In this era when smoking a cigar around anyone within 10 square miles is looked on as a war crime, it seems wonderfully fitting for Graycliff Cigars to come out of what once was a pirates fortress in the Bahamas.
Featured prominently on the premises of the world famous Graycliff Hotel in the Bahamas, Graycliff Cigars are hand rolled by veteran Cuban tobacco smiths. A legendary brand amidst the smaller and elite cigar makers, Graycliffs are recognized by everyone from kings and presidents to celebrities and experts as a highly sought after smoke.
Graycliff Cigars originate inside the expansive grounds of the hotel bearing the same name in Nassau. Before transforming into a classic luxury venue in the Bahamas, the grounds were a fort built in 1740 by dread pirate John Howard Graysmith. He terrified the seaways of the Caribbean, flying the Jolly Roger aboard his Graywolf raiding vessel.
Also: Nat Sherman Cigars Lights Up New York at Knickerbocker Hotel
Jump ahead to the 21st Century and every man looking for the quiet civility of smoking a cigar is treated like a pirate — a politically incorrect committer of countless micro-aggressions. That’s a status to be envied in the world of the bloodless, and a tour through Graycliff’s grounds will warm the heart of any cigar smoker.
A special media tour of Graycliff Cigars revealed every stage of a smoke’s creation except the growing of the leaf tobacco. Graycliff picks their choice leaves from Honduras and the Dominican Republic – leaving them in the hands of rollers raised and entirely trained in Cuba.
You may not be able to get to Nassau today to explore Graycliff Cigar’s grounds, but the gallery below will unveil some of the sights. Light up a good smoke of your own and peruse.
Photos by John Scott Lewinski
Graycliff Cigars: Nassau, Bahamas
Graycliff Cigars from Nassau in the beautiful Bahamas are an essential experience for everyone from presidents to true connoisseurs.
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Graycliff Cigars: Nassau, Bahamas
The Graycliff Cigars crew of veteran rollers comes direct from Cuba.
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Graycliff Cigars: Nassau, Bahamas
Each member of the Graycliffe cigar rolling crew can handle a different stage of production, from cutting and rolling to binding and labelling.
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Graycliff Cigars: Nassau, Bahamas
Graycliff uses a selection of bands and labels to distinguished their variations of cigar sizes and tobacco ages.
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Graycliff Cigars: Nassau, Bahamas
Once rolled by hand, cigars are boxed to await aging in the humidor room.
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Graycliff Cigars: Nassau, Bahamas
The humidor room uses a state of the art humidifier to maintain precise conditions.
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Graycliff Cigars: Nassau, Bahamas
Depending on the variety, Graycliff Cigars can age for months or years.
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Graycliff Cigars: Nassau, Bahamas
Once rolled and aged, Graycliff Cigars are ready for labeling and sale.
