Earlier this week, I left the sunny shores of Melbourne, FL to head up to the frigid cold and snow of Troy, MI.This was not my first trip to Troy, or to the state of Michigan, so I kind of know my way around the area. After a long day of meetings and dinner with my colleagues, I decided I would trip on over to one of the local cigar lounges in the area. Even though I know the area, I still need to get my directions, and a quick Google map search always solves that issue. To my surprise, the first result in the search was the Ambassador Cigars and Spirits Lounge. I found that interesting because I have never heard of this lounge and I have been coming to Detroit area for years. Even better, the lounge was located a mere 1.2 miles from my hotel – how convenient, especially on a wicked cold winter night.
After dinner I headed right over to my new home away from home, the Ambassador Cigars and Spirits Lounge located at 3614 Rochester Rd. (just north of Big Beaver Road). The lounge is located on the corner of a small shopping plaza and is easy to see with its bright red CIGAR sign. The pleasantries just kept coming, as the hours on the door stated they were open till 11PM Mon to Wed and till midnight Thu to Sat. The only day they close early is on Sundays where the closing time is 8PM.
Entering the lounge you would have to blind not to spot the 500-square-foot, glass enclosed, walk-in humidor that rests directly behind the sprawling bar.The bar is stocked with a complete inventory of fine spirits and 12 draft beers and wine. There is a kitchen that serves up some delectable nutriments to feed your discerning palate, including the staff favorite Cuban sandwiches. Since they open at 10AM Monday through Saturday you can even get breakfast and Cuban coffee.
Of course the real passion of the Ambassador Cigars and Spirits Lounge is cigars. You can be assured that you will be served by a trained tobacconist when you are there, since there is at least one working at all times. My first night there, Sean, one of the resident tobacconists introduced me to the humidor, which is certainly one of the best stocked humidors in the Detroit area. There is well over 500 cigars to choose from, including such brands as My Father, Ashton, Davidoff, Asylum, Patoro, Drew Estate, Rocky Patel, Fuente, and more.
Sean sat down with me and explained they have been open only 4 months (November 2016). I later learned that the crew used to work for another large establishment in the area and decided to come over to Ambassador as a team. Sean explained they have a limited private membership that offers access to a members only room and a board room in the back. The membership is $150.00/month and gets you also a locker that receives 3 premium cigars a month along with a monthly private event.
As I puffed away on my nightly choice of a My Father “The Judge” and sipped on some Oban 14, I was taking it all in, observing the many seating areas in the lounge including the 10 seat bar, leather chairs, and high and low top tables. Sean mentioned that every Tuesday night that have a putting contest that is free to join and offers various prizes if you make the putt and this Tuesday they were also having a meet and greet with Dr. Pablo Richard from Patoro Cigars. Sean did not have to twist my arm any more as I was all-in with the Ambassador Cigars and Spirits Lounge and was certainly coming back the next night. Heck, it is freezing cold outside and warm, toasty and friendly in the lounge, that was a no brainer.
I contacted some of my local friends in the area and asked them to meet me on Tuesday at the Ambassador Cigars and Spirits Lounge in Troy. No surprise, they already were aware of the lounge and even were members. Tuesday night could not come fast enough and off to the Ambassador I trekked again. This time I felt like one of the regulars, as the crowd was very inclusive and friendly. I met one of the other partners, Troy who made it his business that I was enjoying myself. I got into the putting contest but never did sink one, but had fun trying. We met Dr Pablo Richard in the members only room where we got the story of Patoro Cigars, which I was familiar with having reviewed two of his 3 lines already. I spent some private time later with Pablo talking cigars and life in general.
Since we were coming up on St.Patty’s day, the Guinness company was in the house was giving away custom engraved Guinness glasses which just added an extra pleasure to my evening.
In closing, I have to say this was one of my best experiences in a cigar lounge in quite a while. The Ambassador Cigars and Spirits Lounge in Troy, MI is one lounge that I highly recommend visiting if you are in the area. I know if I was living anywhere near by I would be a regular and I certainly will be visiting whenever I travel up for business. I would like to thank Sean, Troy, and the Ambassador bartenders for their warm hospitality, you turned two frigid nights in Michigan into a pleasant relaxing environment.
You can find the Ambassador Cigars and Spirits Lounge at:
3614 Rochester Rd. Troy,MI
Phone: 248-250-9716
Facebook: AmbassadorCigarsAndSpirits
Website: www.ambassadorcigar.com