Curlin' Up with a Cigar

On Saturday, I had a small window of time to kill. I had one fool's errand to run--getting the car washed, which is all for not with the up-coming rain, this week. Then, I headed over to the newly re-located Addison Cigar & Tobacco Co. shop on Addison Road. I drive by there numerous times per week, lustily gazing in its windows, wondering what lies beyond. I finally took my chance to visit in my spare hour before meeting the Bondies and the Chastains at Chuy's for dinner that evening.

AC&TCo. have doubled the size of their old space. It's walk-in humidor is expansive with cigars arranged by brand and quality (read: price). The front of the store is basically a couple of high cocktail tables, and 30-inch LCD TV, a front counter and the humidor. The back half of the store, however, is buttressed by a windowed-wall and sign that simply says: "Members Only." Yes, they have a club. It's cruel, really. They allow you to glimpse at the leather lounge chairs, a massive HDTV set, and a well-stocked wet-bar. I scanned a membership form and benefits include: access to the lounge and patio in the back (overlooking the Addison Airport runway), a humidified locker, extended store hours, and 20% discounts on cigars. A leisure man's (or lady's) dream! All for the low, low price of $250 up front and $30 per month. Ah, to be 55+ and retired with money and cigars to burn.

Since I'm not a regular cigar smoker, I mostly stick with cigars that I am comfortable with, ones that I know I will enjoy. I tend to gravitate towards the Cohibas, generally, and the Cohiba Crystal Corona, particularly. Not the Cuban Cohiba. The legal Dominican Cohiba which is a Cameroonian wrapper, an Indonesian Jember binder, and a Dominican-grown filler. It's a very smooth and satisfying smoke and, at 5 1/2 inches, it makes for a good 45 minute experience. What has always unsettled me about them is that I feel like I'm paying a bit of a premium for the name, like drinking Fiji water. If someone has a good alternative, I'm interested in trying a cheaper, comparable cigar.

The best part of the shop is the owner and manager Mark. He's a very gentle, mustachioed, whisp-of-a-man who can always be found with a Pall Mall in the corner of his mouth. His passions seem to be smoking and horse racing. Although, I think he loves the ponies the best. I've never been around someone as passionate as Mark about horse racing. Mark will answer absolutely any question that you have on either horses or cigars.

On Saturday, I watched as four 20-somethings pop into the store and, like most of us when it comes to cigars, they were clueless. They said they were looking for a mild cigar. When pressed to describe some characteristics of the taste, Mark chortled that cigars had their own language for description (much like wine) and it would be impossible to translate those terms to a neophyte (my words, not his). He, of course, said this in an easy and humorous manner, like they had asked a blind man what the sun looked like. He directed them to an appropriate choice and I think they were disarmed by his graceful and informative exposition on how a cigar is made. The man loves to talk cigars...to anyone--expert or novice, alike.

And, that is why you must visit. Curious? Don't know the first thing? Want to talk horse racing? Stop on in. Heck, become a member of the club. Come to think of it, Mark probably knows a good alternative to that Cohiba Corona I like so well.