Best places to buy cigars

[Fliar]

I am a beginner cigar smoker. I currently live in Tokyo but get the feeling that, although there are some wonderful cigar bars, the prices are very much inflated compared to elsewhere.

Where would you recommend I buy cigars? I am not looking for very special brands. I am in the US now and will be in Europe next week. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

[JR65]

If in Europe I'd recommend Switzerland - plenty of variety in the cities or in the main duty free branches which all have special humidified rooms. They will also seal them in plastic bags to stop them drying out in transit.

I normally pick up 50 for a friend whenever I am in Zurich and know I will be going to Tokyo shortly after - probably works out at about $10 a cigar for something like a Montecristo #2. I think you'd pay almost twice that in the UK - I don't smoke them but enjoy buying them and understanding all the different varieties.

[prspad]

I've been buying cigars via mail from http://www.famous-smoke.com for years. One of the great benefits is that they ship from Pennsylvania, so I don't pay California state tobacco sales taxes on the order. This company is an Appointed Davidoff Merchant and they carry full lines of brands like Arturo Fuente, H. Upmann, Montecristo, Punch and Macanudo. No Cuban cigars.

They do handle international orders... Here's a caveat from their website...

"To place an international order, please contact our Customer Service Department at (US country code here)-610-559-7000 (Ext. 112) or email us at internationalorders@famous-smoke.com and one of our representatives will be happy to assist you.

Please review the following information regarding international orders:

International orders shipping to Canada will be delivered via UPS. All other international orders will ship via the US Postal Service.
International orders MUST be prepaid and the only accepted forms of payment is credit card or money order.
Shipping costs are based on value and weight
All duties are the responsibility of the customer"

[dankyone]

The best Cuban cigars are widely available in major cities in Spain (MAD, BCN) at extremely low prices...

[Fliar]

Thanks people, very helpful. How about Asia? Expensive I would imagine?

[philipperv]

Originally Posted by Fliar

Thanks people, very helpful. How about Asia? Expensive I would imagine?

Not in the Philippines. They are dirt cheap here and Filipino cigars are world class.

[typhoon]

The Duty Free shop in Beirut, Lebanon has probably the best Cigar store of any airport worldwide.

[obscure2k]

My husband buys his cigars from Holts in Philadelphia.

[UCBeau]

I get mine from Hong Kong, pay great prices for Cuban stuff. For other stuff I use U.S. companies like JR Cigars.

[abraxis]

Last few trips to Tokyo, I found myself at the Jazz Cafe London at Roppongi Crossing. They are a below ground place to the right of the big SoftBank store a couple of doors down. Cigars were fine when I was there.

I also go to Hong Kong for cigars when I'm in Asia. There's Red Chamber above Shanghai Tang and the Cohiba Divan in the Mandarin Oriental. Good places to smoke. There used to be a Cigar Express in the old Hyatt Regency in TST; not sure what replaced it. There's another cigar shop in the men's section of the Elements mall on top of the Kowloon MTR.

In Europe, I'd recommend Zurich. Nice selection and good price too.

UCBeau! What do you smoke? I'm a fan of Ramon Allones Specially Selected (Cuban) and Davidoff Millenniums (Dominician). Think we can arrange a cigar DO?

[UCBeau]

Originally Posted by abraxis

Last few trips to Tokyo, I found myself at the Jazz Cafe London at Roppongi Crossing. They are a below ground place to the right of the big SoftBank store a couple of doors down. Cigars were fine when I was there.

I also go to Hong Kong for cigars when I'm in Asia. There's Red Chamber above Shanghai Tang and the Cohiba Divan in the Mandarin Oriental. Good places to smoke. There used to be a Cigar Express in the old Hyatt Regency in TST; not sure what replaced it. There's another cigar shop in the men's section of the Elements mall on top of the Kowloon MTR.

In Europe, I'd recommend Zurich. Nice selection and good price too.

UCBeau! What do you smoke? I'm a fan of Ramon Allones Specially Selected (Cuban) and Davidoff Millenniums (Dominician). Think we can arrange a cigar DO?

Wow nice picks! Those are superb..I'm a vegas robainia unico (cuban), monte #4 (cuban), fuente hemingway short story, and CAO Gold robusto fan..those are what i tend to smoke the most of.

I think a FT Cigar Do would be great, I can already name some folks who'd probably show up

[thelark]

Originally Posted by UCBeau

Wow nice picks! Those are superb..I'm a vegas robainia unico (cuban), monte #4 (cuban), fuente hemingway short story, and CAO Gold robusto fan..those are what i tend to smoke the most of.

I think a FT Cigar Do would be great, I can already name some folks who'd probably show up

Padron 1964 Anniversary Exclusivo, Natural
Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona (Cuba)
Cohiba Robusto (Cuba)

My travel has been down lately (and with my new job will be 0) so I have to stick to my Padrons, which I can buy around here The Padron Anniversary Principe is a nice smaller smoke for when you have less time.

[UCBeau]

The Padron's are awesome, I agree. I LOVE the 1926 Maduros but I can buy Cuban cigars for less so I tend to stick with those.

[Eguerdi]

I will add to the list a weird non commno cigars country: uruguay

[work2fly]

Originally Posted by philipperv

Not in the Philippines. They are dirt cheap here and Filipino cigars are world class.

Any recommendations?

I'll be back in the Philippines sometime within the next month or so and would love to bring some cigars back for our next FT gathering.