Cigar Grail Author
Vishal “Mace” Maisuria
Passion for cigars and enjoying the moments with anybody and everybody.
Vishal “Mace” Maisuria is the manager at Cigar Grail Fort Lauderdale and a close friend of both owners, Jay and Moe, having known them for over two decades. He began smoking cigars in 2020 during the lockdown and found a hobby he could delve into fully and blissfully. A resume that speaks volumes and a passion for cigars made him a vital piece of the team.
About Mace
Joining the team
Coming from a background of 15 years in management, hospitality and customer service, Mace has always found joy in personal interactions. With help from Moe and Jay, after a few months of smoking it turned into a passion and a new career. Being a long time smoker, he found that his love for wines and liquors translated directly into tobacco, seamlessly.
Getting to try new cigars in the beginning and learning about the brands, their production process, and their lines has always been a key component of his love for cigars. When the opportunity arrived to join the Cigar Grail team, his only question was when he could start.
Having a person who is actively involved in the experience of the customer is a major attribute, along with his charismatic personality. He still continues enjoying the simple conversations with people about cigars and learning about cigars above all else. Prioritizing the consumer experience and keeping it personal is a key quality of his.
“I don’t sell cigars, I offer an experience to new friends, because in cigars we’re all friends.”Vishal “Mace” Maisuria
Areas of focus
What Mace writes about
Cigar reviews
The notes and nuances cigars bring, along with detailed analysis of the tobacco, production, and value based on direct experience, written in a personal manner.
Guides for smokers
Clean and concise information for cigar enthusiasts to increase their knowledge and understanding of smoking, as well as caring for the tobacco.
Experienced mixologist
Creative pairings and suggestions that build on the cigar experience, based on your preferences and the tobacco you are smoking.
Taste tailored approach
Asking the important questions before offering a suggestion, to make sure we are following a direction toward a blissful adventure in smoking.
Beyond the counter
How Mace enjoys cigars
Personal taste
Mace’s favorite cigars usually have a mix of tobaccos in their composition, giving a transitioning smoke that keeps the interest piqued. Brands like Bandolero, Ashton, and Plasencia stay in his regular rotation.
Smoking on days off
You will find Mace in his backyard grilling alongside his cats, getting ready to smoke. The private quiet of a mixed drink or wine, his fiancé, and picking apart a cigar while relaxing at home is what he looks forward to.
Choices in pairings
His top three, in order, are Cuban espresso, amaretto, and deep red Cabernet Sauvignon. Being an undercover chef, he always makes sure his meal will never conflict with the cigar to follow.
Yearning for knowledge
Steadily monitoring and reviewing changes in the tobacco industry as well as new releases. Mace has a hunger for learning about cigars, and his interest is piqued whenever a new line or brand comes into eyesight or earshot.
The Cigar Grail standard
What guides Mace’s work
The preparations
Ensuring the workplace is always pristine and the cigars are correctly humidified comes first. Every cigar sold or offered is of the utmost quality and prepared so it delivers a premium smoking experience.
The experience
There is no customer in Mace’s vocabulary. Every cigar smoker is a friend. He personalizes the buying experience, offering his insight and knowledge while working through a checklist of notes, strength, and profile tailored to your preferences.
The feedback
Always saying “see you later,” Mace looks forward to a returning face and to feedback above all else. Knowing how the suggestions paired against the usual picks, and what to alter for the next time around, all while sharing stories and points of view.
Latest work
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