Costco has been occasionally selling premium cigars experimentally since April of 2007.  For the second time this year, they have set up a 7 ft. humidor wedged between the Scotch section in our local store (Vany Nuys, CA) with several well known premiums to choose from.

The question here is, will the aficionado buy from here, continue to visit their cigar retailer or simply buy online? One thing is for sure, Costco made it easier to purchase these sticks. Convenience is what made Costco famous. Now you can buy scotch, steak, TV's and cigars in the same place.  I love Costco.  The wife suggests when I'm having a bad day,  "Why don't you go to Costco and buy something under $150?".  She suggest this dollar amount because she thinks $150 is the average cost of a therapy session.  Alrighty then. So is Costco taking down either your local cigar boutique, internet retailer or both?

The real threat here is not so much to cigar lounge boutiques across the country, but more so to the internet retailer who offers these sticks at steep discounts.  For example, the Montecristo 2000 Habana Collection (far right in photo below) can be found online at smokes-spirits for $49.49.  For a few pennies more, one can buy this at Costco during their grocery shopping, thus avoiding the standard $5 shipping. The Romeo Y Julieta Dominican sampler (middle photo) can be found at Mikes Cigars at about the same price.  Since I have yet to smoke this stick, I will quote Mike's directly "The Montecristo Habana 2000 is perfect cigar for the discriminating smoker. Wrapped in a super-spicy, chocolate brown wrapper you’re getting a succulent full flavor stogie, with peppery core and a robust finish." Lastly, the Romeo Y Julieta Silver Sampler (far left) can also be found for $49.95 at JR Cigars. I have smoked most of the cigars in the Romeo Julieta sampler and they were all delicious. Perhaps one of the most consistent brands, I have never smoked a a Romeo Julieta that was less than excellent in flavor.

The owner of my local cigar lounge (who wishes not to be identified) viewed these and said that he believes that these are discontinued samplers, which is why they have made their way to Costco. However, all but one of these samplers were easily found online, and are also available at my local cigar retailer, the Warehouse in Sherman Oaks, CA. So now when I am in need of "therapy" on my next Costco trip I can buy a steak, cigars and scotch; grill up, smoke up and drink up all for under $150.  What a bargain.