My Trip To Orlando (Corona Cigar Co. Visit)

**Jonjonmacky** · 10-18-2007, 09:41 AM

Well, I went to orlando, FL. this last weekend to check out the school im going to later this year (fullsail.com) While i was staying there with my cousin who smokes some serious $$ in sticks (he smokes sticks with the ex-pres of burger king) was going to take me to The Corona Cigar Co. World wide headquaters, where i scored a Fuente Opus X, but before I get to that creamy wonder, a few crappy pics of the cigar store...

The Entrance... very nice, with a couple old guys talkin'

Okay here i compiled two pics (poorly) of what it looks like when you walk in.
If you look to the left, over tha isle my cousin is standing in (black shirt) over that, is the smoking lounge, with nice tables, and a liquer menu, of exp. ish and flat panal tvs..

They have a big pre-embargo selection.... these were the cheap ones by about 900 dollars.

They basically had every brand i could think of and a ton i didnt even know...

You gotta understand there were like 5 more isles to go down... But my cousin told me to stop taking pictures..lol.

My cousin however smokes thos Zino Chubby specials.. he said the burger king guy doesnt use a humidor... you walk into the cigar closet he has and its just zip lock bags everywhere with labels, with a cigar on one side of the bag and and a cut little sponge dipped in distilled water on the other side... he said it works better than any humidor hes ever bought... though he does keep his closet a certain temp..

Now that Opus X i scored at that store... That was creamy city... it was a really great gar'. very happy.. cant wait till i get down there again.

**ljh824** · 10-18-2007, 07:48 PM

They have another shop over in Heathrow. Just as nice and big. The whold place is a humidor so you walk through the aisles, right next to the smoking lounge. They had a party the other day and had great food, cigar rolling, and Mr. Avo (from avo cigars, don't know his last name). Great place! I highly recommend it if you are ever in town.

**koolhandk** · 10-18-2007, 08:31 PM

I told you to check out corona...now wait till january and take a quick trip west to tampa humidor (opening a brand new store) and talk to Mike, he is without a doubt one of the coolest owners/botl.

**guado** · 10-18-2007, 08:51 PM

Originally Posted by koolhandk

I told you to check out corona...now wait till january and take a quick trip west to tampa humidor (opening a brand new store) and talk to Mike, he is without a doubt one of the coolest owners/botl.

And I'll more than likely be in one of the leather chairs...

**koolhandk** · 10-18-2007, 10:52 PM

Originally Posted by guado

And I'll more than likely be in one of the leather chairs...

I only wish I could be there with you.

**Jonjonmacky** · 10-19-2007, 12:31 AM

sounds great yall..

**mithril** · 10-19-2007, 12:40 PM

what is the date of the opening? i'll be in florida in december

**Smoked!** · 10-19-2007, 12:57 PM

Nice pics. Looks like a great field trip, JJ.

**guado** · 10-19-2007, 02:45 PM

Looks like it will be around January assuming timely completion of that building. Everytime I drive by there is major progress. It would be even more kick ass if it opened before christmas! LOL

**Mikey-OH** · 10-19-2007, 05:15 PM

I have one of those Partagas Petite Coronas in my humi right now. Just trying to save it for the right time.

**Jonjonmacky** · 10-20-2007, 12:42 AM

Its good to know there is a really nice cigar scene where im movin... Im so happy. Is Tampa more into it than orlando.. i mean i know nothing about florida.. and I really wanna check out what miami is like after playing Grand Theft Auto Vice City

**koolhandk** · 10-20-2007, 02:22 PM

At one point Tampa was more of a cigar city than Havanna was, in fact its nickname is "Cigar City". It was the city that many cuban companies based their operations out of (pre-castro of course) and the place many cigar manuf. fled to right after the communist takeover. Guado's signature isn't a joke, "Cigar Capital of the world(Or maybe just the US)." So in short yes, it is more of a cigar city than orlando or miami.

**guado** · 10-20-2007, 09:39 PM

If you like Cigars...well...tampa...haha...just come on bye. I'll give you a personal tour! Better have a few days free...

**Jonjonmacky** · 10-21-2007, 01:36 AM

Well the first month im down there.. i will have nothing but time to familarize myself with the surrounding areas... but after that.. 40 hours a week of film school will pursue and me and my sticks will be confined to the back lots lol...

**koolhandk** · 10-21-2007, 12:10 PM

Yeah film school is a full time job...actually it is more than a full time job, it is pretty much hell. Good luck.

**ChrisFeola** · 10-21-2007, 05:38 PM

I think we were there at the same time. Flew in from Dallas for a weekend conference, and came in a day early. Went straight to Corona from the airport and spent WAY too much money -- I love browsing in that store. There's always something I've never heard of or can't find elsewhere. Afterwards, went to the Sosa family store in Downtown Disney and spent even more money. I bought a few fresh cigars -- the Old Man's Hand Rolls -- and man the maduros were great! Sosa now has a cigar bar there too, so spent the afternoon smoking cigars and drinking -- all in all, a perfect day! I did it again after the conference before heading back to the airport.

cjf

Originally Posted by Jonjonmacky

Well, I went to orlando, FL. this last weekend to check out the school im going to later this year (fullsail.com) While i was staying there with my cousin who smokes some serious $$ in sticks (he smokes sticks with the ex-pres of burger king) was going to take me to The Corona Cigar Co. World wide headquaters, where i scored a Fuente Opus X, but before I get to that creamy wonder, a few crappy pics of the cigar store...

**Jonjonmacky** · 10-21-2007, 11:11 PM

Originally Posted by koolhandk

Yeah film school is a full time job...actually it is more than a full time job, it is pretty much hell. Good luck.

Thank you captain. *salutes*

**koolhandk** · 10-22-2007, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by Jonjonmacky

Thank you captain. *salutes*

Hey, if you ever need any advice on film school, filmmaking or Florida feel free to ask.

**Jonjonmacky** · 10-23-2007, 03:05 AM

where you located man? or what school did you go to? did you go to film school?

**koolhandk** · 10-23-2007, 10:31 PM

Yeah, I got my bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in film and media studies, then I went back to get my master's at the documentary institute (both at UF). I now work for National Geographic Television and Film in Washington D.C.