This might interest you...

I figured a cool post depicting the actual rolling of a cigar would be a good addition to the site today. In this particular video, the cigar roller (or "Torcedor" as they are called) is rolling a CAO America. In case you have not seen or smoked this cigar, it is a pretty good stick with a barber pole wrapper that includes Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro outside of Connecticut Shade. The filler, as you can see, is already rolled and pressed inside the binder. The roller in this video is only applying the outer wrapper, which is 70% of the taste of the cigar. How they grow, blend and pair the tobaccos from different regions and where the tobacco is used in the cigar determines what the outcome will be as far as taste. Keep in mind, this is a very tough thing to do, and it takes a very experienced roller to roll a torpedo. It gets tougher as the size of the cigar gets larger and longer, and when shapes are implemented such as on a figurado. The fact that this lady rolls this one in 2 minutes is impressive to me... and she probably slowed it down because of the video!

Annual Spring Outdoor Tasting and Tent Sale

Saturday, April 18th from 1:00pm to 5:30pm, we will be joining "Tastings Wine and Beer" for their annual "Spring Outdoor Tasting and Tent Sale". We set up at this event and the fall equivalent twice a year, and we always have fun!! It's a lot of work to set up an outdoor smoking lounge, taste wine, and listen to blues all day.

Of course we'll have a table with a decent selection of cigars set up... and as always we'll have the team there to put you on the right stick! Unfortunately, due to the transportation space, we will not be providing much pipe tobacco this year, but don't worry, we'll keep a couple ounces on hand for those of you that need to fill a bowl. Traditionally, tasters wander over and pick out cigars anyways... so we're not worried about a good turnout! PLEASE come join us tomorrow! We will set up a bit early, and we'll be there for the whole event. Tastings is THE place to find wines, both rare and common. Everything inside the store there will be 10% off and there will be great door prizes every hour, on the hour. You can check out the details here....

Tastings is located at 312 E. Center Street in Lexington and is super easy to get to... Come enjoy the 75 degree weather with us, some amazing beverages, and a good smoke!! (not to mention, we usually crank up some good blues too....)

Championship Smoke...

Choose a good cigar, especially if you're a UNC fan. Tonight might be huge! Come join us from 6:30pm until the end of the NCAA Championship game as we meet at Monkeez Brew and set fire to some premium tobacco...

Don't forget that we've usually have some card games going on and free WIFI if you actually manage to get bored. We have added cigars to the humidor including Habano and Connecticut NUBS, the Casa Torano Maduro, and Perdomo 2's. We have more on the way as we try to get our orders in before the different manufacturers raise their prices due to SCHIP.

We hope to see you at Monkeez Brew TONIGHT!! Bring your friends.... we really want to fill up the shop tonight with basketball fans!!

CHANGES.....

Hope all is well. Don't forget about our cigar night tonight, it has become quite a popular event! Not to mention, if you want cigars... try to buy the ones that are already stocked. Anything I order after April 1st will involve new pricing because of the SCHIP (about .35 cents per stick higher).

This post is to inform you all that we are 99% sure that we will change cigar night to Monday nights, starting next week, March 31st. I have asked customers the last two weeks, and everyone doesn't seem to mind the change. It seems as though we'll actually have more once the change is made.

Come grab you a smoke and join us.... we have a lot of fun!

This is a reminder post.... for several reasons.

As many of you already know, the SCHIP tax will soon be imposed beginning in April. From April on, you will see cigar prices raise .35 cents per cigar. This doesn't seem like much (especially considering what they were going to raise it to before IPCRA stepped in), but it really adds up. Come get your cigars in the month of March to completely avoid this tax. If you need something specifically, ask us to order it. You won't have to pay shipping charges, and you'll still get the same low price you're used to. If you have a request for cigars that you do not see in our humidor or that we are out of stock on.... please send a request or reminder to matt@goodfellaspipeandcigar.com.

Don't forget Cigar Night, every Tuesday night at Monkeez Brew!! So far, it has been a huge hit with the shop filling up every week with men (and a woman or two) sitting around playing cards, drinking coffee, watching the huge plasma TV, and smoking cigars. Use the tool here on our site to find directions and come join us every Tuesday from 6:30pm to 9:00pm....

The shop stays open later on these nights to allow access to the humidor. We look forward to seeing you!

HUGE NEWS!!

That's right.... the moment we've all been waiting for.  We've mentioned many times about how necessary is it for us to have a smoking lounge.  It's been difficult because of both the economy, and space at the store to do so.  We've finally made arrangements to reserve Monkeez Brew, the coffee shop we're located behind, for a Cigar night every Tuesday night!

Please keep in mind, Monkeez Brew is a very relaxing atmosphere stretching about 2000 square feet with newspapers, free WIFI, and a 52" plasma TV we can watch anything we want on.  There's nothing better than having a place to go smoke when it's 20 degrees outside.  Come join us at 32 E. Main Street on Tuesday nights.  We'll kick every night off around 6:30 pm... get there when you can.  We will make arrangements to keep the Shoppes open a little later (they normally close at 7pm), and I will make sure and see that you have access to the humidor if you get there before 8pm.  Come sit around and socialize with other men who need to relax as much as you do!  Again, here is what will be available to help you relax when you get there...

- Plasma TV

- Free WIFI (bring your laptop)

- Cigar Magazines

- Local newspapers

- Coffee drinks from lattes, to cappuccino, to espressos....

- Other guys wanting to talk about sports and cigars...

Please come by and see us... there is nowhere close by where you can enjoy a smoke in a heated atmosphere with a TV, trust me... I've looked!  We will begin next Tuesday, February 10th, and continue every Tuesday night.  No reservations are required.

Note:  No HGTV or Oprah will be watched, no cigarettes smoked, and sorry... you can't bring your flask of Johnny Walker Red.

**Note:  If you need directions to Monkeez Brew and Goodfellas, you may type in your address and use the tool here on our site.

2009 Update

First of all, Happy New Year!  For most of us, 2008 was a tough year and 2009 isn't looking so much better.  On the bright side though, premium tobacco is still around as a "relaxation endorser".  

As some of you may know, the fear of the SCHIP expansion proposal is creeping up on us quick.  Just know this, IPCPR has been fighting hard for retailers like me and consumers like yourself.  Either way, there WILL be a tax increase on cigars and pipe tobacco.  Maybe it will be soon, or maybe they will drag it out a month or two.  

My advice to consumers, come in and get what we have at the price it is now.  For the reasons above, we have decided to continue our sales of the samplers we put together.  These sticks are still marked down over 20%, and there are three samplers for three different smokers.  Don't worry, they're not throw-aways.  These are great smokes! Check the blog below...

Here's some great news for those who want something new to smoke during the Super Bowl.

This week we added the Joya De Nicaragua Antaño 1970 Belicoso and the Savinelli Special Selection 2005 Toro to the humidor.  As you can see by clicking the link, the Savinelli was recently listed on Cigar Afficionado's top 25 cigars of 2008.  Now's your chance to find an amazing smoke for under $7, come in and try one.  As for the Joya De Nicaragua, if you're a new cigar smoker, I suggest you stay away.  However, it burns even and delivers a spicy, chewy smoke with woody notes throughout, and has a finish packed with flavor.