Winning The Case for Cool

Without all the frills of a downtown bar or even the convenient location, Magnums Cigar, Wine, and Liquor Emporium is becoming one of Phoenix's hottest hang-outs. The bar, a traditional setting boasting oak with marble inset tables and bar tops, spares no expense to achieve a comfortable and designer setting.

On top of comfort the bar is pleasing to the eye. Incredible artwork and designer posters appropriately line the walls. However, walking into the bar itself present a religious experience for liquor lovers of all kinds. Stocked with micro-brews from all over the world, a respectable gallery of wine, and a shelved bar back full of traditional and exotic liquors no patron will go thirsty.

Without question, the bar staff rivals the best of the best (think Durant's) and ensures a pleasant experience. After just one trip to the bar a return visit was met with a memory of my first visit and a nearly accurate guess at my favorite drink (grey goose martini, dirty, on the rocks).

Enough about the bar, you'll have to check it out to see the rest. Walking into Magnum's you would never know the swanky outfit you are about to enjoy as it is located in a strip mall at 7th street and Union Hills (SE Corner). Upon entrance you recognize the passion with which owner, Amar Patel, approaches his work. A beautifully stocked wine and liquor inventory presents the patron with their regular everyday choice spirits among others for special occasions.

Then, after a quick glance around the place you notice IT, the humidor. Your first visit requires a tour from one of the very capable staff. If Amar is there, ask him to talk you through the many selections offered in his meticulously stocked humidor.

Now you are certainly wondering, what the hell does this have to do with politics? Easy enough to explain, you see, Amar found a loophole in the no-smoking policy set by the ballot initiative a couple years ago. The no-smoking policy is not applicable to businesses reporting more than 50% of its sales are made up by the sale of tobacco and tobacco accessories. By combining two other tobacco-only locations in an LLC Amar was able to establish that his business, which also just so happens to be a bar, meets the 50% threshold.

What does all this mean? Smoking cigars and cigarettes is allowed in Magnum's, the only bar of its kind in all of Arizona.