Just last year I took a very slow boat that ended up landing on the coast of Spain.

After taking in the Barcelona night life (ok, eating lots of tapas) I headed over to Madrid. One of the items on my list, spend the day with Nelson Alfonso and see his latest project – building a cigar factory in Madrid, Spain.

To say that Nelson built a “factory” would be an understatement. Yes, it does contain a facility to make cigars but it is so much more.

We spent the day smoking cigars, talking about food, history, and his vision for bringing a cigar factory back to Spain.

Nelson Alfonso oversees construction of aging rooms.

Above all, Alfonso’s passion is evident. Every detail in the factory was thought out…nothing phoned in.

It was impressive.

At the time, my camera roll (can we still say that with iPhones?) was full of pictures I could not share…yet.

Now, it’s like a really cool secret has been let out to the world…and I could not be happier for him.

I plan on going back to the see the finished product and look forward to seeing what comes next.

Here is the official press release….

AFTER FIVE DECADES, SPAIN WELCOMES FIRST PREMIUM CIGAR FACTORY

Madrid, Spain — Selected Tobacco announces the opening of its new 3,000-square-meter (30,000 SqFt)

facility in Madrid, marking the return of premium cigar production to Spain for the first time in over half a

century. More than a factory, the five-story structure serves as a complete ecosystem for production, aging,

design, and hospitality, built to support the company’s long-term vision.

For founder and creator Nelson Alfonso, Madrid was the only place this project could exist. Spain is his home,

and the decision to build here reflects a desire to reconnect the country with its historic role in tobacco while

establishing a modern standard rooted in quality and patience. Led by the Alfonso family, including sons

Nelson Jr. and Fabio, the facility is outfitted with family and friends bringing decades of experience. Now, two

centuries after Spain’s last premium cigar factory went silent, Selected Tobacco reintroduces production with

intent rather than nostalgia.

The facility is organized across five levels, designed to guide both product and visitors through the full lifecycle

of a cigar. Guests are welcomed on the first floor, where a contemporary entry leads into a central division

that separates the front and rear of the building. This expansive core serves as primary dry goods storage and

can be converted into an event space capable of hosting up to 350 guests.

The second floor houses the Selected Tobaccos design team, where blend direction, packaging concepts, and

long-term projects are developed. On the third floor, visitors can observe master torcedores rolling cigars,

offering a transparent look into the rolling process that helps define Selected Tobaccos production.

The fourth floor is dedicated entirely to aging and presentation. Here, guests encounter the world’s largest

multi-cedar lined humidor, comprised of 24 individual aging rooms. This environment allows Selected

Tobaccos production to move through its proprietary aging process under precise conditions, reinforcing

consistency across every release. The same floor also features the executive offices and a showroom

displaying original designs by Nelson Alfonso, many of which have received international awards for

innovation and presentation.

The fifth floor offers a private smoking lounge and outdoor terrace, providing a setting designed for reflection

and conversation. Sophisticated ventilation allows guests to enjoy their perfectly aged cigars that they can

select from the two-story humidor. Along with the 18 reclining leather seats and wood paneled walls, branded

lounges will have their own private lockers for their guests traveling the historic avenues of Madrid.

At the rear of the building, the focus shifts to raw tobacco transformation. Guests can view the fermentation

process in large, purpose-built rooms, alongside dedicated aging spaces filled with French Oak wine barrels

used to rest wrapper and filler leaves. These areas highlight the early stages of development that shape each

cigar long before it reaches the rolling table.The facility also includes a hydroponic grow room, where tobacco plants are cultivated and hybrid seeds are

germinated for future crops. This controlled environment supports experimentation and long-term

agricultural planning, reinforcing Selected Tobaccos commitment to continuity from seed to finished cigar.

From here, guests return by elevator to the ground level, where the journey concludes at the starting point of

every cigar. Receiving and sorting take place here, where tobacco enters the facility and begins its progression

through fermentation, aging, and production.

“This factory is not about size or scale,” said Nelson Alfonso, Founder of Selected Tobacco. “It is about

responsibility. Responsibility to history, to the people who work here, and to the cigars we release into the

world. Spain gave tobacco a place centuries ago. Now we give it time again.”

The Madrid facility represents a defining step forward for Selected Tobacco, bringing production, aging,

design, and hospitality under one roof while reaffirming Alfonsos commitment to structure, patience, and

long-term vision.

About United Cigars

Since 1901, United Cigars has led the premium cigar industry in the United States. Distribution agreements

include Selected Tobacco (Atabey, Byron, Alfonso & Bandolero), Jose Dominguez cigars, and Arnold Andre.

Proprietary brands include Firecracker, Red Anchor, La Gianna Havana, Gold Star, and the flagship brand

United. The United Cigar Series Unidas, a collaboration with world-class manufacturers, offers premium

retailers limited-edition productions.

Buy United, Smoke United, Live United! United We Smoke!