Tobacco Tourism - Straus Tobacconist Florence, Ky

[bluegrassbrian]

Little Saturday roadtrip up I 71 today. Florence is about 70 miles north east of louisville.

Strauss Tobacconist is one of the oldest operating pipe shops in the country. The Florence location is a satellite of the main shop in Cincinnati.

Looks like they have a nice selection of quality tobaccos, and my primary reason for the jaunt - a nicely appointed smoking lounge!

Pics/review coming later.. I'm about 40 miles out still.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

I've arrived. I really wish we had something like this in Louisville.

The selection of pipes, tobacco and accessories is greater than any other B&M that ive personally been to in this region.

Plenty of quality tins (McClelland, Pease, Macbaren, Gawith, even one bag of Esoterica left) to go along with their renowned bulks. Even picked up a couple tins of some blends I've been wanting to try (Two Friends Heritage and McClelland Red&Black).

The clerks are exceedingly friendly and helpful.
The lounge has 10 comfy leather chairs and a few couches with plenty of tables and ashtrays. The clientele seems to be a good balance of local regulars and other travellers such as myself. So far I'm the only pipe smoker in the lounge but I've only been here about 30 minutes.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

 

[Cliff_K]

Looks like an excellent way to spend a Saturday!

 

[swb118]

I was up in Nky for my son's hockey game yesterday and stopped by Straus for a few minutes. Picked up 2 McClelland tins(Beacon extra and a 2 year old tin of Blue Mountain.) I grew up in the area, and miss this store a lot. It's nicely finished and the staff is really good.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Haha I was there from around 1130am to 330pm.. maybe we crossed paths.
They had about a dozen tins of older blends they were doing a silent auction with. I bid on the Astley's #2, Briar Fox, and some 2003 Dark Star.

 

[swb118]

You were likely in the lounge when i came in then. I was in right around 2:30.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Very cool place! You should drive down to Birmingham and see the Briary. Let me know if you do. I'll meet you there, if I'm not already camped out there.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Well michael.. looks like it's a straight shot down I65 from me. About a 5 hour journey.

Do they have a lounge?

 

[jndyer]

What a wonderful trip. Whenever I travel I try to find a local B&M to visit; however, I do not think I have found any as cool as the one above. If I ever get to Kentucky....

 

[codecreatively]

Man that looks like a lot of fun!

 

[swb118]

I will add that they are a tad on the high side for their tins. Almost $16 for a 50 gram tin.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Not many B&Ms can compete with online prices. No one in my city has the selection they do..and the couple shops here in louisville that carry pipe tobacco are a couple bucks more than Straus.

I wouldn't stock my cellar by buying from them, but I don't mind picking up a couple tins to take advantage of the lounge.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Do they have a lounge?

Ha ha, lounge? I refer to it as my kingdom, ha ha!

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Definitely tempting. Any sleazy motels in the immediate vicinity?

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Immediate... probably not, but this is Alabama, we got sleazy places all over the place.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Just got a phone call from Strauss.. seems I won a couple silent auctions for tins.

A tin of Butera Golden Cake with around 10 years on it (if memory serves)

and a tin of Gawith Best Brown from 6-8 years ago.
I'll probably drive up this weekend to collect my tins and hang in the lounge again.

 

[jvnshr]

Looks like you had fun. Nice pictures.