UK Cigar Scene Magazine May Issue 5 | Page 34

George Sosa Last autumn when George Sosa came through London as part of his annual European tour I sat down with him and talked about Alec Bradley to understand how this American cigar company was planning to make its way in the UK. Over a coffee and an Alec Bradley Prensado Robusto, George explained that the company had been founded by Alan Rubin in 1996. Alan had always been a cigar lover and when he sold his family’s hardware business he decided on a completely new direction. He followed a dream and founded his cigar company named for his two sons Alec and Bradley. Alan started selling cigars made by the famous Henke Kelner and very soon brought Ralph Montero into his business. Ralph has tobacco in his blood going back many generations. George describes it as a great meeting of business and cigar knowledge. 33 George joined the company 7 years ago to head up sales at a time when the company only had a full time staff of just 4 people. Then they started their own production and it was The Maxx that really put them on the map in the US. Then in 2007 the momentum started to grow. The company launched the Tempus, a cigar developed with huge input from the management team right down to the fermentation and blending. The cigar received a 94 point review from Cigar Aficionado and people really started to take notice. 2 years ago Alec Bradley took CA Cigar of the Year with the Prensado Churchill with a 96 rating and Alec Bradley had arrived. George has been slowly and carefully building European distribution and awareness, finding the right partners to work with. He knows that the company needs controlled growth and he knows it’s critical to work with people who know which cigars work in which market.