The Evil Empire –vs- a mouse that clicks

I know I have focused a lot on online cigar stores as of late and that is not to say Brick & Mortars (stores) are an evil empire that will swallow up your wallet and eat your children, although it does seem like an arm and or a leg have been taken on occasion.

I like the online shops a bit more because of inventory, cigar stores cannot carry the volume or the selections that online sites can because of space and overhead it’s just an awful truth of economics. If I am looking for a single cigar I would head to a store if I am looking for a bundle or a box it is Online shopping all the way for this consumer. The stores can’t compete.

The reason for this entry is I have been asked what online site are better and which ones have I used, well in the interest of being fair I will tell you the online sites I have used and like in NO particular order

• Thompson Cigars
• JR Cigars
• 2 Guys Smoke shop
• Cigars International
• Famous Smoke shops
• Cigar Bid
• Cigars.com
• Mike’s Cigars
• Best Cigar
• Pipes & Cigars

That being said I will add that Famous Smoke Shop has re-tuned its webs site; if you’re new it will be fine for you but we returning customers there will be a learning curve to deal with.

Cigar bid can be intimidating and you really need to pay attention to what you want to purchase read closely

Pipes and cigars are mostly piped and pipe products then cigars.

JR Cigars, 2 Guys and Famous Smoke shops tend to have a price points higher than the rest.

Thompson has a tendency to push their house brand cigars very hard to almost the point of annoying and I have had an occasion to have my selections a tad bit less humidified than needed.

Cigars International, Mike’s, Best-Cigars and Cigar.com tend to have the better deals as well as a bigger selection. Cigars International has been a stand out for me.

All this is only my opinion and is based on my personal experience of using their services for many years however keep in mind everyone has a bad day.

Now if you will excuse me it is about to cigar out and I wish to partake of it. Thanks for stopping in.

 

And The Winner is . . .

Well we have hit that time of year where everyone from TV to Music to Motion Pictures is doing their Best of the Best list or their top “whatever” for 2014, so I guess a band wagon jumping we shall be.

 We posted on here and sent out to our Club Members a list of the top cigars that we have sampled this year, the cutters they have used and the online store they liked the most (we did not include local Brick and Mortar (Stores) because members are spread out all over 3 states.

 So without further blabbering, The Winner for top cigar of the 2014 cigar season is . . . 

·        The Drew Estates; Tabak Limited - Cafe’ Con Leche.

This is the first time a flavored cigar has won Favorite cigar of the year. Being although I too voted, I would have to agree 100% with the vote the Runner up was the

CAO – Itallia.

·        The best cutter award goes to the V-knotch, no surprise there.

·        The best online store to buy cigars this year went to Cigars International, 

with Famous Cigars

and

CigarBid.com tying for second place.

 Best Cigar of 2014:

The Drew Estates; Tabak Limited - Cafe’ Con Leche.

Best Cigar Cutter:

V-Knotch (Any Brand)

Best Online Store:

Cigars International

So as we Blow out our 2014 smoke rings and get ready to breath in 2015’s offerings, I say thank you to one and all that has read, reviewed or participated in our cigar blog and would like to remind any of the readers to hit that “Follow” button and don’t be afraid to make a comment or submit a question for us here at the Cigar Stop. Also Thanks to

The Dead Ringers Cigar Club for hosting some fun events this year and helping keep this blog somewhat interesting (I hope).

 

Until next time

B.O.T.L.

~CigarAsh~