Take a puff. Roll the smoke around. And blow out. Don’t inhale! “There’s no rules to cigar smoking, though,” said Ian Floranza, general manager of Eight Lounge at Resorts World Las Vegas.
If you want to know all about the art of the cigar, Floranza is your man and Eight Lounge is the spot to experience all things stogies mixed with cool vibes and swank surroundings. “Eight Lounge is a vibrant and sophisticated lounge where you can gather with friends over exceptional cigars by some of the most revered makers of cigars in the world, as well as spirits and signature cocktails that are crafted and curated by mixologists well-versed in the flavor profiles of premium tobaccos for optimal pairings,” Floranza said.
Ask Floranza to hook you up with a cigar and cocktail pairing, like one of his top choices the Arturo Fuente Opus X 888 cigar alongside a classic Irish coffee.
“The flavor profile of Teeling whiskey used in our Irish coffee, which is a guest favorite, really complements the mild vanilla sweetness, floral and cinnamon notes of the Opus X 888 cigar,” he said.
Eight Lounge offers a wide range of cigars, stored in the venue’s walk-in humidor and retail space. With more than 150 selections and prices from $14 all the way up to $5,000, guests can peruse more than 60 different brands that include standouts like Cohiba “Weller” edition, Padron 50th Anniversary, Gurkha “His Majesty’s Reserve” and Arturo Rare Pink Series.
And with cigars comes cigar smoke, but patrons don’t need to worry about stagnant smoke in the air, because Eight Lounge’s ventilation system does not circulate the smoked-filled air. Instead, once every four minutes fresh, new air is pumped in, making the space very breathable and pleasant to smokers and nonsmokers. “Our guests sometimes forget that it’s a smoking lounge because our ventilation system is the best of any cigar lounge in the world,” Floranza said.
Once seated with your cigar, peruse the impressive craft cocktail menu. We suggest starting with the Carajillo cocktail with Licor 43, espresso and an orange peel. Floranza likes to pair the cocktail with the Undercrown cigar. “The simple ingredients of the Carajillo bring together the earthiness of the espresso with the chocolate nuttiness of the cigar,” he said. If you’ve stopped by Eight Lounge after dinner, perhaps start with a dessert-like cocktail like the peanut butter chocolate martini, served with a fun edible chocolate cigar, and mixed with Ballotin peanut butter chocolate whiskey and XXI Martinis chocolate liqueur. For a classic treat, order the Smoked Macallan Old-Fashioned, a blend of Macallan Double Cask 12 Year, demerara syrup, angostura aromatic and angostura orange bitters and smoked with cherrywood or applewood.
Tips/Insider Knowledge
For $250, the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection flight features five half-ounce pours of exclusive and rare Buffalo Trace blends, including: George T. Stagg, William Larue Weller, Eagle Rare 17 Year Old, Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old and Thomas H. Handy.
Perk: Eight Lounge offers an exclusive small plates menu from next-door restaurant, Brezza.
Resorts World Las Vegas. 702.676.7405
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