Five years ago, Nelson Alfonso pictured a new home for Selected Tobacco. Earlier this month, he got to show it off. According to a press release from United Cigars, Selected Tobacco’s U.S. distribution partner, guests from across the premium cigar industry gathered in Madrid on October 10 and 11, 2026, to celebrate the grand opening of the company’s new five-story facility.
If you’ve smoked an Atabey, a Byron or a Bandolero, this is where a lot of the magic is going to happen. Here’s what went down over the weekend.
The quick hits
- What: Grand opening of Selected Tobacco’s new facility
- Where: Madrid, Spain
- When: October 10–11, 2026
- Size: Five stories and 3,000 square meters
- Inside: Tobacco processing, a germination laboratory, production areas, design studios and a 24-room aging complex
- Brands: Atabey, Byron, Alfonso, Bandolero and Nelson
Day one: the grand tour
The celebration kicked off on October 10 with an exclusive tour of the 3,000-square-meter building. According to the release, guests walked through the whole operation: tobacco processing, the germination laboratory, production areas, design studios and the 24-room aging complex.
The big idea, per United Cigars, is putting production, aging and hospitality together under one roof. The release frames it as Alfonso’s push to redefine “what is possible in the premium cigar industry.”
That aging piece is the heart of the Selected Tobacco story. The release describes the company as a premium cigar house known for its distinctive portfolio, close attention to luxury, and a commitment to post-roll aging, with “a philosophy that places patience at the center of its work.” Anyone who’s read our coverage of the Atabey Ritos gift set and its five-year-aged cigars knows patience is the whole point with this house.
Day two: gala night in Madrid
On October 11, the celebration moved to a gala evening honoring the achievement and the people who have helped shape the industry. The release says live music, led by a standout vocalist, set the tone. An intimate flamenco performance gave the night a distinctly Spanish touch and a nod to the country’s cultural heritage.
The awards
One highlight of the night was an awards ceremony recognizing four recipients for their contributions to the premium cigar community. According to the release, the honorees were:
- The Byron Cigar Lounge, Illinois
- Corona Cigar Co., Florida
- Two Guys Cigars, New Hampshire
- Halfwheel (Rueda Media), Texas
The release says the awards recognized the important role retailers and media play in defining the premium cigar industry. We’ll tip our caps to all four, including our fellow cigar media folks at halfwheel.
“Something that will last beyond me”
For Alfonso and his family, the opening meant far more than finishing a building. The release calls it the realization of five years of dedication.
“This is something we envisioned five years ago, and seeing it become a reality is incredibly meaningful,” said Nelson Alfonso, founder of Selected Tobacco. “This facility represents our commitment to the future of premium cigars. It is a place where we can continue to learn, improve, and build something that will last beyond me.”
United Cigars closed the release by calling the grand opening “not the conclusion of a journey, but the beginning of a lasting legacy.”
Who’s who: Selected Tobacco and United Cigars
Selected Tobacco was founded by Nelson Alfonso. Its brands include Atabey, Byron, Alfonso, Bandolero and Nelson. We’ve covered a few of them over the years, from the Byron 175th Anniversary humidor set to our Bandolero Premium Bravos review and the Atabey Black Ritos.
United Cigars distributes and manufactures premium cigars in the United States, and it handles distribution for Selected Tobacco’s Atabey, Byron, Alfonso and Bandolero. Its own brands include Firecracker, Red Anchor, Gold Star and its flagship, United, plus the United Cigar Series Unidas, a line of limited releases made with outside manufacturers for premium retailers. The release also includes a fun bit of history: the United Cigar name goes back to a U.S. cigar store chain founded in 1901 that grew to nearly 3,000 shops.
The Cigar Guys’ take
Plenty of brands talk about aging. Selected Tobacco built a five-story building around it. A 24-room aging complex is a serious commitment to the “patience” philosophy this house is known for, and it’s cool to see it happen in Spain, a country with deep cigar roots.
The release calls Madrid “a new chapter for Selected Tobacco.” If that chapter ever includes more open-house tours, we know a few podcast hosts who’d happily volunteer.
Sources: Selected Tobacco grand opening press release from United Cigars, dated October 28, 2026, received by The Cigar Guys on October 28, 2026. Photos courtesy of United Cigars.
