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Cigars/Any good sites for Canadians?

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Expert: - 5/11/2009


Question
Hi James,

Ive asked questions here before, and I believe you were located in Toronto and suggested several good cigar shops around the city.

Anyways, ive been looking to switch to a digital hygrometer as well as a new lighter and was looking online.  I found that most american sites were cheap but very heavy on the shipping costs.

Are there any websites you would recommend for Torontonians?   I find a lot of the little stuff are quite expensive in the cigar shops.   The last time I was really desperate for propylene glycol and found a cigar shop at Bayview Village... a bottle of 50%PG and 50% water ended up costing about $20 I believe (that is quite high right?)

Thanks for your help!

Answer
Hi Andy,

Unfortunately, there aren't many Canadian, website-based retailers of cigars and cigar related products.  A lot of storefront retailers such as Thomas Hinds, Cigars-For-You and Casablanca have their own websites but I think you're looking for an online retailer with low, wholesale prices (comparative to the American websites), correct?  If you don't mind ordering from retailer websites, the Smokin' Cigar (located at Bayview & Eglinton; www.smokincigar.com) has a nice website for online ordering plus their prices are pretty good (bottle of PG is around $12 CAD)... or you can just visit their shop in person. ;)

Your only other alternative is to buy from American websites but as you mentioned, shipping costs to Canada has gone up.  Another unfortunate downside is that you may be taxed for your order. (It depends on what you order.)

Hopes this helps. As always, if you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask and I will be happy to help.

Regards,
James

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James Yee

Expertise

My main area of expertise is Cuban cigars but I can also assist you with cigar etiquette, humidor maintenance and troubleshooting. Unsure of a certain cigar brand? Wondering what a certain cigar tastes like? Have any questions about Cuban cigars? Just let me know! I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. (NOTE: My main focus is on premium, hand-rolled cigars and not cheap, machine made, convenience store cigars.) IMPORTANT: PLEASE NOTE THAT I DO NOT PROVIDE CIGAR OR CIGAR-RELATED APPRAISALS. If you have a vintage cigar item and you want to know if it's worth something, please contact an antique dealer that specializes in "TOBACCIANA".

Experience

I currently have 19 dedicated years of cigar smoking and counting. I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. For 5 years, I studied with Cuban torcedores (rollers), catadores (taste testers) and revisadores (inspectors) on every aspect involving the production of the Cuban cigar and I am currently writing a book that will help beginners understand everything they need to know about cigars and cigar smoking.

Publications
Maple Leaf Gardens: Memories & Dreams 1931-1999 (1999; ISBN: 0920445616)
50 Things Every Guy Should Know How To Do (2006; ISBN: 0452286654)
The [London] Times (October 8, 2009)


Education/Credentials
B.A. University of Toronto

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