Cigars Direct

If you know cigars in Tampa, you already know about Cigars Direct. It's one of the highest-rated tobacco shops around, and the reputation is earned. The brick and mortar sits right by the Tampa airport, which makes it an easy stop when you land or right before you fly out. Regulars will tell you to pop in and restock either way.

The shelves cover a serious range of premium cigars: Arturo Fuente, Padron, Drew Estate, Ashton, My Father, Tatuaje, Rocky Patel, Oliva, Davidoff, and E.P. Carrillo among them. Here's a tip locals pass along, if you don't see what you want on display, ask, because they keep a huge stock in the back to supply a big mail-order clientele. Pricing is fair on most of what they carry, and they'll honor a discount code if you flag it.

The service is what people talk about most. Ask for Michael if you want honest recommendations from someone who clearly cares more about matching you with the right smoke than moving inventory, and Edwin has a name around here for going out of his way to make things right when there's a hiccup. One fellow stopped by past closing and the crew opened back up, took their time answering questions, and sent him off with a cutter as a parting gift. That kind of story is common here.

The packing deserves its own mention. Cigars go out in custom boxes and zip bags with humidity packs tucked in, and folks who've received them swear the sticks arrive fresh, ready to smoke, no cracking or bad burns. Now and then someone notices a cigar slipped its cellophane or found the same box cheaper elsewhere, but those are rare notes against a shop people trust. If you're after premium cigars in Tampa, this is a name worth knowing.