Nice Ash Cigar Bar

Came to Waukesha to visit kids, found this place on Unilocal.Needed to stock up on cigars for the trip and to welcome a nephew home from Army boot camp — and they didn’t disappoint. Very good cigar selection, a tasty IPA, and the opportunity to watch the Army-​Navy game on the big screen at the same time — what’s not to like?
I notice that the negative review they got recently was from a chick who doesn’t like cigars — nuff said.
Jim the bartender is great, too. I’ll be back when I’m back on my next kid-​visit.

Very large space, big cigar selection and they had live music the night we were there! We had an awesome time and I was impressed with the service. I bought a cigar and I’m clueless when it comes to this. I told the bartender/​server that I had no idea what I was doing and he walked me through everything (the type of cut I want, smoking technique, etc.). I appreciated that he was excited to help me out and share his knowledge with me. Didn’t make me feel like an outsider or newb.

Not a bad place to smoke a cigar, personally they have to worst selection of cigars in the Milwaukee area, and even if you ask them to carry one they make up reasons why they won’t get it in stock, even thought they ask for recommendations. Be careful when you come depending on the person working they could be extremely rude. I gave it a 1 star for the fact every time I come in this place we always have some issue and they have a horrible humidor so you should always bring your own!

I only come here as a by-​stander to friends who smoke cigars, but can’t say there is much that I like. I don’t know all that much about cigars except from learning through my boyfriend but I can say hands-​down that their humidor does little to no humidifying; all of the cigars are peeling and crunchy looking. We recently came in here after going to the fabulous wine bar across the street and were «greeted» by an extremely rude bartender who just wanted to get home. She said that she «would rather have me buy an alcoholic drink so there would be some point of her staying open for us to finish». I don’t know the last time I was treated al rudely in an establishment.
There is a male bartender who is very nice and knowledgable about cigars and beer, but apart from that, the staff is lack luster. The beer selection is decent, but they won’t showcase the upcoming tap beers except for their Facebook.
If you are coming to treat Nice Ash as a cigar bar, find somewhere else.

As others have said, this is definitely a townie bar, and less of a real aficionado cigar bar than it may have originally wanted to be. But, it’s big, there’s tons of seating, cigars and hookahs can be enjoyed, I think, and even some level of food service is available. When I visit friends in the area, this is an option for grabbing a drink but it’s definitely not at the top of the list!

On another business trip. Found Nice Ash, a very large humidor with fantastic selection. spacious bar and lougne area with lots of big comfy leather chairs at the front windows for watching the world go by. 16 beers on tap including guiness and craft IPAs. Full liquor as well. met owners Jeff and his wife Joette. Joette is a genius by the way. they have free poker in the basement a couple of nights a week.
Definitely a place I’d reccomend visiting.

I don’t smoke at all, but I love my boyfriend and he always drags me to cigar bars all over the country. So, I’ve sort of come to like the experience. Nice Ash is much different than other cigar places I’ve been to, which are usually very man cave like and clubby. This place is basically kind of a dive bar that just happens to have cigars. They have a well-​stocked bar that’s heavy on bourbon and scotches, and the bar staff was friendly and attentive.
Pretty much the bar was full of 50-​somethings, and they had a bunch of old guys in a band playing classic rock. other reviewer’s have said that the crowd can be really eclectic, but when we were there it was definitely a blue-​collar crowd.
My guy says that they had a nice selection of cigars, but that their humidor wasn’t quite right and he thought what he bought was sort of dried out. I thought it smelled sort of moldy in the humidor, different than other places I’ve been.
But, overall it was a nice time and any place that lets you smoke cigars and have personal freedom is aces with me. Plus, it seemed like they had one hell of a ventilation system because it really didn’t reek of smoke too much.

