The Pipe and Pint

The Pipe and Pint has earned a real reputation among cigar people in Winston-Salem, and it holds up. This is a cigar shop and the folks who come here know it. The word around town is that the humidor is the heart of the place: large, well kept, and stocked with depth rather than breadth. As one regular put it, they carry many lines from a handful of great brands instead of just a taste of everything.

You'll find an extensive run of Arturo Fuente and a serious Padron presence, with Drew Estate featured in its own smaller humidor off the main room. The brand list is what keeps serious smokers coming back: Perdomo, Rocky Patel, My Father Cigars, Aganorsa, Viaje, Foundation, Tatuaje, New World, and Plasencia all have a spot here, alongside pipe tobacco, tobacco pipes, rolling papers, and accessories. Ask about lighters and cutters and you'll see Xikar and Peterson on the shelf. People who shop here swear by the quality and the fair prices, and more than a few have called it a good place to put together a gift, complete with a sleek box and lighter combo.

Ask anyone who comes in regularly and Austin's name comes up fast. Locals talk about the big smile, the genuine welcome, and how much he actually knows about what's in the humidor. The atmosphere gets described as relaxed and homey, a place to sit in the lounge and chat rather than a loud, trendy scene. One longtime patron has been a happy customer for over a decade and still stops in any chance he gets.

If you're after a cigar shop in Winston-Salem that treats you right and knows its inventory cold, this one is easy to recommend. It's the kind of place where you go in for a grab-and-go and end up staying to talk shop.