The image you see in a cigar lounge is of comfort, relaxation and luxury. Big leather sofas and chairs, cocktails being enjoyed … they call it the “good life” for a reason. So, how does a cigar come to sit in a cigar lounge in Montreal, New York or London? There are many places where the process starts, and I’ve seen a few. One of my particular favorites is the My Father Cigars factory in Esteli, Nicaragua.

You can’t just show up and get a tour of a cigar factory, but the industry is quite hospitable. If you call ahead, you might just be able to score a tour! And, even if you don’t smoke cigars, the process by which they are made is quite interesting. You won’t see anything like this at home.

1. Get ready for a ride: Your trip may start with cheap tickets to Managua, Nicaragua, but you’ll still have some traveling in front of you when you land. It’s about two hours to Esteli, where some of the most famous cigar factories in the country are located. How can you pass the time? Do what I did: clip the tip and light up!

2. Prepare for amazement: What you see will truly blow your mind. I can still see the rows and rows of rolling tables at the My Father Cigars factory in Esteli, not to mention the wood shop where Don Pepin Garcia’s boxes are made – it’s actually on the premises! Take plenty of pictures, and be sure to note the spotless floors: they are cleaner than most plates I’ve eaten from.

3. Watch the craftsmanship: This is not a mass-manufacturing experience – making a cigar is nothing like a car. You’ll see local folks practicing a craft that dates back centuries, as they choose the leaves, push them together and roll the finished product. Spend some time looking at the rollers’ fingers: what they do is both fast and exact, leaving little room for error. As you watch a cigar come together, you are seeing tradition in action.

4. Sample the goods: I gained a new appreciation for the product after seeing how they are made. There’s nothing quite like that opening puff when you’re right in the middle of cigar country, actually becoming a part of the process. Shrouded in living history, everything tastes better.

5. Get your hands dirty: See if you can get your hosts to let you try your hand at rolling! Needless to say, it’s much harder than it looks (and it doesn’t look easy). See for yourself below.

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thumbnail photo credit: virtualphotographystudio