I’ve been here countless times but have yet to post a review. I think this place straddles two worlds. First, it’s in Waukesha and caters to that crowd. It’s a townie bar. It’s neither classy nor divey but it’s not average either. Nice Ash has a great selection of whiskey and the whiskey club’s joining fee is easily paid for after a few nights. The humidor has a wide selection of cigars from those disgusting flavored cigars to some great Alec Bradleys, Arturo Fuentes, and other brands. The bartenders are friendly and willing to help you pick out a stick or a dram. Oh, and the beer list will meet anyone’s tastes. I’m a beer geek and I have no problem finding something I like. What’s odd about the place is the people. It brings in all sorts. Corporate dudes, construction workers, techies, Trekies, rednecks, nerds, old dudes, young dudes, ladies too, all are welcome and all hang out here. The music can vary wildly but always seems to fit the crowd. And if there’s a game on, the’ll have it on one of their many TVs. I don’t play poker but they offer tournaments in their basement bar area, known as the Ash Hole.
Anyway, check it out if you like whiskey, cigars, and people watching. You won’t regret it.

I’ve had a few good times in here but recently had a bad experience. I went in around 10:00PM and sat down for a drink with my friend. I asked if we could order a hookah and was told that they were closing soon and would not have time. I ordered a drink and was rapidly shuttled out an overpriced beer as if to say «hurry up.» I made some small talk asking a few questions about the bar with the bartender and was talked down to (apparently they were dumb questions). I asked if we could take a look at the cigars and was again informed that they would be closing soon. I’m sure the owner of the bar wouldn’t mind selling a few more cigars and drinks, business seemed slow that night. The bartender was pregnant and clearly didn’t want to be there (probably shouldn’t be in a cigar bar if you’re pregnant but it’s not my baby). We guzzled down our beers quickly since we were an inconvenience for the bar help and went on our way. I like the idea of having a cigar bar in town but if you can’t get a cigar and the staff is rude then I have many other options in downtown Waukesha. There’s a lot of bartenders available in the area (just look on Craigslist) no need to keep this one around.

So as I sit here sitting behind a sign that says «Husband Day Care» the claim is very true. This I where I hang out every Thursday as I wait for my wife to get home from work. Like Wednesday’s for others this is my hump day and it here I get over that hump.
I’m arrive with plenty of time enjoy the generous happy hour they have here. While you find the usual suspect of bottle beer, it the tap select that shine here, a great look collect of both local and national craft beer. Looking for MKE Brewing, New Glarus, or Lakefront? How about Three Floyd’s, Great Lakes or Southern Tier? They’ve got it all and the selection is constantly changing.
Maybe whiskey is more your thing. They got it covered too. The current count of bottles on hand I believe is 150+. Scotches, bourbon, Irish, Canadian even some from Japan. They keep a current list in these wonderful books which you can easily get lost in. Join the Whiskey Club if you find yourself coming back here often. A nice discount that will make working through the selection less painful on your pocket book and a chance to enjoy rare bottles for members only. Also Jeff holds guided whiskey tasting every month or so to really add to the deal.
Now this is a cigar bar and they do take that seriously. Great big humidor with a wide selection if you want to pick your own otherwise the staff here will help if guidance is needed. Every month there is a cigar and whiskey pairing with deal if you go with both. Along with cigars hookahs are available for rent here with a fair selection of tobacco. Also if your a pipe smoker like my self feel free to puff away and no fear about being smoked out here they have amazing air filters hard at work to keep the air here nice and clean.
To quote them «Get your Ash in Here»

Love this place! A little worn down but great cigar selection and friendly staff. Drinks are poured a little strong, but hey… I’m not complaining! The quality of live music is phenomenal and always a friendly crowd. It isn’t a sports bar though, unless you count a flat screen tv as being a sport bar. You really should at least walk through the humidor, really intriguing.

Phenomenal ambience with a nice selection of cigars and a phenomenal selection of Scotch, bourbon, and other cigar accompaniments. Plus, Jeff is a great guy!

Good bar. Great atmosphere. Great leather chairs near the front to lounge.
Humidor is large with a good selection. Humidor is uneven in terms of moisture. This causes cigars to be sometimes dry as a bone, sometimes overly saturated.
Overall well executed bar, could use some TLC from a humidor expert to get more even distribution.
Large selection of scotch is a plus.

