Listen to Jeff Mouttet of Riverside Cigars on "A Cigar Hustlers Podcast."

When we were in high school our first experiences with cigars were Swisher Sweets and wood-tipped Hav-A-Tampas. I never much liked either of them, and found that Certified Bonds suited me slightly better. A splurge meant a three-pack of Robert Burns in plastic tubes.

There was a period experimenting with pipes, but apart from this no other form of tobacco pleased me quite like cigars. Cigarettes, chewing tobacco, snuff -- didn't like them. I never inhaled cigars, and it took a while before rising income and my cousin Don's tutoring led to greater understanding, and better smokes. 

It's forgotten now, but the bar at the Public House was cigar friendly for a very long time. Kremer's would give us a wholesale-like price, and there was a humidor behind the bar where we kept cigars for resale. It boggles my mind in retrospect.

For while I smoked a "premium" cigar each day and regularly smuggled Cubans back from Europe. Gradually my consumption decreased, albeit without any conscious decision to do so. My only rule is to avoid lighting a cigar if there won't be time to finish it in leisurely fashion. Accompaniment can be coffee, tea, beer or booze -- or nothing at all.

I keep cigars as fresh as possible in a humidor at home, and smoke perhaps one every other week in summer, usually with the porch as window on the world. In winter, I visit Riverside Cigars on occasion when in Jeffersonville.

If memory serves, Jeff Mouttet launched Riverside Cigars just before the Sherman Minton Bridge closed for repairs in 2011. Match Cigar Bar next door came later, as did the sadly abortive New Albany expansion. But the Jeffersonville location is going strong, and both Jeff and his shop enjoy a well-deserved national reputation -- as the podcast linked below illustrates.

Jeff and his staff do for me with premium cigars what I've always done with folks asking for an imported or craft beer to try. I explain to them in rough terms what I'm looking for in terms of size, wrapper and price -- and they make spot-on recommendations every single time.

Of course I retain almost none of it, which is what makes it fun to ask again next time I'm there. Near the end of the podcast, Jeff is asked what sort of advice he'd give someone wanting to get into the cigar business.

He answers, "My biggest advice would be to be yourself, do what you do and do it well – and don’t worry about what everyone else is doing."

Exactly. I'm not a podcast devotee, but really enjoyed this one. Follow the link and have a listen -- and smoke one if you're got one.

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Episode 64 Jeff Mouttet Riverside Cigar Shop

2019-04-09

This week Jeff Mouttet was in Tampa for the Senate Committee Meeting and decided to drive the two hours east to be on the show.

We hear all about his Shop in Jeffersonville Indiana, what happened in Tampa and his views on the future of the cigar industry.

Halfway through this weeks episode we get a guest interviewer drop in and finish the show for Mikey and I.

As always we welcome your thoughts comments and show ideas on our FB page "A Cigar Hustlers Podcast". You can follow the show on IG @cigarhustlerspodcast, Mike @cigarhustlers and Mike Too @fcc_Mike.

Remember to rate, reply and review on which ever of our providers you use!

Puzzlement compounded: How smoking kept cigar smokers away from the cigar bar, and other tales of the just plain weird.

"After almost seven months, Match, the cigar bar in New Albany, is closing and will be replaced by a smoke-free establishment."

It's a scalp-gouger, so let's get this straight.

Your LLC owns a building and leases space to a plush cigar lounge of proven merit, the major selling point of which is that it's a comfortable place to ... um ... smoke (and buy, and venerate) cigars, and then when it is decided that the cigar lounge can't cover the massive nut you've incurred from purchasing a building in the hope that a transplanted City Hall across the street will return your investment with compounded gravy, suddenly smoking becomes the root problem.

THE GREEN MOUSE: Match Cigar Bar NA is no more, but what's up with the restaurant rumored to be coming to the space?

Seems to us the root problem might be the insider information dispensed by the mayoral minions, but in any event, there's something off kilter about this story, Let's begin with the newspaper's coverage. We learn that a woman named Michelle Ray is the building's manager, seeing as the owners still don't have names like other human beings.

For what it's worth, we believe these men are called Metts and Triplett. Real estate speculators? It doesn't really matter; may they soon profit massively from whatever tidbits David Duggins spoon fed them -- and if not, they should invoice him for TIF futures.

Anyway, the last business to operate in the building prior to Match's arrival was a bar called Main Street Pub.

The short-lived Main Street Pub replaced the equally ephemeral Red Dragon Pub, all of which came and went very quickly before the building was sold to the current owners.

The newspaper's Grady takes it from here. Welcome to Double Barrel. We can't wait to see what's on tap -- and this sentiment is offered with perfect sincerity. In the interim, the high rollers might consider stepping out of the shadows.

And this pro tip: If you'll be serving Team Gahan's cadres once the refurbishment is completed, make sure to stock plenty of ice cold Bud Light Lime-flavored KOOL-Aid. They're simply powerless at the thought of it.

