In 1996, Alan Rubin used part of his proceeds from the sale of the family hardware business to launch a new cigar company – Alec Bradley named after Rubin’s two sons, Alec and Bradley. After failed initial schemes at producing cigars targeted at golf courses and flavoured after-dinner cigars, Rubin managed to carve out a tenuous niche selling budget-priced cigars to tobacconists. Many new innovative cigars were launched over the next 11 years until Alec Bradley achieved its major breakthrough with the introduction of a new full-bodied line called “Tempus” which was rated 94/100 by Cigar Aficionado magazine.

Global success was achieved after the Alec Bradley Prensado Churchill was rated No. 1 Cigar of the Year 2011 by Cigar Aficionado magazine, followed by the company being awarded Best Brand and Best Cigar Honduras by Cigar Journal in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Alec Bradley cigars are now available in more than 40 countries worldwide.