Almst had my first B&M experience.

[CigarNut]

Originally Posted by pektel

So, I live in a small town. Well, 6 miles out from a small town. The "B&M" shop here is essentially a place that sells pot pipes, sex novelties, and has a small walk in humidor. The humidor is laughable at best. For a LONG time, I've wanted to visit a REAL brick and mortar shop, to see what most of you on here have actual access to.

This past weekend, I took my kids down to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area for an overnight hotel stay, then Chuck E Cheese and a small shopping spree at Toys R Us in Maple Grove. Which just so happened to be within a few minutes from Tobacco Grove. So after the kids' fun, I stopped in for a peek.

To be honest, I didn't want to leave. There were people in there that actually knew about and liked to talk about cigars! (Fun fact: I've never been to a herf either, so being able to talk cigars with other people in person was a great experience). But alas, the gf and kids were waiting in the car, so I was out in 10 minutes. Picked up a 2011 Viaje Holiday Blend robusto, 2012 Holiday Blend torp, a viaje Skull and Bones Little Boy (1st release), Tat Black petit lancero, and the guy in the humidor talked me into trying the new Cain F lancero tubo.

After leaving, went to a liquor store, picked up a 4 pack of Surly Abrasive, 6 pack of Bell's Hopslam, and a bottle of Stone Vertical Epic 12-12-12, none of which I can get in my small town liquor store.

SO I''ve made it a point to actually get down there by myself sometime, and really visit a B&M or 2, and spend enough time for a smoke or 2.

To those that have an actual B&M shop nearby, consider yourselves lucky. I wish there was an escape like that around here for me to support.

Glad that you were able to do this. I am lucky that I have a number of B&M's nearby and I try to patronize each of them when I can -- in order to keep them around.

[pektel]

Originally Posted by CigarNut

Glad that you were able to do this. I am lucky that I have a number of B&M's nearby and I try to patronize each of them when I can -- in order to keep them around.

I was a bit surprised by the prices of the cigars, but it is more of a MN tobacco tax than anything else. 70% wholesale tax. I believe that it's near the highest in the country. So a Fuente Between the Lines was 15.97, the Viaje holiday blends were 13.50, and the S&B was 13.75. Don't remember the rest that I looked at, though they did have some Summerfest sticks left that I was tempted to pick up as well.

Even so, The prices were entirely worth it for what the place had to offer its patrons.

[AdamJoshua]

Originally Posted by pektel

I was a bit surprised by the prices of the cigars, but it is more of a MN tobacco tax than anything else. 70% wholesale tax. I believe that it's near the highest in the country. So a Fuente Between the Lines was 15.97, the Viaje holiday blends were 13.50, and the S&B was 13.75. Don't remember the rest that I looked at, though they did have some Summerfest sticks left that I was tempted to pick up as well.

Even so, The prices were entirely worth it for what the place had to offer its patrons.

Same here I think Cali is 63%, that being said, if you are just getting a couple sticks, considering shipping fees it's almost break even, unless you are talking top shelf stuff, those I have noticed have a premium on them at the local B&M

[Porch Dweller]

Originally Posted by pektel

I was a bit surprised by the prices of the cigars, but it is more of a MN tobacco tax than anything else. 70% wholesale tax. I believe that it's near the highest in the country. So a Fuente Between the Lines was 15.97, the Viaje holiday blends were 13.50, and the S&B was 13.75. Don't remember the rest that I looked at, though they did have some Summerfest sticks left that I was tempted to pick up as well.

Even so, The prices were entirely worth it for what the place had to offer its patrons.

The prices - mainly from tax - are what keep me from buying a lot of cigars in my B&M. But I still try to go there once a month and pick up four or five sticks. It's a way for me to support a local business, shoot the breeze with the staff about this wonderful hobby, and try out some single cigars that are normally out of my price range (normally I'll order a five-pack online to try a new cigar, but my budget has limits.) I don't know if I'd have ever tried a My Father, Ashton VSG, La Aroma de Cuba, or AF Don Carlos if it hadn't have been for my B&M, and that would have been a damned shame.