Cigar Ambassador

If you're after a proper cigar and a comfortable place to enjoy it, Cigar Ambassador in Holland has earned its reputation as one of the best spots around for exactly that. Locals will tell you the walk-in humidor is the heart of this place, kept clean and well cared for, and stocked with a selection deep enough that regulars joke the hardest part of the visit is deciding what to light up. Names like Ashton Symmetry, Liga #9, My Father, and a good range of Fuente selections come up often among the people who shop here. The lounge is where this shop really wins folks over.

Ask anyone who spends an afternoon here and they'll mention the open, inviting feel of it, the comfortable chairs and couch, and the nostalgic touches that make it easy to settle in for a while. It's the kind of place where the staff swing by to empty ash trays and clear away trash without being asked, and where the other patrons are just as friendly as the people behind the counter. One longtime regular buys a box for each of his daughters' weddings and grabs a couple after mowing the lawn or heading out to the golf course, which tells you how much a part of everyday life this spot has become for the people who love it. The owner gets a lot of the credit.

Beginners and seasoned smokers alike say he greets questions about strength, flavor profile, and smoking experience with recommendations grounded in real years behind the humidor. More than one person walks in feeling like a kid in a candy store. We've heard the occasional note that prices run a touch high and the selection, while solid, stays fairly classic rather than exotic, but that hasn't slowed the steady stream of regulars one bit. As one put it, Holland is lucky to have this spot.

Worth a visit if you're anywhere in the area.