Elegant yet Approachable
By Matt Shaw

I probably shouldn’t take too much pride in this, but your favorite entertainment writer has been a smoker for quite some time. Because recent political hackery has made this nearly-illegal pleasure of mine a rather expensive hobby (eight bucks for a pack of smokes? Seriously?), and because the places where I am allowed to light up are disappearing rapidly, I thank the powers that be every day for the few respites that we tobacco connoisseurs have left. On the up side, what we have left is an incredible assortment of fine smoking lounges where our so-called vices are celebrated. Here are four of the best in Central Massachusetts:

Michael’s Cigar Bar ~ 1 Exchange Place, Worcester

Tucked behind the DCU Center, Michael’s is an aficionado’s paradise. Deep leather chairs and an interior bedecked with dark wood create the impression of absurd luxury, and pristine built-in humidors display an impressive collection of premium hand-rolled cigars. Bartender Mark Giaquinto recommended a leathery Honduran that smoked like a dream ~ a brand that I had never heard of, which says quite a bit about the selection. To wash it down, Giaquinto pointed out the selection of single-malts, which includes a handful of familiar names ~ Glenlivet, Laphroaig, Macallan, and so on ~ and a few pleasant surprises, such as Auchentoshan and an array of vintage Balvenies. A relative newcomer to the Worcester scene, Michael’s has already made an impression as the must-visit cigar lounge of the summer.

Victory Cigar Bar ~ 56 Shrewsbury St., Worcester

Everything you could ever possibly want to know about cigars you can learn from Victory owner Mark Piscillo. Everything you could ever hope to know about camaraderie you can learn at Victory. The bar is Worcester in microcosm: young and old, students and professionals, old friends and new acquaintances all genuinely enjoying each other’s company, and each of them enjoying some of the finest tobacco and spirits the world has to offer. To say that the selection is impressive does a disservice to Victory ~ a person could visit the dynamic tobacconist for a cigar every day for a year and never smoke the same one twice. Perhaps just as impressive is the liquor selection. Victory boasts a range of scotches which were barreled before I was born. But don’t let all the luxury fool you: Victory is more than affordable. I doubt very much that there is anywhere else in the state where a person can get a premium cigar and a two-dollar Bud, or a pack of Turkish cloves and a five-dollar martini. This isn’t some fly-by-night smoking joint. This is Worcester’s cigar bar, and every bit as much a part of the city as the city is a part of its ambiance.

Havana House Cigars ~ 261 Main St., Northboro

If you live in the Western ‘burbs, you might have driven by Havana House a thousand times without ever noticing it. Just down the street from the Northboro police station rests a quaint yet modernly appointed cigar lounge perfect for a night of Sox-watching. A more than adequate cigar list accompanies an excellent international beer selection. Mellow and comfortable, the bar is an oasis from the tedium of quotidian life. This is the kind of place that a person walks into and instantly begins dreaming of reconstructing in his basement. The Havana House has all the luxury of a fine tobacconist without the sticker shock. A true gem.

Fat Jack’s Cigar & Bar ~13 Cushing St., Fitchburg

Cigars, sports and pool not your thing? If so, stop reading. Fat Jack’s has all the brawny attitude of a speakeasy without all the unsavory characters. This is the place where friends in the Fitchburg area go to meet friends. If the bar isn’t inviting enough, the friendly staff and happy-go-lucky patrons all but force you to leave your worries at the door. This is the kind of bar at which no two people are strangers for long. Fat Jack’s is a little off the beaten path, but every bit worth the trip. If you’re in the market for a new set of smoking buddies, no place in Worcester County will serve you better.