No, I'm not talking about the mail order kind. I stumbled onto a private cigar club yesterday, tucked away in back of a very nondescript, local cigar store, in a strip shopping center. I saw someone go thru a door in the back of the store, and saw the glow of multiple big screen TVs on some nice leather furniture. There was no marking on the tinted glass door so I took a chance and walked through... This room was as nicely appointed as any social club I've ever been in... about 3,000 sqft of expensive leather furniture that could easily seat 30 ppl, dark paneling, high cieilings, a very nice pool table, poker tables, 4 different big screens/plasmas, free Wi-Fi, enormous wet bar. (BYOB for members) There were a handful of guys back there so I said hello, and asked if I could join them, they welcomed me in and I enjoyed a cigar and good conversation, and was invited to join. There's a small initiation fee and monthly fee but it gives you access to 2 other similar, local clubs. There were some F1 fans in the club so it seems like the perfect place to watch F1 races and enjoy a good cigar or two. I never knew such a thing existed! The club part of the retail store was camoflauged on the outside by closed, dark blinds, with a faded "For Lease" sign in the window. LOL Does anyone else belong to a similar club?
They have one of those in the back of a Tinderbox I used to buy cigars from. Thought about joining, but opted not to. Wish my fav shop had one.
I knew one in the L.A. area that was nice. Even better was my favorite shop... huge HD set, always with a good movie or a Barret Jackson auction (Playboy channel on occasion) & complimentary port at times Miss those places!
I was a member at (George) Hamilton's in Beverly Hills. It was connected to the Wine Merchant, so the waitresses would just walk down a hall from the wine merchant to Hamilton's to serve alcohol. The no smoking in bars law was the problem. It was great for a few years, and then I guess the law caught up, and the Wine Merchant closed and moved down the street.
The place I referenced is a bit underground because the city that it resides in tightened up their smoking ordinance. They used to allow their customers to smoke in the retail area but no longer can.
Oddly enough, it was easier to smoke indoors in Los Angeles than it is in Lexington. You can drive 10 minutes into a neighboring city & smoke a pack at Waffle House... but in Lexington, all the cigar bars were all put OUT OF BUSINESS by the smoking ban!
My Friend started one of these up in his cigar store last year...it is fantastic! Nice place to kick back and have a midday scotch and cigar, plus we have this great family owned steakhouse (started in 1920) right next door all we do is call them and they bring over our meals...which we can charge on our accounts in the cigar shop. For me the best thing is my cabenet in the walk-in humidor I can store about 10 or so boxes of my favorite smokes and never have to worry about my humidor drying out! I have three humidors at home and am down to using two drawers in my Lamborghini chest for a few smokes to have at the house and that is it. I need to start selling some of my other humidors!
A 20cigar cedar lined Burl Walnut of unknown origin It was a gift from a friend...nice little humidor a 40 or so cigar Savoy in black with white maple trimming it was about 150 or so new I have had it for about a year
I got a book that was a guide to cigar smoking for my 18th birthday. It has a list of cigar bars around the world. Doesn't sound like the place originally mentioned would be on that list but there were a few private ones from what I remember. The book was a really good guide to etiquette and what not when smoking. Ill find it when I get home and let you guys know the name, although Im sure it is out of print. Anyway, if anyone wants to know of bars in their area just ask me and I can look it up.
I belong to one in Charlotte. But it is free to all and very open to new people. Be ******, and we have had them, and you will be asked to leave. Enjoy your smoke and good gentlemanly conversation and you will be welcome with open arms.
