Alec & Bradley Gatekeeper Corona

The Alec & Bradley Gatekeeper leaves nothing to chance. It all starts with a striking appearance. Its slightly ribbed Ecuadorian wrapper, encircled by a beautiful band, gives it a somewhat austere look reminiscent of Da Vinci’s statues.

Its design was entrusted to Ernesto Perez-Carrillo, whose reputation is well established. A testament to quality and attention to detail, its construction is flawless.

Tasting notes

The Nicaraguan tobaccos used for the filler already offer subtle hints of black pepper and cedar when unlit. Once lit, the woody notes quickly intensify and dominate the first third of the smoking experience.

In the middle third, the flavour becomes a little richer. A delicate blend of caramel and spices comes together, lending a creamy touch to the taste.

The perfect balance of spice, sweetness and woodiness lingers right through to the final third. This section also gains in intensity, taking us from a lighter body to a good ‘medium-plus’ towards the end of the tasting. The whole remains perfectly balanced and flavourful.

As for the smoke, it is fairly subtle and light. However, it leaves a pleasant aftertaste in the mouth. The draw is flawless throughout the entire length of the cigar and, even in cold weather, no relighting is required.

Pairing

As the first cigar of the day, it pairs perfectly with a black tea, which adds a hint of vanilla to complement the cigar’s creamy flavour.

If you decide to have a smoke later in the day, a glass of aged cognac will go down a treat.

A story about cigars

The design of the Gatekeeper ring, featuring a portrait inspired by classical art, reflects this idea of passing through a symbolic gateway to a new level of creativity and excellence.