With all of our travels behind us Sunday, we got down to business on Monday with our first factory tour at Scandanavia Tobacco, where most of the Torano brands are made.

As we entered the factory compound, the first thing that grabbed our attention was the mountain that is actually part of their property. The red brick building lying at the base of the mountain certainly made for the most scenic factory I have ever visited.

After marveling at the view for a few moments, we ventured inside the reception area where we met and mingled with our hosts for the day. It is here where we lit up our first smokes of the day and enjoyed a few cups of cafe negra. 

We chatted for a while and once we were all on a first name basis it was time to head into the factory. We witnessed the sorting process and the de stemming of the wrapper leaves. A leisurely stroll through the rolling room gave us a taste of what was in store for us later in the day. It always amazes me to see these artisans skillfully turn these dried leaves of tobacco into bunches, then later into a perfectly crafted cigar. The speed at which they ply their craft makes it even more impressive.

We then headed over to the warehouse where the tobacco bales are aged. The smell in the room is hard to describe. For a true lover of cigars, it is a wonderful aroma that I wish could be packaged and placed inside a plug-in air refresher.

Our experience inside the warehouse didn't end there. Our hosts were kind enough to open a bale and roll a few "test sticks" for us to try right there. My companions urged me to roll my own, so I humored them and completed the task. My finished product was a little more rustic than the one rolled by our professional guide, but it smoked just the same.

Our last task before lunch was to bunch and roll a few of our own. I have had the privilege of doing this several times over the years and I must admit, it never gets any easier. The experience definitely gives you an appreciation of exactly what goes into making that final product.

With our time at this factory completed it was time for lunch and a ride into the country side to visit the farm.

The San Benito tobacco farm isn't too far from the city limits but the "unimproved road" made for bumpy and slow travels.

As we turned into the farm, the first thing we saw were the huge curing barns. As we passed them by, we drove along the edge of the fields and stopped at the green houses where they give the seedling their start in life. We then toured the shade fields where they are growing some wrapper leaves before heading over to the open fields. The sight of those sun grown tobacco plants in the foreground of the mountain range is certainly a sight I could never grow tired of seeing.

We concluded our adventure with a visit to a curing barn which was packed full of Esteli's finest, somewhere between a green and brown state.

It was certainly a wonderful day of visiting with wonderful people and getting a chance to see all the hard work that goes into making that little stick of relaxation that so many folks take for granted. I can't wait to see what lies in store for us tomorrow.

Long Ashes,

Chris Gwaltney, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits North Florida Regional Manager. Certified Tobacconist and Cicerone Beer Server. Follow me on Twitter @abccigarchris.