What Alec Bradley Cigars does

Alec Bradley Cigars, operating under Forged Cigar Co., Inc. and headquartered under Virginia law, is a premium handcrafted cigar manufacturer founded in 1996 by Alan Rubin in Hollywood, Florida. The company designs and produces a portfolio of 25+ cigar lines ranging from core products (Prensado, Black Market, Project 40, Do Not Disturb, Magic Toast) to limited editions (annual Fine & Rare series, 30th Anniversary Thirty Years) and seasonal releases (Filthy Hooligan, Filthy Ghooligan). Cigars are rolled predominantly at the Raíces Cubanas factory in Danlí, Honduras, using traditional techniques including entubado rolling for Prensado Lost Art, triple cap finishing, and semi-pressing. Blending draws on multi-country tobacco sourcing spanning Honduras, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, USA, Indonesia, and Brazil.

The company generates revenue through one-time unit sales of premium cigars at price points from core SKUs to limited editions priced at $19.99 MSRP per cigar (Fine & Rare ANB-228, limited to 1,500 boxes). Distribution is exclusively through a global network of authorized cigar shops, tobacconists, and online retailers, augmented by a specialty partnership with Bourbon Outfitter for the Uncut Series (cigars paired with single-barrel bourbons and ryes). Direct-to-consumer e-commerce is not operated; the company drives purchase intent through email newsletters, Instagram engagement, sweepstakes campaigns, and content marketing on blend stories and tasting notes. The brand has accumulated multiple Cigar Aficionado accolades, including Prensado as #1 Cigar of the Year in both 2011 and 2023.

Since 2023, Alec Bradley has been a subsidiary of General Cigar Co., with founder Alan Rubin's sons Alec and Bradley Rubin remaining actively involved in guiding the brand. The company describes a base of 30,000+ dedicated fans and operates with 11-50 employees, serving premium cigar enthusiasts and bourbon/spirits enthusiasts as primary customer segments.

Name

Alec Bradley Cigars

Legal name

Forged Cigar Co., Inc.

Website

https://alecbradley.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Alec Bradley Cigars crafts and distributes a 25-plus line portfolio of premium hand-rolled cigars, including its award-winning Prensado and the annual Fine & Rare limited editions, serving premium cigar enthusiasts and bourbon/spirits pairing consumers globally through authorized tobacconists and online retailers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Cigars

NAICS

Tobacco Product and Electronic Cigarette Merchant Wholesalers (42494)

SIC

Tobacco Products (2100)

akta.pro primary industry

Cigars & Cigarillos Manufacturing & Brands (CRADAJAB)

Keywords

• Premium handcrafted cigars
• Cigar manufacturing
• Limited edition cigars
• Tobacco blending
• Cigar brand distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Hollywood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Premium Cigar Sales: Alec Bradley generates revenue through the sale of premium handcrafted cigars at various price points. Products range from limited edition releases (Fine & Rare series at $19.99 MSRP per cigar) to core portfolio cigars sold through authorized retailers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Alec Bradley Cigars crafts and distributes a portfolio of premium handcrafted cigars under the Forged Cigar Co. parent entity. Its catalog spans 25+ lines across core, experimental, limited-edition, and seasonal releases, blended with tobaccos from Honduras, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and other origins, and rolled primarily at the Raíces Cubanas factory in Danlí, Honduras. The company sells exclusively through authorized cigar shops, tobacconists, and online retailers worldwide.