Lounge bar 'minus the smoking' replacing Match Cigar Bar's New Albany location, by Danielle Grady (New Adventures in Clark County)

NEW ALBANY — The owner of 145, 147 and 151 E. Main St. plans to strike it out on their own with a new bar, replacing Match Cigar Bar, which closed its New Albany location on Dec. 19 after almost seven months in business.

“It was unfortunate, obviously, that Match didn’t work out the way that we had hoped,” said Michelle Ray, the building’s manager, who has partnered with the building’s owner, 145-151 East Main Street LLC, to open the new bar. “...We have decided not just to let this place go to the wayside.”

Jeff Mouttet, the owner of Match, which still maintains its original Jeffersonville location, could not reveal all the details about why he closed his New Albany location, but he did say that the bar was making half what he originally thought it would. (Although, Mouttet’s plan was to keep the bar open until the City of New Albany moved its headquarters across the street).

The new bar coming to Main Street, called Double Barrel, will be similar to Match, but without the cigar smoking, which Ray said limited the establishment’s appeal.

“I know not everyone enjoys a cigar or the smoke,” she said. “Some people can’t bring their pregnant wives in here. So, you know, those things, now that that’s not going to be here, we hope to invite these people in that are actually against smoking.”

Double Barrel’s owners are going for an upper class lounge feel, but one that’s welcoming.

Smoke 'em if you've got 'em: Match Cigar Bar New Albany's grand opening is Friday, June 9.

The Green Mouse ran into Match Cigar Bar New Albany's owner Jeff Mouttet last night. Jeff said that business was good so far, and the grand opening should be a bash for the ages.

Though by no means an aficionado, the senior editor is a longtime cigar lover. It's easy to stereotype cigar smokers, but misleading to do so. It's a diverse and creative subculture. Cigars aren't everyone's gig, but Jeff is the consummate professional and very good at what he does.

For my money, the advent of Match's second location in downtown New Albany is of inestimable importance. It lifts the bar, as 410 Bakery has done right across the street.

About the grand opening:

Grand Opening June 9th, featuring the re-release of Tienda Exclusiva, and a sneak peek of the Pappy Van Winkle Traditional Cigar. Both Jonathan Drew and Julian Van Winkle will be in attendance. Insane swag, massive amounts of free cigars (including pre-release Pappy Van Winkle Traditional Cigars), and more. Open Tues-Saturday, 3pm to midnight until Grand Opening. Come by and check it out. Details, event posting, and emails to follow, so stay tuned!

From Jonathan Drew (Drew Estate Cigars):

PAPPY VAN WINKLE "Tradition" sneak peak on June 9th at Match Cigar Bar In New Albany, Indiana.

The photo below was taken the very first time that I met Julian Van Winkle. I remember it perfectly, and now, years later - I am honored to call him my friend.

Julian and I will join our host, Jeff Mouttet for a special event together for the final pre-release of the new brand, while it finishes aging.

My homeboy Ben Pearson said to me today, "JD, all things are coming together for this event" and I believe he's correct. We are going to be partying and having a good time while we celebrate Jeff's new store/ lounge opening. These are some of the best moments in life and I'm so thankful and appreciative of them.

We also have Herrera Esteli, Tienda Exclusiva Riverside as a special item, in limited quantities. This is a second release and Epstein Makadocious !!!

On Friday, Match Cigar Bar New Albany is having a "sneak peek" soft opening.

Finally, Match Cigar Bar New Albany is here -- well, almost. Here's the scoop on the "soft" opening this Friday.

Sneak Peek Soft Opening New Albany

Friday, May 5 at 3 PM to May 6 at 12 AM

Match Cigar Bar New Albany

147 East Main Street, New Albany IN 47150

If you're seeing this, you're invited. Bourbon, cigars, Old Fashions, food from Urban Bread Co, all this Friday night! Be here!

Cigar smokers rejoice: The second location of Riverside Cigar Shop/Match Cigar Bar is coming to downtown New Albany.

Jeff Mouttet's teaser photo. 

Left to right: 145, 147 and 151 E. Main Street.

The Green Mouse says:

Cigars and spirits are coming to downtown New Albany in the form of an establishment tentatively to be known as Match Cigar Bar New Albany.

It is to be a second location for Jeffersonville's Riverside Cigar Shop and Match Cigar Bar, and will fill the ground floor (and basement) space at 145, 147 and 151 E. Main Street, currently the home of Main Street Pub, which began operations a few months ago following the disappearance of the short-lived Red Dragon.

In addition to the store fronts, Match Cigar Bar New Albany also will be leasing at upstairs spaces at 151 East Main. The tentative opening date is late January, 2017, pending the usual carousel of permits.

Roger says:

Riverside Cigar Shop was founded five years ago on Spring Street in Jeffersonville, and expanded into adjacent floor space with Match Cigar Bar shortly thereafter.

