 free deal per person)

Perdomo Tasting
When: Friday the 17th - Unknown Time.
Where: Tinder Box Ahwatukee
Info: Sorry friends - I will try to get more information ASAP.

Oliva Cigars (Tasting Event)
When: Saturday the 18th - 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Where: Blew Smoke
Info: It will be a buy any 5 Oliva cigars in stock and get 2 Oliva cigars free!One of the free cigars will be from the NUB brand. (Only one deal per person)

Macanudo Cigars (Tasting Event)
When: Sunday the 19th - 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Where: Blew Smoke
Info: It will be a buy any 3 Macanudo Cigars in stock and get 1 Macanudo Hyde Park cigar free! OR buy any 5 Macanudo cigars get 2 Macanudo Hyde Park cigars free! (Only one buy 5 get 2 free deal or Buy 3 get 1 free deal per person)

Drew Estate Event
When: Wednesday the 22nd- 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Where: Big Sticks
Info: Our hot-lookin’ Drew Estate rep, Michelle and Fabien Ziegler (Regional Sales Manager), will be on hand to answer any & all questions about the Drew Estate line. This particular event is twofold: We will be featuring the Naturals line, from Drew Estate, with specials on cigar purchases AND the real feature is the Chateau Real Maduro.

This event will take place from 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm. Make sure to bring your lawn chair. It’ll be a great evening to sit outside the back of our store, enjoy the evening stars and a great new smoke from Drew Estate.

Drew Estate Tasting
When: Thursday the 23rd - Time Unknown
Where: Tinder Box Ahwatukee
Info: Again - I need to get some more information.

Drew Estate Cigar
When: Saturday the 25th
Where: Stogie Cutter
Info:I do not have the specifics on this event either. I will try to update this ASAP.

Gran Habano Cigars (Tasting Event)
When: Saturday the 25th - 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Where: Blew Smoke
Info: It will be a buy any 3 Gran Habano cigars in stock and get 1 Gran Habano Corojo # 5 Imperial cigar free. Or buy any 5 Gran Habano cigars and get 2 Gran Habano Corojo # 5 Imperial cigars free. (Only one buy 5 get 2 free deal or Buy 3 get 1 free deal per person)

$400.00 Daniel Marshall Humidor Giveaway
When: Sunday Oct 26th at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Blew Smoke
Info: If you took advantage of any of the Blew Smoke cigar sales for the month of October you were automatically entered into the raffle of the Daniel Marshall Humidor.  You will also have the chance to win some other great items (Cutters, Lighters, Boxes of Cigars, etc). So show up and go home a winner.

Smoking and Alcohol Together Again

Cigar lounges in Arizona get a huge win as of September 30th, 2008 as the Arizona Court of Appeals overturned the Maricopa County Superior Court blocking the sales of alcohol in retail tobacco establishments, also known as cigar lounges.

These rulings take place after Smoke Free Arizona had taken Magnums Cigar, Wine, and Liquor Emporium (review coming soon) to court for violation of the voter approved Smoke-Free act (2006).

However the act had many exceptions, one specifically stating:

“…if the retail store derives the majority of its sales from tobacco products and accessories…”

As judge John Gemmill reviewed the case presented to him - his final decision came to the following:

“Although the act specifies that the majority of a retail tobaccos store’s sales must be from tobacco products and accessories, it places no restrictions on the source of the other 49.9 percent sales.”

Thus setting a ruling in court (the law had never defined if it was legal or not), which will now apply to all retail tobacco establishments – your Arizona cigar lounge can now sell alcohol.

Smoke Free Arizona was the organization was known for aggressive gorilla like tactics such as sending in workers to issue citations during peak lounge hours; something that was done on a monthly, weekly, and even daily basis. While issuing the shop owner the citations Smoke Free Arizona would also threaten some of the visitors of the establishment by letting them know they were breaking the law and subject to fines.

The biggest “bullet” they had in their arsenal was the threat of going to court. A very long drawn out court battle, knowing that most small shops would not have the time, or the means, to sustain such a drawn-out battle and ultimately causing the cigar lounge to close down regardless.

Your power and threats to cigar lounges, Smoke Free Arizona, has now been removed.

PuffingCigars.com Note: Thanks to Magnums cigar lounge for taking the time, effort, and money to fight and obtain a ruling that everyone will benefit from. Magnums have reportedly spent (in the neighborhood) 100,000 dollars in court.

The fighting does not stop here because the Smoke-Free Act can be amended; however to do so would require a supermajority of legislators to agree upon the changes (a difficult task).

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