I may be venturing a guess here, but I’m thinking that like me, many of you may have tried smoking a cigar or two back when they made a resurgence in the 1990s. Now, cigar experts and the uninitiated alike have a new place to indulge in them: the Cigar Lounge at Silver Reef Casino. Located adjacent to the Portage Bay Bar, the Cigar Lounge was developed in response to customer demand. Silver Reef is the only casino in northern Washington with a cigar lounge, and it opened about a year ago to rave reviews.

Top: Cigar Lounge sign, personal humidors. Bottom: Cigars, lounge seating.

Inside, you’ll find leather sofas and chairs, warm wood furnishings and brass trim, reminiscent of an exclusive club—but without the pretense. On our visit, our host, Mark, educated us about the offerings, including a variety of cigars, as well as fine single-malt scotches, whiskeys, beer on tap and wine. I chose a glass of the Cigar Zin to go with a Juicy Lucy cigar, which Mark said was at the sweeter end of the cigar scale. He was right—it tasted like cherry lip balm. It paired well with the rich fruit flavors of the wine.

My companions picked out different cigars so we could each try the others’. One was Java Latte, with coffee and vanilla flavors, which was aromatic and light, and the other was a mild cigar from Honduras. The Cigar Lounge carries a wide variety, with something for everyone, and regulars can store their purchases in their private humidor.

Mark showed us how to properly light the cigar (and warned against inhaling, since we were clearly newbies). He’s quick to offer recommendations on pairing cigars with scotch or whisky. Patrons can enjoy any of the 700+ wines, as well as the fantastic appetizers, from the nearby Steak House. You can also bring in food from any of the Silver Reef restaurants, such as The Cantina Bar, La Cantina Restaurant, Panasia and Pizzanini.

Top: Stuffed Prawns (Dungeness Crab, lemon butter sauce), Prime Beef Skewers (orange juice marinade). bottom: Lamb Lollipops (garlic and rosemary marinade), Jumbo Prawn Cocktail (house made cocktail sauce). All from The Steak House.

If you’re ready for a cigar adventure, head to the Silver Reef Casino. The Cigar Lounge opens at 11:00 a.m. every day, with service by the Portage Bay Bar staff. The Cigar Lounge’s knowledgable staff arrives at 4:00 p.m. to take care of your food, beverage and, of course—cigar needs.

Fun Event: Sips & Cigars on May 30th

The Cigar Lounge at Silver Reef will be hosting the second annual Sips & Cigars event, which is happening May 30th, 2015 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Tickets are $60, which includes four premium cigars, six spirit and two beer samples, appetizers and a door prize entry. Buy tickets online or by phone at 866.383.0777.

Regular Cigar Lounge events include Craft Beer Night every Wednesday at 5:00 p.m., featuring four (4 oz.) craft beer samples for $11.50. And Trivia Night (which is free!) is every Thursday (7:00p.m. – 9:00 p.m.).

The Cigar Lounge at Silver Reef Casino
Haxton Way at Slater Road, Ferndale, WA 98248
I-5 Exit 260, 4 Min. West
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