Product overview

Alec Bradley Cigars is a premium cigar manufacturer founded in 1996 by Alan Rubin, now operated by Forged Cigar Co. Inc. The company produces a diverse portfolio of cigars including flagship lines (Project 40, Black Market, Prensado, Do Not Disturb, Magic Toast), limited edition series (Fine & Rare, Filthy Hooligan seasonal releases), the Experimental Series (MAXX, Kintsugi, Sanctum), and vault/past releases. Cigars are predominantly rolled at Raíces Cubanas factory in Honduras with tobaccos sourced from Honduras, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and other countries. The company celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2026 with the Thirty Years commemorative cigar.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Thirty Years 30th Anniversary commemorative cigar, medium-to-full bodied, featuring Honduran Trojes wrapper with Nicaraguan Jalapa and Honduran Jamastran binder, and Nicaraguan (Estelí & Jalapa) and Honduran (Jamastran & Trojes) fillers. Tasting notes include leather, toast, pepper, and cinnamon.
• Project 40 Medium-bodied cigar built around Nicaraguan wrapper, Brazilian Habano binder, and Nicaraguan filler. Rated 94 by Cigar Aficionado and Cigar of the Year 2022. Tasting notes include spice, chocolate, and nuts. Available in multiple sizes from 5x50 to 7x70.
• Black Market Full-flavored cigar featuring Sumatran binder with Panamanian and Honduran fillers. Originally inspired by a rare Panamanian tobacco shipment. #6 Cigar of 2022 by Cigar Aficionado (94 points). Tasting notes include spice, pepper, cocoa, earth, and herbal sweetness.
• Do Not Disturb Mellow to medium-bodied cigar with Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, Dominican Criollo binder, and Dominican Piloto and Mexican Ligero fillers. Tasting notes include earth, cedar, and herbal grass notes. Designed for uninterrupted relaxation moments.
• Magic Toast Honduran-wrapped cigar with Nicaraguan and Honduran binder and filler. Named after a discovery of remarkable tobacco crop under stars paired with rare whiskey. Tasting notes include sweetness, chocolate, and cedar.
• Prensado Tribute to Old-World cigar making traditions, rolled at Raíces Cubanas. Nicaraguan binder with Honduran and Nicaraguan fillers. Named #1 Cigar of the Year by Cigar Aficionado with 96 rating. #8 Cigar of 2023 (95 points). Tasting notes include leather, chocolate, and spice.
• Chunk Maduro Bold, stout-format cigar with Mexican wrapper, Honduran Jamastran binder, and Dominican Piloto and Nicaraguan Estelí fillers. Tasting notes include molasses, pepper, and nutty character. Available in XL, 3XL, and 4XL sizes.
• Safe Keepings Nicaraguan puro rediscovered in the founder's blend book. Rated cigar featuring pepper, spice, and cocoa tasting notes. Available in Corona and Robusto sizes.
• Post Embargo: Blend Code B15 Modern expression reflecting New World approach to cigar making. Honduras (5th Priming, Trojes) wrapper with Honduran binder. Tasting notes include earth, wood, and nuts.
• Black Market Estelí Bolder, more concentrated expression focusing on Estelí, Nicaragua's cigar capital. Rated 94 by Cigar Aficionado. Tasting notes include leather, pepper, and cocoa. Available in Torpedo size.
• Double Broadleaf Experimental Series cigar featuring proprietary Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper and binder grown in Honduras, with additional Nicaraguan binder. Full-bodied with tasting notes of cocoa, molasses, and black pepper. Available in Gran Corona size.
• Kintsugi Named after Japanese art of repairing pottery with gold. Honduran (Trojes) wrapper. Rated 94 by Cigar Aficionado. Tasting notes include cinnamon, espresso, and hazelnut.
• Gatekeeper Partnership with Ernesto Perez-Carrillo featuring Ecuadorian Habano wrapper with Nicaraguan and Dominican fillers. Rated 94 by Cigar Aficionado. Tasting notes include cedar, nuts, and leather.
• Chunk Shade Mellow, approachable version in Chunk series featuring Honduran Connecticut Seed wrapper, American Broadleaf binder, and Dominican, Honduran, and Nicaraguan fillers. Tasting notes include toast and hay.
• Project 40 Maduro Darker chapter of the Experimental Series featuring San Andrés wrapper. Tasting notes include coffee, cocoa, and earth. Pairs well with stout, rye, and single malt scotch.
• Prensado Lost Art Tribute to traditional craftsmanship using entubado rolling method, semi-pressed with triple cap. Available in Gran Toro and Double T sizes with espresso, leather, and pepper tasting notes.
• MAXX Large-format cigar line featuring Costa Rican binder with Colombian, Nicaraguan, Mexican, and Honduran fillers from five countries. Available in Nano, Fixx, Culture, Freak, and Super Freak sizes with toasty, earthy, and sweet tasting notes.
• American Classic Inspired by era of simple, balanced, dependable cigars. Features Honduran Connecticut-seed wrapper with all-Nicaraguan core. Tasting notes include sweet, nut, and coffee with approachable character.
