Vigilant Smoke Shop at Julio's Liquors

Ten times today I looked at an offer to purchase cigars online, and ten times I found myself side tracked to a work project that kept me from making the purchase.  At the end of the day I needed the instant gratification of a purchase, and pulled into Julio's Liquors, and more specifically the Vigilant Smoke Shop.

I have been spending some time in brick and mortar shops lately trying to identify good from bad, and by far Julio's Vigilant Smoke Shop is one of the good.  Located on Route 9 in Westborough, Massachusetts, Julio's Liquors is a full service beer, wine and liquor store with one of the best smoke shops in Metro West.  Inside the liquor store, and placed prominently at the front, Vigilant Smoke Shop boasts a great selection of cigars in their counter humidors, and has the bonus of a decent walk in humidor packed strategically with some of the best sticks available.  The prices for these cigars are far from unreasonable, and those prices are accompanied by a great tobacconist in Cullen Burke.

Upon approaching the counter I am greeted warmly by Cullen.  His simple question of "can I help you?" quickly flows into a great conversation about cigars, cigar accessories, and local shops that leaves me feeling absolute confidence in his skills as a tobacconists.  We discuss the true value of the Xikar travel humidor, with it's ability to preserve cigars for the short time one is away from home. We delved into the new technology in cigar humidification, discussing the DryMistat Tube and the Boveda humi packs.  He introduced to me the My Father Limited Edition Toro cigar in it's individual cedar box, and the special honor of this My Father being hand rolled by the master Jose Don Pepin Garcia himself.  And after admitting to Cullen my discomfort in the box pressed shape of cigars that have become so popular over the last few years, the adept tobacconists recommended a wonderful box pressed Alec Bradley Prensado Robusto that felt as comfortable in my hand as a traditional cylindrical cigar.

I purchased both the Alec Bradley Prensado ( my review of this splendid stick will be along shortly), and the My Father Limited Edition Toro (a gift that I will be giving as a Secret Santa on Ward B).  The cost of the purchase was more than I would have spent online, but had I made my purchase online I would not have discovered these great new cigars and I would have missed out on what makes the brick and mortar shops so valuable: the knowledge of a great tobacconist.  You can enjoy the same experience at the Vigilant Smoke Shop Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 10 PM, and on Sunday noon to 6 PM.