I am pretty social and can shoot the **** with anyone but I still don't like doing that just to become some ***** who only cares about finding rarer bottles when shopping at a local store.
That said, if going to a larger store like Specs or Total Wine that has a humidor...they usually only have 1 or 2 people who are knowledgeable about the cigars and nobody else. Ask for someone who knows cigars and develop a relationship with that person over a couple visits and buy some sticks they recommend.
At a few different places I've lived, the cigar guy recognizes me after 1 or 2 trips and then I can just ask him after looking in the humidor if he's got any great bourbons in the back. Each time they're open to going and finding whatever they can. Likely because i wasn't 1 of 1000 dudes walking in every day only looking for allocated bottles, stalking delivery trucks etc. Doesn't lead to a Blanton's every time but it's a solid angle.
That said, if going to a larger store like Specs or Total Wine that has a humidor...they usually only have 1 or 2 people who are knowledgeable about the cigars and nobody else. Ask for someone who knows cigars and develop a relationship with that person over a couple visits and buy some sticks they recommend.
At a few different places I've lived, the cigar guy recognizes me after 1 or 2 trips and then I can just ask him after looking in the humidor if he's got any great bourbons in the back. Each time they're open to going and finding whatever they can. Likely because i wasn't 1 of 1000 dudes walking in every day only looking for allocated bottles, stalking delivery trucks etc. Doesn't lead to a Blanton's every time but it's a solid angle.