Gate-side cigars in Departures, Terminal 1
This is the dedicated Cigar Shop Departures in Terminal 1’s post-security area, on the international side after passport control. It’s a small walk-in store, easy to spot once you pass duty free and head toward the mid-20s gates. Stock and layout feel more old-school than glossy humidor lounge, but it does the job if you want cigars before boarding.
Expect airport pricing: cigars run at a noticeable markup over island shops in St. John’s, and single sticks often sit in the mid-range bracket rather than true budget tiers. You’ll mainly see well-known Cuban and non-Cuban brands rather than obscure boutique labels. If you care about exact vitolas or production dates, ask staff to show specific boxes rather than buying blind from the front displays.
The shop opens most of the main departure window, roughly in sync with afternoon and evening long-haul banks, but don’t count on early-morning hours if you’re on the first wave of flights. It’s strictly a grab-and-go retail spot: no cutters, lighters, or smoking area inside, and no lounge seating. Treat it as your last-minute top-up before flights to London, Toronto, or New York.
Selection and storage conditions can shift with shipments, so inspect wrappers under the lights and feel for overly dry or squishy sticks before you pay. If you’re picky about humidor conditions at home, consider buying singles here to try rather than committing to a larger multi-cigar pack. Final tip: check your next country’s customs allowance by number of cigars and total value before loading up; ANU duty free rules and destination limits don’t always match.