My adventures in Denver Colorado

[chewbacco]

I'm currently on travel in Denver Colorado for business.

I got some suggestions regarding cool cigar shops and bars in the Denver area.
I'm writing this for those that are wondering about Denver's cigar world.
By no means is this a comprehensive review of all of Denver...it is my hurried attempt at finding cigars.


Here's what happenned:


Day 1:

Went to work and left for the cigar shops at around 5:30 pm.
I got some leads off of Yahoo! in the Downtown Denver area.


Havana Fine Cigars
500 16th Street (16th Street Mall)
Downtown Denver

I couldn't find the above store...by this time it was 7:00 pm.
Looks like another cigar store may be acquiring it (Jerri's Tobacco Shop).


Jerri's Tobacco Shop
535 16th Street (16th Street Mall)
Downtown Denver

This store was closed. Looking from the window, it reminds me of a Tinderbox.


Churchill Cigar Bar
321 17th Street (located in the Brown Hotel?)
Downtown Denver

This cigar bar is a small separate bar connected to a ritzy restaurant.
I walked in with a T-shirt and jeans...I felt out of place.
The prices were horrendous! $66 for an Opus X?
And I think an Ashton VSG was $35+!
I got out of there quick.


Vip Smoker
6832 South University Blvd
Centennial, CO 80122

Typical cigarette shop...nothing special at all. Closed by the time I got there...9:00 pm.
Located in a strip-mall across a large mall.


Gars & Grapes
9046 West Bowles Ave
Littleton, CO 80123

Didn't go.


Nickel Cigar
6679 West Ken Caryl Ave
Littleton, CO 80128

Didn't go.


Cigar Legends
3000 East 1st Ave
Denver, CO 80206

Didn't go.




Day 2:

This time I tried to hurry to my first target...

Original Cigar Store
8529 West Colfax Ave
Lakewood, CO 80215

I couldn't find this shop! I drove by the address twice...still couldn't find it.
It might be off the actual street...but I wasn't about to get out my car...the area was questionable.
So, I suggest that you try the 2nd store. See Yahoo! for the other address.


Tobacco Leaf
7111 West Alameda Ave
Lakewood, CO 80226

This store was closed...though the workers were still inside counting the register.
I looked inside...they weren't paying any attention to me. I just decided to leave.
Someone mentioned that they were open until 8:00 pm...they close at 7:00 pm.
I got there at 7:09 pm!
Oh well, it reminds me of a Tinderbox...it looks just as inviting.
Located in a strip mall at the very East (?) side...across from a Wendy's.


Trios Enoteca
1730 Wynkoop (Lower Downtown, aka LoDo)
Denver CO 80202
http://www.triosenoteca.com/cigar.html

This was my final destination. I HAD to have a cigar...by this time I was desperate.
This place was hard to find. The map on their site showed that Wynkoop street was easily accessible via 20th Street...it doesn't connect to 20th! The address is 1730...so it's between 17th and 18th street.
I advise anyone looking for this place to use 18th and go north until you hit Wynkoop.

This cigar bar is a restaurant and bar...the cigar portion is set way in the back. There's a separate room with a TV, tables and chairs...you can smoke either in there or in an area just outside of it, near the bathrooms. The prices are between "somewhat reasonable and STEEP". Just to give you an idea: Arturo Fuente Curly Heads $7 and Ashton Cabinet #6 was $25! The website says $15.

I didn't feel like paying too much more for a cigar that I know I could get for cheaper...so I opted for the Curly Head. Never had one...it was surprisingly different. It didn't taste like a typical Fuente. It was slightly sweet, with toasty notes and a hint of vanilla cream. I had a flight of Grand Marnier (regular, 100th Anniversary, and the 150th) for $39.

Out of all the nights I had here, my experience at Trios Enoteca was great. The ambience is nice. There's red brick, wood and salmon-colored walls. It was nice. The website states that it isn't open on Mondays...it's wrong! I believe they are open everyday/night.

One thing to note is parking in Downtown Denver sucks. I opted for the meter tonight. I was told by the bartender that they stop checking after 10 pm. On the previous night, I parked in a pre-pay parking lot for $5 all night. They range from $5 to $10.



Sorry to make this so long. I just wanted to help those that come to Denver looking for a cigar culture.

 

[chewbacco]

Forgot to thank those that gave me suggestions:

knightlaird
lucasbuck
Blue Dragon


Thanks guys for the suggestions.
It gave me something to do while here in Denver!

 

[Mindflux]

Dang... sorry to hear about that.

I never went to any of the cigar shops in Denver (I'm new to Cigars). I lived south of Denver a good chunk of my life and had no realisation that there were so many shops in the area.

Heck I didnt even know the one in Centennial existed (My father still lives in Centennial).. which was Littleton at one point.. before his portion of the county got incorporated.

 

[Ginseng]

Wow! Thanks for the legwork and sorry to hear you didn't get better satisfaction from the experience.

Wilkey

 

[ironmike5]

I think I haven't been to that many different cigar shops this whole year as you have in two days chewie.....glad to see you made out ok though.

 

[chewbacco]

Seems like I had a pretty bad experience...but my last stop made it all better. The prices at Trios Enoteca kinda sucked, but being able to smoke and drink in peace was a nice ending to my trip.

Denver DOES have a nightlife...but nothing like Hollywood (no mean to diss the Coloradians).

Denver has it's features...I don't mind coming back here once in a while.
Skiing is great here...and the outdoors stores are plentiful.

My next hunt is either Colorado Cyclist or New Belgium Brewing Co. (makers of Fat Tire Beer). Both are about 1 hour away from where I'm at, Highlands Ranch.
I have time for one more excursion...I hope this doesn't turn-out ugly.
Wish me luck.

And thanks for the remarks!

 

[Mindflux]

Seems like I had a pretty bad experience...but my last stop made it all better. The prices at Trios Enoteca kinda sucked, but being able to smoke and drink in peace was a nice ending to my trip.

Denver DOES have a nightlife...but nothing like Hollywood (no mean to diss the Coloradians).

Denver has it's features...I don't mind coming back here once in a while.
Skiing is great here...and the outdoors stores are plentiful.

My next hunt is either Colorado Cyclist or New Belgium Brewing Co. (makers of Fat Tire Beer). Both are about 1 hour away from where I'm at, Highlands Ranch.
I have time for one more excursion...I hope this doesn't turn-out ugly.
Wish me luck.

And thanks for the remarks!

[snapback]265123[/snapback]​

Believe it or not, I've never visited New Belgium... as much as I love Fat tire and all my years living there.

If you get a chance, hit up Great Divide Brewing Co in Denver too, they do tours and are very nice about sharing whatever you want to sip on. It's a small brewery.