Owner Jeff Mouttet has been looking at downtown New Albany properties for while. To be succinct, Jeff is to cigars what I used to be to beer. His cigars are perfectly kept, and his recommendations spot on. The thought of having a place of this caliber within walking distance of the house is exciting, to say the least.

Match Cigar Bar will be an anchor downtown ... now, if we could only do something about the moribund Reisz Furniture building across the street.

City Hall, anyone?

Great cigar review for Riverside's House Blend.

I don't go there enough, but I love the joint, and Jeff's cigar recommendations are flawless. There aren't many places to smoke indoors these days (New Albany's Billow is one), and at Riverside/Match, there's also a quality libations list.

Riverside Cigars
Match Lounge

Riverside now has its own house blend cigar, which is given a glowing review here: Cigar Review: Riverside Cigar Shop & Lounge House Blend (by Jonathan David, at Toasted Foot)

Walking is political, as are cigar cutters.

I ran into John Gonder yesterday morning, and he remarked that in the context of an auto-centric New Albany, walking had become a revolutionary act. Bicycling fits that description, too. It needs to change, but the impetus must come from the city's neighborhoods. There must be neighborhood self-determination in the sense of us deciding how we wish our streets to be used: For people, or for cars. Think of it as Occupy Spring Street.

It reminded me of a entering the City County Building a month or so ago, and being told by the sheriff's deputy that I couldn't take my guillotine cigar cutter inside; evidently, it has been classified as a deadly weapon, one conceivably able to slice off the tip of one's middle finger when held aloft to protest stupid rules.

I asked him what could be done with it while I was inside. He told me to put it in my car. When I said my car was at home, and I'd walked down, his eyes went blank and he looked at me as though I'd sprouted antennae. It simply did not compute. Eventually he mumbled that he didn't know, but he was sure I couldn't bring the cutter inside. I hid it behind the trash can outside, roughly ten feet away from where the two deputies stood, and by the time I came back, it was gone.

Will Self: Walking is political (Guardian)

A century ago, 90% of Londoners' journeys under six miles were made on foot. Now we are alienated from the physical reality of our cities.

Tonight: Cigar Faction at Steinert's.

While not all intending to revisit old battlegrounds, it remains that as long as the absence of a smoking ordinance in New Albany continues to enable the proprietor's choice as it pertains to tobacco use at our food and drink establishments, there is an opportunity for those so desiring to serve as niche markets for metro Louisville cigar smokers.

We've started work on the patio at Bank Street Brewhouse to wrap it. Christo was unavailable, so we hired a contractor. Equipped with heaters, soon it will be a suitable area to enjoy a fine cigar. Of course, some pubs and restaurants still choose to allow smoking indoors.

In connection with beer, I wrote about cigars today in LEO: Mug Shots: Beers and cigars: I say puff away.

Like better beer, my cigar is a force that unites geography, history, agriculture and scientific progress, burning ever so slowly, emitting puffy smoke rings — the fruition of a long, patient process of growth, cultivation, harvesting, curing, hand rolling, packing and distribution.

Better yet, there's an opportunity tonight to patronize a downtown business, enjoy an adult beverage, and snip the end of a Dominican.

Cigar Faction - January 2010
@ Steinert’s Grill & Pub on Main Street in New Albany

Cigar Faction is looking for a places in Metro Louisville to enjoy cigars and craft beer. Steinert's Grill and Pub in downtown New Albany is one of them: Spacious, well-ventilated, a cigar-friendly staff, good food, good beer, and a well-stocked bar. NABC's Mt. Lee (California Common in the City of Angels) will be on tap, and J. Shepherd of Louisville will have cigars available for purchase with door prize drawings every half hour beginning at 6:30.

So, who's in? I should be there by 6:30 p.m., following the UEA board meeting, and am saving a wondeful Ashton for the occasion.

He did select a mighty fine smoke.

It is a law that I’ve cheerfully violated dozens of times during my European travels, but then again, I’m neither the governor of California – nor council president Larry Kochert, who has also been known to ignore laws he doesn’t favor.

Attack lapdog poodles, anyone?

Was Schwarzenegger's cigar a Cuban?, by Michael R. Blood, Associated Press Writer.

The celebrity governor known for his love of premium cigars was headed to the Ottawa airport Wednesday when his motorcade made a detour to a hotel. There, Schwarzenegger picked up a Cuban Partagas cigar in a shop, with the $14.83 bill paid by an aide traveling with him, the Ottawa Citizen newspaper reported.

Under trade restrictions, U.S. citizens are prohibited from buying Cuban cigars anywhere in the world.

If I had a Partagas in my possession, I’d take it to Northern Kentucky, light it up, and blow smoke rings around the new Creation Museum; coupled with the ridiculous Cuban trade embargo, they’re two reasons to suppose that the bill of goods we’re selling to people in places like Iraq is “fundamentally” miscalculated.

Is this a good time to talk about Michael Moore’s latest?

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See also: IUS professors join academics in signing statement questioning Kentucky’s Creation Museum, from the Tribune.