Cigar store offers tranquil repast

JohnS · December 27, 2024

Cigar store offers tranquil repast

Alastair Baker News Editor - Dec 26, 2024

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Lined in a rich tapestry of red tones and topped with a sparkling chandelier comes The Cigar Lane, Red Lodge, stocked with many varieties of cigars and much knowledge about them.

The place oozes elegance and luxury and has an air of 1920s Prohibition.

The Cigar Lane is run by Tommy and Paige Lane who opened the business back in October.

“I've enjoyed cigars for many many years but this is my first venture,” said Tommy, resplendent in clothing that includes a waistcoat and pocket watch, and recalls a proprietor of a high-end Speakeasy.

“We moved here in June and I was driving around town looking for a cigar but there was no place that offered premium cigars. We wondered why there wasn’t a place doing this? It seemed like it would be ideal for it,” he explained.

“The town offers everything else,” added Paige, herself decked out in a casual suit.

After a little investigating the Lane’s discovered why cigar shops hadn’t impacted Red Lodge as much as they felt they should have, and it was down to an very old and very high Montana excise tax that was changed in 2023 to make selling cigars more manageable for businesses.

With this encouragement, they searched for an outlet and came across a space that was once Bob’s Barber Shop.

Now bathed in warmer inviting tones that are so aesthetically pleasing to the mind that buying a cigar has now become an experience, both Tommy and Paige are keen to share their love of cigars with others.

"If you go in looking for a cigar, Tommy can help you out," said Paige.

"More often than not, people are novices in the art of the cigar smoking, and not sure what they want," said Tommy.

“I engage in the practice of reverse engineering. I ask if they remember what they were smoking and what they were drinking at the time. Smoking cigars is much like drinking wine, it is all about pairings, certain flavors, notes, and aromas. It’s about your palate being developed over time. You can pair cigars with liquor, beers, spirits, tea, and coffee. Let’s find out and let’s pair it with what you’re drinking.

A good cigar for me might not be a good cigar for you. Everyone has to find the right one for themselves. It is a journey.

I ask qualifying questions; have you ever smoked a cigar before? If not, I’ll point to a chart that walks you through the process from how to light it, and to ensure that you never inhale. We want you to enjoy the experience,” said Tommy.

“One of the things that makes our boutique shop so unique is that Tommy is not only selling a cigar, he is selling his knowledge,” said Paige, who also went on that same journey some years ago.

“For me, I’m still learning. Tommy has been smoking cigars for 20 years. The first time I had a cigar was in Whitefish, 4-5 years ago. Tommy brought several cigars, and one was a Mocha flavored cigar and it changed everything. Now it is a holiday tradition. So for me when a novice walks in, I’ll talk about the infused cigars because they have a touch of flavor to them, and are more of an aromatic experience, which is a lot of fun,” said Paige.

The Cigar Lane carries a wide range of cigars set within fully self contained and self regulated humidor cabinets, all set to the desired humidity and temperature.

“We cherry picked the cigars,” adds Tommy. “Only premium cigars. They never go out of style.”

Amid the humidors you will find examples from Big Sky Cigar, a Montana based company, whose cigars have Nicaraguan and Mexican tobacco, that offer a wide variety to satisfy just about every palate.

“The River Series, a sampler pack, is also a great way to introduce yourself to this incredible brand,” said Tommy.

Other cigar samples include the customary house cigar along with flavored cigars mixed with oils, such as Mocha, Sweet Bourbon, Sweet Cherry Brandy and Amaretto.

There are also spirit-infused cigars.

“The flavor experience does not have a lot of kick as the taste and smell are subtle. Examples are Jim Beam Vanilla Bourbon, Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey, and Chocolate Moonshine that goes great with coffee. There is also 99 Blackberries & Knob Creek Maple Bourbon, and Sugar Tit Apple Pie Moonshine,” said Tommy.

They also carry many of well-known cigar makers such as Ashton, Arturo Fuente, Cohiba, Rocky Patel, and Romeo Y Julietta to name a few.

“A lot of the cigar selection is based off the local response. Tourists usually go for the Big Sky Cigar selection. And a lot of return customers do as well,” he added.

“We want to service the local customer first. And we’ve had wonderful feedback. I was surprised how large the cigar smoking population is in Red Lodge,” Tommy said.

“People have been more than welcoming,” said Paige. “We’ve caught the flavor of the town.”

"People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it and Tommy is so passionate about cigars. The fact that he gets to talk about it, introduce people to it; he has a lot of fun. So when you walk in the door and he is passionate about his craft, it carries a lot of influence. He wants to teach them that cigar smoking is entirely different than other forms of smoking. It is like he is a man on a mission,” she said.

The Lanes have also remodeled a 1975 Silver Streak Luxury Liner into a members only mobile cigar club called ‘The Cigar Parlour.’ Memberships will be available beginning January 2025 and also available for private events. The Cigar Parlor will have 24-hour access to members.

There are also plans afoot to run cigar tours in a 1929 Model A, taking a route either via Highway 78 to Roscoe or up to Vista Point, once the Beartooth Pass opens in 2025.

The Cigar Lane carries plenty of accessories from humidity packs, mini humidors, and cigar cutters. The store doesn’t carry cigarettes or vapes.

Customers can special order cigars not usually carried in the shop, as well as pipe tobacco.

Winter hours: Noon to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.

The Cigar Lane is located at 206 Broadway Ave So. Suite A., Red Lodge, Montana.

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