Inside the Humidor: Meet tommy heitz II
A Passion for the Perfect Smoke.
If you have spent any time at Empire Social Lounge Las Olas, there is a good chance you have already crossed paths with Tommy Heitz II. And if you have not, this is your introduction.
Tommy Heitz II is the cigar sommelier and assistant manager at Empire Social Lounge Las Olas. He is one of the key faces you will meet when you step into the humidor, and the kind of person who makes every visit feel like it was designed specifically for you.
For Tommy, this is not just a role. It is a craft he has spent years studying and refining, driven by a genuine love for the culture and an even deeper love for helping people find their place in it. He brings a level of care and expertise to every visit.
How It Started
"My father introduced me back when I was eighteen," Tommy says. "And what really intrigued me was all the people you got to meet."
He pauses like he is thinking about how to explain something that feels completely natural to him. "We live in such a fast-paced world. But inside a cigar lounge, you are actually able to learn about somebody, and they can learn a little bit about you. The friendships you create inside a cigar lounge are something I cannot find outside at a regular bar."
So he kept chasing it. Better cigars. Deeper knowledge. More time in the culture. Until one day the thought clicked: I think I can do this for a living.
He went to school. Got certified. And learned what the title of cigar sommelier actually demands, cross genetics in tobacco, pairing theory, and the ability to listen closely to a complete stranger and find exactly what they need. "It is like having a lock," he says, "and you have to figure out the combination every time somebody comes in."
"Everybody has a different path. My job is to figure out which one is yours."
Why Empire
Tommy was already familiar with Jason Reznik, one of the owners of Empire Social Lounge, from years back when their paths crossed at Prime Cigar Bar in Boca Raton. So when the opportunity came up to be part of the team at Empire Las Olas, the decision was easy.
"Didn't even think twice," he says. "Said, when can I start? Not even looking back. Everything has been an enjoyable ride since."
That enthusiasm is genuine and it comes through every day. It is the kind of energy that makes the Las Olas humidor feel welcoming from the moment you walk in.
Taking Someone on Their First Journey
Ask Tommy what he loves most about his role and the answer comes without hesitation.
He loves the novice. The person who walks in with zero experience, maybe a little uncertainty, and walks out with a new appreciation for something they never expected to enjoy.
"I like to get somebody who has never smoked before and take them on a journey," he says. "It is really about expanding their palate and learning how to pair things."
He does not use the same approach every time because no two people are the same. "A lot of times people are not even drinking alcohol. So I learn what they like to do. Are they a golfer? There are shorter cigars that are perfect for the course. Do they love coffee? I pair it with an espresso or cappuccino."
The goal is always to match the experience to the person, not the other way around.
What He Wants First-Timers to Know
Walking into a premium cigar lounge for the first time can feel like a lot. Tommy knows this and he takes it seriously.
"Come on in," he says. "I know it might be a little intimidating at the start, because when you walk in you have no idea what you are looking at. But I will make sure you have a great experience."
He has heard the story a hundred times. Someone tried a cigar once, did not enjoy it, and wrote off the whole category. Tommy does not accept that conclusion. "I will actually sit down with them for a few minutes to check on the lighting, make sure everything is totally correct, and that they are having the proper experience."
That kind of attention is the difference between a guest who comes back and one who never returns. Tommy understands that completely. And it is exactly the kind of hospitality Empire Social Lounge was built around.
Tommy's Current Smoke
We asked what he was holding during our conversation. His answer was immediate and came with the kind of quiet confidence that tells you he has thought about this a lot.
"Padrón is basically the most consistent brand out there. It is almost like reaching for a classic cologne, something like Acqua di Gio. You know it is going to work every time. And this is one of them."
His Invitation to You
If you have been thinking about visiting for the first time, or you are curious about what the humidor experience at Empire is really like, this is the most direct answer we can give you.
"I want you to come in here to Empire," he says. "It is going to be something you have never experienced before. A lot of times when you go into cigar bars, the people do not have the passion that we have here to show you the tobacco road, for lack of a better term."
"Once you come here, I will make sure to not only show you a proper cigar, but a proper spirit, sparkling water, Coca-Cola, whatever it is you choose. I will make sure you have something that you will be talking about long after you leave."
At Empire, the humidor is about more than tobacco. It is about conversation, connection, and taking a moment to slow down with the right people around you. Tommy Heitz II brings that to Las Olas every day.
Come Find Tommy at Empire Las Olas.
Step into the humidor, introduce yourself to Tommy, and let him take it from there. Whether it is your first time or your hundredth, you will leave with something worth coming back for.
