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Airstream: Mobile Cigar Lounge

No, it’s not a new model from the folks at Jackson Center. It’s a beautiful old 69er converted into a cigar-smoker’s paradise—complete with classy ‘Cigarista’ girls to pour your drink and light your stogie.

Sopranos actor and long time cigar nut Frank Vincent (below) is a fan of the Mobile Cigar Lounge, and rolled up last Father’s Day puffing on his own ‘Frank Vincent Signature Cigar‘. But it’s not just a Man Thing: the Florida-based Lounge is also pitched at laydeez who want to ‘learn how to handle a cigar like a pro.’

Yes, it’s the ultimate tailgater, and if you live in the south-eastern states, it could be at a stadium near you—thanks to a couple of cigar-mad hockey stars.

The original idea came from Juan Guillen, a 20-year veteran of the US cigar industry. Guillen built a prototype in Tallahassee, Florida, using a vintage Airstream that was completely gutted down to the aluminum skin.

He got the sub-floor reinforced and re-welded to withstand heavy traffic, and then removed the interior walls, leaving two support poles to distribute the weight and prop up the roof.

Then Guillen showed his prototype to retired NHL players Stanislav ‘Stan’ Neckar and Dave Andreychuk, and he was ready to roll.

Like most cigar fans, Stan and Dave were annoyed by the USA’s increasingly strict anti-smoking laws. Czech-born defenseman Neckar recalls one particular evening after winning the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning. “Half the team was standing outside having celebratory cigars, and I was thinking, there has got to be a better way.”

So the three wiseguys turned the Airstream into an upscale cigar lounge on wheels. They added two rooftop air conditioning units and—smart move, fellas—a heavy-duty filtration unit. In went five flat screen TVs, each with its own satellite receiver, plus a wet bar and a wine cooler.

Seats were covered with ostrich leather. Woodworkers installed cherry wood cabinetry, cedar ceilings and walls, and a hand-hammered copper sink. On the outside, a complete polish brought back the original mirror shine. The new humidor is, of course, simply enormous.

The Mobile Cigar Lounge is now available for hire, along with the pretty Cigaristas, and proving popular on the party circuit. It comfortably seats up to 20 inside and minimum hire is just three hours, enough time to comfortably smoke a Gran Corona before the big game.

Sounds good, and there’s only one more decision to make if you’re tempted: are you going to give that stogie a V-Cut, or a Straight Cut, as Frank likes it?

See also:
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