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Cigars/hand-rolled cigar shop in Toronto

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Expert: - 2/24/2011


Question
Hi James. I don't know where in Canada you are, but maybe you know about this: When I lived in Toronto in the early 80s I discovered a place - I think it was near King and Spadina - where cigars were hand-rolled. I think they were from Cuban tobacco. Do you know anything about this? It's not there anymore.

Answer
Hi Leonard,

I'm actually in Toronto and I'm not far from the downtown area.  Are you referring to Correnti Cigars?  They're on King but about two blocks west of Spadina.  They do indeed hand-roll Cuban cigars.  Here's their website:

http://www.correnticigars.com/contact.php

Another tobacconist in that area is Casablanca and they're located at King and Yonge.  Here's their website:

http://www.casablancatobacconist.com/index.html

I hope this helps!  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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