Alec Bradley – Project 40 Natural Gordo

🌍 Origin & Nicaraguan Craftsmanship

• Brand: Alec Bradley — a respected premium cigar name known for producing flavorful blends that balance craftsmanship, character and approachable pricing.
• Line: Project 40 Natural, created around the idea that personal choices and enjoyable experiences can contribute meaningfully to happiness.
• Origin: Nicaragua 🇳🇮, one of the world’s premier regions for rich, flavorful premium cigar tobacco.
• Factory: Produced at the J. Fuego Cigar Co. de Nicaragua factory in Estelí, a city internationally recognized for its cigar-making tradition and volcanic soils.
• Wrapper: Nicaraguan — offering natural spice, earthiness and tobacco sweetness.
• Binder: Brazilian Habano, providing additional richness and helping create the blend’s signature cocoa and molasses-like sweetness.
• Filler: Nicaraguan long-filler tobacco, responsible for much of the cigar’s earthy, nutty and spicy character.
• Construction: Handmade premium cigar, created to deliver dependable construction and significant flavor at an unusually approachable price point.
• The Project 40 Philosophy: Alec Bradley designed Project 40 around the concept that approximately 40% of personal happiness may be influenced by intentional choices and experiences — with the cigar intended to represent relaxation, enjoyment and shared moments.
  

👅 Taste & Flavor Profile

• Opening: Begins with an inviting combination of cedar, wood and gentle Nicaraguan spice.
• Developing Flavors: Gradually reveals richer notes of roasted nuts, cocoa and naturally sweet tobacco.
• Chocolate Character: Alec Bradley specifically highlights deep cocoa and molasses-like sweetness as characteristic of the Project 40 Natural blend.
• Nutty Character: Warm impressions of roasted almond and hazelnut contribute a smooth and savory layer to the smoke.
• Spice: Nicaraguan tobacco delivers gradually building pepper and baking spice without overwhelming the palate.
• Additional Nuance: Highly rated examples have displayed notes of cinnamon, cedar, vanilla and cappuccino.
• Sweet Undertones: Subtle touches of vanilla, cocoa and molasses-like sweetness soften the earthy Nicaraguan core.
• Finish: Depending on the cigar, the finish can reveal fruit, cedar, spice and lingering roasted tobacco.
• Overall Flavor Experience: A satisfying combination of wood, nuts, cocoa, spice, vanilla and natural tobacco sweetness that offers impressive complexity for its price category.
  

💨 Smoke Characteristics

• Strength: Generally Medium according to Alec Bradley, though Cigar Aficionado tastings of the Gordo have ranged from Mild-Medium to Medium-Full depending on production.
• Body: Medium-bodied, offering satisfying richness without becoming unnecessarily aggressive.
• Flavor Intensity: Medium to Medium-Full, with the large ring gauge allowing the Nicaraguan filler blend to produce generous flavor.
• Smoke Production: The substantial 60-ring gauge produces abundant, aromatic smoke and allows the cigar to remain cool when enjoyed at a relaxed pace.
• Draw: Cigar Aficionado has praised examples of the 06.60 for an easy, open draw.
• Burn: Reviewed examples have shown an even, dependable burn, especially impressive given the cigar’s large format.
• Smoking Time: Approximately 60–90 minutes, depending on smoking pace.
• Best Smoking Pace: Particularly enjoyable when smoked slowly, allowing the cocoa, nuts, sweetness and spice to develop without overheating the large ring gauge.
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📏 Format & Dimensions

• Official Size: 06.60
• Vitola: Gordo / Grande
• Length: 6 inches
• Ring Gauge: 60
• Diameter: Approximately 23.8 mm
• Packaging: Price per Cigar
• Country: Nicaragua
• Wrapper: Nicaraguan
• Binder: Brazilian Habano
• Filler: Nicaraguan
• Ring Gauge Advantage: The imposing 60-ring gauge creates generous smoke volume, cooler combustion and a fuller expression of the Nicaraguan filler tobaccos.
• Gordo Advantage: At 6 × 60, the Project 40 is an excellent choice for smokers who prefer a substantial cigar with a slower burn and extended smoking experience.
  

🏆 Cigar Aficionado Ratings & Recognition

• Cigar Insider Rating – Gordo 06.60: ⭐ 91 Points – September 2019
• Cigar Aficionado Rating – Gordo 06.60: ⭐ 88 Points – June 2023
• 91-Point Tasting Character: The highly rated Gordo displayed a harmonious combination of cinnamon, nuts and cedar with touches of vanilla and cappuccino before a fruity finish.
• 2023 Construction: Cigar Aficionado praised the 6×60 for an easy, open draw and even burn.
• Project 40 Line Recognition: The Project 40 Natural blend has received some outstanding scores across its different vitolas.
• Top 25 Recognition: 🏅 The Project 40 06.52 Toro earned 92 points and was ranked No. 24 in Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 Cigars of 2019.
• Highest Early Project 40 Score: ⭐ The 06.52 Toro also received an impressive 93 points from Cigar Insider, demonstrating the underlying blend’s quality potential.
• Exceptional Value Recognition: Cigar Aficionado specifically praised Project 40 for performing far above its price category, noting that the cigar delivered the quality of a considerably more expensive smoke.