Your Premium Cigar Lounge Experience
Cigars, cigarettes? Pipes, smoking tabacco? Need a little alone time away from the wife and kids? Vitola Fine Cigars in Birmingham, Alabama has a lot to offer, but the most unique and desirable of them all is the get away from it all vibe
If you’re in need of a vac-ay, but only have an hour free for it, then Vitola is a good place to make your getaway. Located in Birmingham’s upscale Mountain Brook district, this Birmingham cigar shop doesn’t just have fine cigars, they also have a fine attitude. Known for its laid back and very welcoming atmosphere, manager Jim gave me a lengthy lesson on cigars, pipes and everything in between the evening I visited the remarkable little establishment.
Though the cigar lounge screams man cave, it’s welcome to every one of every persuasion. Even someone like me, who had never held a pipe, let alone smoked one, felt at ease and completely at home while enjoying some puffs. And while Jim is the easiest going and enjoyable person to talk to (and not highly intelligent on what I imagine is not just limited to the subjects of cigars and smoking tobacco), it’s the general ambiance of this Alabama tobacco store that puts one at an ease unlike many.
The Beginning – 15 Years of Cigar Excellence in Alabama
15 years ago, the start of something really great was born. Owners Harris III, and his two sons, Jim and Harris IV collaborated on a promising prospective business which has led them to where they find themselves today. Opening 1 cigar shop, they now have 5 of which to boast. “Vitola” is Spanish for “cigar shape/size” therefore, they thought the choice fitting. With no prior experience in the grander cigar world, they were in for a mountain of surprises to come, not the least of which was their unimaginable success and loyalty by their customers who are the heart and soul of their business.
The Atmosphere – What Makes Vitola Special
Though a humble little smoke shop, this Birmingham cigar lounge has a presence that is hard to compare with other establishments of the sort. Granted, you can go to any number of smoke shops in the area and beyond and get what you’re looking for more or less, there’s a familiarity, knowledge and overall laid-backness that other businesses don’t posses that Vitola does.
Premium Cigar Selection & Hard-to-Find Brands
Their humidor is chalk full of just about every single kind of cigar you can think of – and want – but their best selling products are from the Davidoff Padron collection. Something else that is noteworthy about Vitola and particularly important when deciding where to purchase your most desired cigars, is that Vitola carries the harder to find brands. Not only can you find those most coveted items here, but there’s also a wide variety as well. In fact, at any given time, Harris informs me they have 1,000+ cigars on offer in different sizes and blends.
Knowledgeable Service & Welcoming Environment
But it’s not just the wide selection at Vitola that makes it such a special and unique place to frequent. It’s the knowledgeable and kind service that you will receive here.
Regulars will most likely note that Jim’s approachable demeanor is what makes the place so comfortable and what gives it that “at home” feel. While Jim and I spoke, he mentioned that so many of their regulars come in after work but before going home. It’s a pleasant and relaxing interlude between the chaos of the job and the inevitable responsibilities that so many have after hours.
BYOB Lounge & Operating Hours
And because Vitola’s lounge is BYOB, it’s all the more inviting for patrons to enjoy whatever drink of choice they are in the mood for that day or evening. And, when can one visit Vitola? Whenever you like between Monday through Saturday, 10 AM – 8 PM. Though it’s hard for me to imagine enjoying a cigar at 10 in the morning, according to Jim there are regulars that come in to do just that. Enjoying their morning paper with a Monte Cristo or a Savinelli pipe (just like the one I went home with), they spend some quiet time in a terribly comfortable leather chair relaxing, and immersing themselves in that cloud of smoke surrounding their atmosphere.
My Personal Experience at Birmingham’s Best Cigar Shop
And my experience at Vitola? One of the most enjoyable I’ve ever had in general, not to mention at a smoke lounge. Cigars have become a new hobby of mine, and I enjoy learning all there is to know about the methods of creating said items, partaking in the unique act of smoking cigars. However, after my time at Vitola, I have come to discover that I actually prefer pipes. Yes, they are an acquired art form of smoking tobacco and it is something I will be exploring more in the future.
But my favorite part about visiting Vitola was not even the cigars or the pipes themselves. It was the experience of lounging there with Jim and another patron, talking about the origins of tobacco, the intricacies and differences between cigars and pipes, and so many other things. Philosophy and travel came up in our conversations and before I knew it more than 3 hours had passed by the time I took my leave.
Yes, putting me in a state of complete relaxation and making me feel like I was a regular customer already, I would like to think I will be welcomed back the next time I am in the greater Birmingham area. And this, if for no other reason, is why all smoking enthusiasts should make their way quickly to this premium cigar destination when in Alabama.
To learn more about Vitola, click here: www.VitolaFineCigars.com.
So what are you waiting for? You know you want to visit this fine establishment. Just make sure that when you do, you let them know that Lisa sent you!
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