So when my co-​workers say, «Let’s go drink» we have a habit of trying a new place out each time. I have to say of all of them, Nice Ash has been my favourite. While Monday night is not usually a night when people consider going out, Monday night was what we decided on. Things have been a bit dire at work, so the amount of meetings that convene at a bar and include alcohol are probably increasing, so I anticipate we will be making the rounds in the ‘sha.
Anyway when one of my colleagues suggested Nice Ash, I groaned a bit because, if you have read my review for the Clark Hotel, they were the ones that kept me up and the exact reason I didn’t rent one of the apartments on that street. I’ve never got the impression it was a great place to go, so yes, I pre-​judged the place. Parking can be a bit of a trick… although Monday night proved to be a winner when it comes to parking… and your choice of where you would like to sit!
When we showed up, I was pleasantly surprised by the interior. It was… nice! And… huge! Lots of seating and if there weren’t loads of us I would have loved to sit at the bar! I originally chose a table next to the humidor so I could eye the cigars all night, but everyone wanted to sit in the big leather chairs near the front. Just an FYI… during the winter, it is freezing in that area so if you want to be able to take off your jacket, that might not be the area for you.
The staff were incredibly nice and helpful. I checked out the humidor and did purchase a cigar for pleasure. They have a great selection! If cigars aren’t your thing or you would like something a little more like a cigarette, they have an option at the bar in different flavors like Menthol, Vanilla, Peach, and Berry. One of my colleagues bought a few and I tried the Vanilla… it was… yummy! I know that you probably shouldn’t describe a cigarette or cigar as yummy, but… it was. And if that isn’t down your alley, then you could also try Hookah. While I was waiting for my drink, I did see one of the staff members preparing a Hookah and it looked so fascinating. Despite all of these smoking options, you must still go outside if you want to smoke a regular cigarette. You may also not want to wear your best clothes or jacket as it will smell like smoke for ages.
They have a good selection of beers and wines and of course you can have your cocktail too. They do have some snack items… popcorn, Doritos, and pizza. They also have t.v.s if you want to watch sports or whatever is on. Overall, the experience was great and if we go out again, I will be suggesting Nice Ash!

Nice Ash isn’t for everybody, but it’s clearly one of the best bars in all of Waukesha. There’s a very low-​key vibe and plenty of characters to run into. The Beer selection is the best in Waukesha, no question. If you’re a fan of high quality micro brews, this is the place for you. The employees are very helpful and well-​informed. Whatever you’re looking for, they’ll be happy to help.
Sure, it’s a little expensive, but you get what you pay for. You won’t be disappointed.

Always a great place to relax during the day or have a fun time at night. We’ll run business with excellent service. Despite moving farther away I consistently come back and have a great time. Note that this is a great bar even of you aren’t a cigar smoker.

6÷30÷13 My wife and in-​laws stopped at the Nice Ash (downtown Waukesha). They have 80 bourbons/​scotches/​whiskeys and several nice beer taps. I’m a big fan of New Belgium’s seasonal Dig which they had on tap (can’t find it in Madison any more). We also enjoyed High West’s Rocky Mountain and a chocolate bourbon by another maker. All were great. The place had a nice cigar/​hookah smell (not stink). They had multiple hookah flavors and every kind of cigar wanted except Cubans of coarse. I’m not sure their walk in humidor was truly functioning, but I’m no expert. The price tag for all our libations was very reasonable. Dare I say cheap!?!

What a great place! This was the last night of a 13 week road trip and this was the perfect place to celebrate the count down to «0 Days». Great cigars, beer and very comfortable chairs. The cigar selection was above average and the people very friendly; we had a great time. Thanks.
If I ever get back that way you can be sure I will pay you a visit.

Stopped here for a cigar and drink while between wedding service and wedding reception several weeks ago.
if this wasn’t a cigar bar, I would swear it would be a high end sports bar with it’s many flat panel big screen tv’s and large comfy leather chairs.
Walk in humidor with good selection of cigars. They have a fantastic ventilation system to remove smoke as my party of 4 had 2 non-​cigar smokers who were not bothered by the smoke.

For me, this place usually results in a cab ride home and a rough morning after. I used to work in Waukesha and a few times a year the guys from the old shop and I will meet at Nice Ash and I cannot think of a single time that I didn’t have an almost dangerous amount of fun. Anytime a bar keeps Alpha King on tap I’m gonna be a fan, but then you add the cigar selection and live music and the social clientele and it makes for a good night.