I took Friday off to take my youngest son to Kutztown University for a tour, and my wife suggested we seek out a cigar shop for a pre-tour smoke. I had recently bought the CigarPlaces app for my iPod Touch and it came up with Kutztown Tobacconist and Lounge, a few blocks from the campus. We were greeted by Todd, the owner, a very nice guy. One of those people you can talk to and you feel like you’ve known them for a while. He is just getting started with this, and he has a nice space, adjacent to a restaurant specializing in Bar-b-Que. I’d call the furnishing “unpretentious” to be diplomatic, but he seems to be concentrating on service, the fancy furnishings will come. As it is, it’s comfortable. He’s in the process of getting ready to build a walk-in humidor. Currently his stock is in a large display unit that he got from Kensington Tobacconist in Reading, PA when they closed. His stock is meager, maybe 15 or so boxes of assorted Joya de Nicaragua, Acid and Gran Habano, but he certainly has plans to expand that selection. He sells what he likes, can’t fault him for that. He needs to invest in some sort of signage for the outside of the building as it wasn’t readily apparent that we were in the right place (the sign in the picture was not there when we visited).
We had 2 hours to kill, so I picked up a Joya de Nicaragua Antaño Dark Corojo, a pair of Cabinetta robustos, a Gran Habano Reserva #3 on Todd’s recommendation, as well as a couple of Acid Blondies for my son and his friend. It’s no secret that I love the JdN Cabinetta, for me it’s a delicious any-time-of-the-day cigar. The construction is always perfect and I always anticipate getting down to that criollo part of the wrapper, and am always a little disappointed when it doesn’t want to stay lit! Still, a great smoke and it was nice to hang out and talk to the guys at the lounge. Todd has a great thing going, and I’m confident that he will grow and improve over time.
I usually take a walk down to the local convenience store on Fridays to get my Mega Millions ticket, so I grabbed a Nub Habano 460 for the walk. I wasn’t really too impressed with these at first, but they have grown on me. Great flavor in this one, and a perfect burn. It fit into the allotted time perfectly. I got a couple of these at an Oliva event with the purchase of a handful of assorted Oliva cigars. Good cigars for a walk, not a huge time commitment.
Saturday was another beautiful day, and after a day of yard work, and a less than ideal Flyers/Penguins game, I sat down with a Gurkha Seduction. I really enjoy this 5″ x 55 robusto, with it’s Habano wrapper. I think the Colombian filler gives it a little something special. It’s a really nice cigar, try some if you come across them. This particular specimen seemed to want to burn up one side, and required frequent corrections, but that’s the first one I can recall having a bad burn.
To all who celebrate, Happy Easter and Passover. I’ll be taking some cigars along to share with family today. It looks like the weather is going to be as spectacular today as it has been for the last couple.
That’s it for now. Until the next time,
CigarCraig
Hi Craig, just smoked the Seduction the other day, I liked it, I have a hard time ”tasting” the cigar, it just was good.
Hey Craig I have been trying to get up the that shop in K-Town I just haven’t found the time It was a shame when Kurt had to close Kensington I loved that shop. I’ll have to take a trip out there and check out what he has going on once he is up and running
I’m looking forward to visiting again when he gets his walk-in humidor built and stocked. I’ll let you know, maybe we can meet up along the way.
Looks like a nice tacky sort of place. I think I’d fit right in. I also have grown to love nub habanos, they have a flavor that really grows on you.