In an exciting start to 2024, Alec Bradley in collaboration with Starlight Distillery, announces their latest endeavor in the “Uncut Series”. This unique pairing brings together the renowned Alec Bradley Gatekeeper cigar with the Starlight Single Barrel Bourbon, aged in Vino de Naranja casks. This marks the third release in STG's acclaimed Uncut Series, blending traditional craftsmanship with innovative flavor profiles.
The collaboration is the brainchild of Christian Huber, Starlight Distillery's seventh-generation master distiller, and Alec and Bradley Rubin of Alec Bradley. They embarked on a journey to find the perfect cask-strength bourbon, exploring the nuances of different barrels. The selection process was a quest for the perfect blend of flavors, eventually settling on a barrel that offered a subtle essence of orange, acquired from the Starlight bourbon's aging in Vino de Naranja casks.
It would be an understatement to say that a lot of effort went into the selection process for this collaboration. Some might say it bordered on obsession. And while we didn't set out with a Vino de Naranja-finished bourbon in mind, once we landed there, we were fixated on finding the precise barrel to pair with Gatekeeper. This is a private barrel bottling that will never be replicated. It represents Starlight's whiskey-making expertise and our fascination with cigar pairing. It's a real pleasure to partner with Starlight Distillery again, to release this one-of-a-kind bourbon and cigar experience.”
Alec Rubin, Alec Bradley's brand manager of strategic partnerships
For us, the enjoyment of cigars, like whiskey, has always represented one of life's true pleasures. Yet for as much as we have enjoyed cigars over the years, our appreciation for fine, handcrafted cigars increases every time we're in the company of Alec and Bradley Rubin. That's what this pairing represents to us at Starlight Distillery. It is about deepening the enjoyment of one passion by layering in another finely-crafted indulgence. To us, it doesn't get much better than that.
Christian Huber
The Starlight Single Barrel Bourbon Finished in Vino de Naranja Casks offers a complex, 112.1 proof spirit, aged five and a half years. Its rich flavor profile featuring orange zest, warm cinnamon buns, and milk chocolate complements the Gatekeeper cigar's leather, oak, and dried dates notes, crafted from Ecuadoran Habano wrapper and Nicaraguan and Dominican fillers.
This exclusive release is limited to 132 pairing packages, each comprising four Alec Bradley Gatekeeper Corona cigars and a 750 mL bottle of the bourbon. Priced at $99.99, the pairing is available for purchase via a designated website.
We suggest extending your new year celebration with Starlight Single Barrel Bourbon Finished in Vino de Naranja Casks and Alec Bradley Gatekeeper. What better way to set the stage for a great year to come than with a cigar and bourbon pairing that's one for the ages.
Alec Rubin
This collaboration between Alec Bradley and Starlight Distillery not only honors the art of whiskey and cigar making but also offers a unique experience that stands as a testament to the intricate art of pairing.