The Big Smoke weekend is an annual lifestyle extravaganza sponsored by the upscale magazine Cigar Afficionado. It's billed as "the largest good-life gathering in the country," and it attracts 6,000 cigar smokers for two days of "indulgences": premium cigars, gourmet food, and high-end alcohol. This year's 13th annual Big Smoke takes place at the Venetian, November 7-9.
Events include seminars, such as rolling your own, Scotch and cigar pairings, top legal cigars, wrapper leaf, and blind tastings.
Cigar tastings include Arganese, Arturo Fuente, Ashton, Aurora 1495, Bolivar, C.A.O., Carlos Toraño, Challenger by Alec Bradley, Cuba Aliados, Cuesta-Rey, Cusano, Cuvée, Dom Rey, Don Tomas, El Rico Habano, Flavours by C.A.O., Helix, Hoyo de Monterrey, La Aroma de Cuba, La Caya, La Flor Dominicana, La Gloria Cubana, Maxx, Oliva Serie G, Padilla, Padrón, Pioneer Valley Especiales, Rocky Patel Premium, Te-Amo World Selection, Zino Classic and Zino Platinum. Many of the cigars are handed out by the brand owners themselves and people line up for free tastes and autographs.
Expensive alcohol tastings include Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Clontarf Irish whiskey, Tullamore Dew Irish whiskey, Crown Royal, Knappogue Castle whiskey, Martin Miller's gin, Partida Tequila, Tommy Bahama rum, and Yamazaki Suntory single-malt whisky.
Attendees also get a buffet of food from the Venetian's restaurants.
Other attractions of the Big Smoke weekend are displays of cigar accessories, watches and jewelry, and fine automobiles, such as Vipers, Corvettes, Mustang Shelbys, and Porsches. With scantily clad dancers scattered around the ballroom, "all parts of the male mind are stimulated."
Tickets for this year's event start at $240 to attend one evening's events, going up to $550 for the weekend packages*. Click here for more information or to register.
And if you're a cigar-loving Las Vegas visitor, don't forget to check out our Cigar Lounge section in "Shows & Nightlife" and look out for an upcoming QoD about where to purchase your smokes on and around the Strip.
*Note: Neither of these prices includes accommodation.
