spacemonkey_no9
01-09-2009, 09:14 PM
Just back from a 10 day visit to Ontario to visit the sister-in-law and her hubby. Did a bit of research beforehand so knew where to go for a cigar snoop in T.O. Found a few shops and picked up a few singles and doubles. Here's the lowdown for future reference...
Casablanca Tabacconist (Downtown, Yonge and University) - Decent range of the usual brands with a few ER's mixed in. Nothing new and walk in humi felt dry and a little stale. Picked up a PL Robusto ER AsiaPacific Bolivar Simones and a 98 ERDM CS. OK prices, not very friendly staff (too busy stuffing cake in their gobs)
Metro Smoke Shop (Downtown, Adelaide Street) - Nothing spectacular, a few long cabinet humidors with OK selection. Nothing took my fancy, left empty handed.
Thomas Hinds (Bloor, Cumberland Street) - Nice old fashioned shop, guys sitting outside on bench smoking cigars, friendly-ish staff happy enough to let you rummage around the big upstairs walk-in. Bought a couple of PL Belicosos Extras and a few Bolivar Shorts. Probably most expensice shop I went in to. Humi was very humid and a few boxes I looked at (JL Obus and PL Beli had lots of cracked feet and wrappers)
Havana House (Bloor, Yorkville Avenue) - The official LCdH in Toronto. Nice shopping and impressive walk-in behind smoked glass with a small vintage room of to the side). Friendly and chatty staff, lots of variety and only place I saw the 2009 ER's and the ER Canada 2009. Picked up a Party Salamones ($30 CAD, £16), VR Petit Robainas and Upmann Mag48's. Prices OK and cigars in good condition (checked by owner before selling them to me)
Cumberland Cigar Store (Bloor, Cumberland Shopping Arcade) - Limited selection but decent prices for size of shop and location.
Didnt go into Tabac (Yonge Street) or Cheers Smoke Shop (McCaul Street). Overall the selection was good but IMO the trend was for high humidity humi's leading to softer than I like cigars. Price on par with UK with a few bargains to be found. Also picked up the Travel Retail pack from the T5 Cigar House for £39, a bit gimicky with a humidity chamber at one end and a no messing punch at the other.
Casablanca Tabacconist (Downtown, Yonge and University) - Decent range of the usual brands with a few ER's mixed in. Nothing new and walk in humi felt dry and a little stale. Picked up a PL Robusto ER AsiaPacific Bolivar Simones and a 98 ERDM CS. OK prices, not very friendly staff (too busy stuffing cake in their gobs)
Metro Smoke Shop (Downtown, Adelaide Street) - Nothing spectacular, a few long cabinet humidors with OK selection. Nothing took my fancy, left empty handed.
Thomas Hinds (Bloor, Cumberland Street) - Nice old fashioned shop, guys sitting outside on bench smoking cigars, friendly-ish staff happy enough to let you rummage around the big upstairs walk-in. Bought a couple of PL Belicosos Extras and a few Bolivar Shorts. Probably most expensice shop I went in to. Humi was very humid and a few boxes I looked at (JL Obus and PL Beli had lots of cracked feet and wrappers)
Havana House (Bloor, Yorkville Avenue) - The official LCdH in Toronto. Nice shopping and impressive walk-in behind smoked glass with a small vintage room of to the side). Friendly and chatty staff, lots of variety and only place I saw the 2009 ER's and the ER Canada 2009. Picked up a Party Salamones ($30 CAD, £16), VR Petit Robainas and Upmann Mag48's. Prices OK and cigars in good condition (checked by owner before selling them to me)
Cumberland Cigar Store (Bloor, Cumberland Shopping Arcade) - Limited selection but decent prices for size of shop and location.
Didnt go into Tabac (Yonge Street) or Cheers Smoke Shop (McCaul Street). Overall the selection was good but IMO the trend was for high humidity humi's leading to softer than I like cigars. Price on par with UK with a few bargains to be found. Also picked up the Travel Retail pack from the T5 Cigar House for £39, a bit gimicky with a humidity chamber at one end and a no messing punch at the other.