It's not everyday that you get to travel to the places in the world that are responsible for creating the premium cigars that we all enjoy. I was invited, along with a few friends/business associates, by the Torano family to travel down to their operations in Nicaragua. Accompanying me on this trip is a diverse group of guys from ABC Fine Wine & Spirits. We would actually make for a great opening line in a joke:  "A marketing director, teacher, sommelier, beer guy, and tobacconist, walk into a bar." You can let your imagination fill in the rest.

Actually, I am traveling with our Marketing Officer Bob Gibson, Wine Supervisor Jim Greeley, Corporate Trainer Gary Murphy, and Store Manager/Beer Geek James Keep.

Our flight into Nicaragua was uneventful. We were fortunate enough to have Miss Puerto Rico and the Junior Miss Universe on our flight, so we had that going for us. It was also nice that Customs didn't give anyone a hard time and after grabbing our bags, we were soon out the door and on our way to Esteli.

After a two hour, white knuckle ride through the mountainside, we arrived at our hotel in the heart of Esteli.  A quick room check-in completed I wasted little time meeting up with Armando Lipido, Torano Regional Sales Manager and we both headed down to the hotel bar for our first cigar of the trip. Armando and I were soon joined by Carlos Llaca-Torano Director of Operations for Torano Cigars and eventually everyone else in our party joined in the relaxation, as well as a few liquid libations.

After a few cervezas and a little Flor de Cana Rum, we decided it was time for dinner. Since our hotel is located in the center of town, we only had to walk a few blocks for a delicious steak. Most of us decided on the same dinner, a nice hunk of churrasco with a side of chimichurri sauce. After a few more cigars we decided it was time to call it an evening. It was a long day of travel and tomorrow will be a day filled with factory tours and, of course, plenty of cigars.

Long Ashes,

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