• American Sun Grown 100% sun-grown Nicaraguan tobacco blend for everyday smokers seeking bolder profile. Rated 91 by Cigar Aficionado. Tasting notes include sweet, nut, and coffee.
• Connecticut Honors original 1990s Connecticut Shade blend with Connecticut wrapper and Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos. Mellow to medium-bodied with cedar, nut, and toasty tasting notes.
• Lineage Reflects brand's past while looking to future with proprietary Trojes tobaccos. Medium-bodied, rolled at Raíces Cubanas factory in Danlí, Honduras. Tasting notes include earth, cedar, and citrus.
• Medalist Designed as crowd-pleaser with smooth, balanced, approachable profile. Known as the 'People's Champ' with gold medals featured on band and box. Tasting notes include cedar and cream.
• Texas Lancero Massive 7x70 lancero with pigtail cap combining large-format presence with refined craftsmanship. Indonesian binder with Nicaraguan, Honduran, and Costa Rican fillers. Tasting notes include citrus, leather, and nuts.
• Occidental Reserve Alec Bradley's longest tenured brand, reimagined in 2023. Mellow-bodied with Honduran Connecticut wrapper and Dominican, Colombian, Nicaraguan, and Honduran fillers. Tasting notes include nut, cream, and pepper.
• Filthy Hooligan Annual spring release with bright green Candela wrapper in barber-pole presentation. Features Candela and Nicaraguan Oscuro wrapper, Sumatra binder, and Honduran and Panamanian fillers. Tasting notes include spices, coffee, and pepper.
• Filthy Hooligan Shamrock Most refined Hooligan expression with rare triple barber pole construction featuring Honduran Candela, Nicaraguan Oscuro, and Nicaraguan Habano wrappers. Limited spring release with cinnamon, nutty, and peppery tasting notes.
• Filthy Ghooligan Halloween-season release with darker, spicier profile than Filthy Hooligan. US Broadleaf and Ecuadorian Habano barber-pole wrapper with Indonesian Besuki binder. Tasting notes include cocoa, pepper, and earth.
• Kintsugi Wabi Sabi Second chapter in Kintsugi story, inspired by Japanese philosophy of beauty in imperfection. Crafted in Estelí by AJ Fernandez with Mexican San Andrean binder. Tasting notes include woody, peppery, cream, and cinnamon.
• Coyol Named for La Vega Coyol farm in Honduras featuring rich aromatic tobaccos. Tasting notes include earth, leather, and spice with Honduran and Nicaraguan fillers.
• Tempus Nicaragua All-Nicaraguan blend showcasing heartiest Nicaraguan tobaccos. Rated 90 by Cigar Aficionado. Tasting notes include earth, spice, and pepper with patient, memorable experience focus.
• ABCO Miami Long-filler everyday smoking cigar paying tribute to Miami's cigar culture heritage. Tasting notes include cream, cedar, and nuts with elegant, approachable character.
• Nica Puro Alec Bradley's first true Nicaraguan puro showcasing depth, balance, and versatility of Nicaraguan tobacco. Available in seven sizes including Bajito, Robusto, Toro, Diamond, Torpedo, Gordo, and Churchill. Tasting notes include leather, cocoa, and nutmeg.
• Mundial Six-year pursuit to reflect full breadth of Alec Bradley's blending experience. First cigar sent to edge of space aboard high-altitude weather balloon. Tasting notes include spice, leather, and mineral with five available sizes.
• Post Embargo Statement cigar showing excellence isn't defined by geography. Rolled at Raíces Cubanas in Honduras. Rated 94 by Cigar Aficionado. Tasting notes include earth, spice, and cocoa with four sizes available.
• It's a Boy / Girl Cigars created to celebrate birth of new addition. Nicaraguan and Honduran fillers with approachable, celebratory tasting notes of cream, cedar, and nut.
• Black Market Estelí Diamond Technical limited format featuring distinctive diamond press with additional Nicaraguan ligero to support shape. Limited production with cocoa, cream, and spice tasting notes.
• Blind Faith Blend built around Nicaraguan fillers from Estelí supported by Honduran leaves. Rated 90 by Cigar Aficionado. Tasting notes include cocoa, earth, and pepper with full-bodied profile.
• Sanctum Four-country blend featuring Honduras, Nicaragua, Colombia, and Costa Rica tobaccos. #15 Cigar of 2015 by Cigar Aficionado (94 points). Tasting notes include spice, nuts, and sweet with layered, aromatic, balanced profile.
• Fine & Rare Series Annual limited edition premium cigar series featuring ten unique tobaccos combined for a remarkable smoking experience. The series includes Fine & Rare ANB-228 (2025), A(11)-FYT (2024), BCN-143 (2023), BC-(13)4EV (2021), HOF/506 (2019), JRS 10=(86) (2018/2015), BR12-13 (2017), HJ10-I (2016), and TA-25A (2014).
• Uncut Series Hand-selected Alec Bradley cigars paired with high-end, single barrel Bourbons and Ryes. Available through Bourbon Outfitter specialty retailer.

