Good Places to Buy Cigars in the Carribean Islands / Antigua Barbuda - Report from Man on Scene

[Lamboinee]

Recently in Antigua Barbuda on vacation. Two Islands, one country. I want to share my experience with the local cigar scene. FYI, it seems that there was an LCDH on the island of Antigua at some point, but I believe it is currently closed permanently. 

The best/only places I found were both in or near the Heritage Quay shopping complex which is right next to where the cruise ships make port. It's easy to travel to the area by car as well and there are very reasonably priced parking lots within 4 or so blocks from Heritage Quay. There's also parking on the street as long, but none of the street parking was available on any of my trips. Parking at lot cost approx. $3-6 for several hours, plus, I saw a dead rat in one of the parking lots at no extra charge. 

Many internet searches seemed to direct me to Signature Smokes which is on the second floor of the green building in the pics below. Despite the fact that the google profile says "open 24 hrs", it is not open 24 hours...or at least not for 24 consecutive hours. I went twice on two different days in mid to late afternoon and it was closed. FYI, cruise ships were in port at these times so I figured everything would be open. 

Although I never made it inside Signature, I happen to find a store called "Tobacco Negro". It does not have a website per se, but it does have a facebook page, so it's legit per se. I was pleasantly surprised and pleased with Tob. Negro. It is located within a few blocks of Signature. You can see Tob. Negro's general location in the overhead pic below at the approximate intersection of Thames St. and St. Mary's. 

Tob. Negro is located on the second floor of a retail building housing several independent stores. There is a pic of Tob. Negro as seen from the street below (the one that shows a building with a staircase on the outside going to the second floor). The staff were fine, but did not have any particular interest in cigars. The selection was solid. Some of every marca if I'm not mistaken. Full boxes, singles, nothing aged that I saw. I included a few general pics of their shelves below, but there were several shelves that I did not take pictures of. Prices were good as well IMO. For a quick example: Dip. 2 $18. CB Box of Sig VI tubos $975.

It appeared and felt to have proper humidity control. They actually answer their phone.They do not have butane, but they do have zippo fuel (in case you don't want to light your cigars). Packed in ziplock bags and brown paper bag. Rec. bringing your own container. The staff were happy to show me boxes and open fresh boxes for singles if there were not any open boxes already on the shelf. Saw the staff dead drop a whole box of HDM Epi 1's. Yikes, that's why I don't touch other people's sticks. I also saw the clerk drop one of the cigars I purchased off the countertop and then put it back in my bag because she didn't know I saw it drop. Charges are pending pursuant to the Magma Carta and assorted international laws.

Hope this is helpful to anyone traveling.

[ChanceSchmerr]

Thanks for the report, glad to know there is a decent shop to visit now!

We did our Honeymoon to Antigua in 2012 - enjoyed the island and Nelson's Dockyard was a highlight as a Navy man, but I struggled to find any cigar or whisky shops of note. Of course...that wasn't really the focus of the trip...

[BettyHumpder]

Damn, we did our honeymoon on a cruise ship and I was under the impression there weren't any LCDH and had no idea this place existed. Several ports had been cancelled that I planned to stock up at (2022 cruising realities). Antigua was our favorite island by a longshot. We'll get back there someday.