Quantifiable outcome

• Prensado named Cigar Aficionado's #1 Cigar of 2023 with 96 rating
• +3 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Raíces CubanascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRaíces Cubanas is the factory in Danlí, Honduras where Alec Bradley cigars are manufactured. This is a longstanding manufacturing partnership central to the brand's production.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Drew Estate: Maker of Liga Privada and ACID, premium and flavored cigars targeting younger enthusiasts. Now owned by Swisher International, comparable to Alec Bradley in chasing the next-generation premium cigar smoker.
• Padrón Cigars: Family-owned Nicaraguan premium cigar maker and one of Alec Bradley's chief rivals for Cigar Aficionado's Cigar of the Year awards. Both compete in the boutique-to-mid-premium segment with multi-country blends and direct relationships with authorized tobacconists.
• Ashton Cigars: Premium cigar brand with family ownership, long-running dealer relationships, and a curated portfolio. Comparable in targeting the premium enthusiast and limited-edition collector segments.
• My Father Cigars: Family-owned Nicaraguan premium cigar brand (Pepin Garcia) with multiple Cigar of the Year honors. Closest analog to Alec Bradley on craft credibility, limited production runs, and tobacconist-channel distribution.
• Davidoff of Geneva (Oettinger Davidoff): Swiss-owned ultra-premium cigar maker competing for the high end of the same customer base Alec Bradley targets (Fine & Rare, Tempus, Mundial). Premium positioning and gifting/collector overlap are direct comparisons.
• Perdomo Cigars: Nicaraguan family-owned premium cigar brand with broad portfolio across wrapper styles. Comparable to Alec Bradley in scale, multi-country blending, and tobacconist-led go-to-market.
• Arturo Fuente: Heritage family-owned premium Dominican cigar manufacturer with extensive portfolio of award-winning lines (OpusX, Hemingway). Comparable to Alec Bradley in premium positioning, multi-country blending, and tobacconist-led distribution.
• Rocky Patel Premium Cigars: Premium cigar brand with broad portfolio across price points, distributed through tobacconists. Comparable to Alec Bradley in depth of line-up, ownership-led vision, and pursuit of Cigar Aficionado recognition.

Broad incumbents

• CAO Cigars: Also part of the General Cigar / Scandinavian Tobacco Group family. Wide-portfolio premium-and-mid-tier brand that overlaps with Alec Bradley on flavored and large-format SKUs via shared parent distribution.
• Macanudo (General Cigar Co.): Sister brand under the same parent (General Cigar Co. / Scandinavian Tobacco Group). A long-standing premium cigar umbrella brand, illustrating the channel access and parent-portfolio leverage that Alec Bradley now benefits from post-acquisition.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/alecbradley
• Facebookfacebook.com/alecbradleycigar
• Instagraminstagram.com/alecbradleycigar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alecbradleycigars

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Alec Bradley Cigars