Secrets, Cigars, and 300-Year-Old Wine: Why Graycliff Anchors the Corey Pearson–CIA Spymaster Series

 

The Graycliff- Luxury, Intrigue, Wine, Cigars, Caribbean Espionage

Where Spies Sip Vintage Wine: Inside Nassau’s Legendary Graycliff Hotel

Secrets, Cigars, and 300-Year-Old Wine: Why Graycliff Anchors the Corey Pearson–CIA Spymaster Series

Behind the Stone Walls of Graycliff: Luxury, Intrigue, and a CIA Spymaster in the Caribbean 

     If you’ve ever walked through the carved wooden gates of the Graycliff Hotel in Nassau, you know it’s not just a hotel. It’s a mood.

     Tucked behind thick stone walls in the heart of old Nassau, Graycliff feels like a secret the island has been keeping for centuries. Pirates once passed through. British nobility slept under its roof. Today, it’s where power brokers sip rare wine under chandeliers and where, in my Corey Pearson–CIA Spymaster Series intelligence deals quietly unfold over candlelight and crystal.

     If your idea of a good evening includes vintage Bordeaux, a hand-rolled cigar, and a meal that doesn’t rush you out the door, Graycliff is your place.

Corey Pearson certainly thinks so.

     In the Corey Pearson–CIA Spymaster Series, Graycliff isn’t just background scenery. It’s neutral ground. Corey meets sources here, trades coded remarks over dinner, and occasionally enjoys the perks that come with government expense accounts. He may prefer a cold Kalik or a Bahama Mama on the beach, but when business calls for something serious, he goes downstairs to one of the most impressive wine cellars on the planet.

     Graycliff’s wine cellar holds more than 275,000 bottles, making it the largest private collection in the Caribbean and one of the largest in the world. Walking through those underground chambers feels like stepping into a time capsule. Bottles dating back centuries line the walls. In one scene, Corey eyes a legendary 1727 Rüdesheimer Apostelwein from Germany. Don’t worry, he doesn’t actually pull the cork on that one. Even CIA budgets have limits. He settles for something far less historic… a modest $400 bottle.

     Not bad for a night’s work.

     And then there’s the food.

     Graycliff has long been known for fine dining, but it also leans into bold flavors. Its Brazilian-style churrascaria concept brings the spirit of southern Brazil straight to the Bahamas. Skewers of grilled meats carved tableside. Perfectly seasoned beef, lamb, pork, and chicken served in steady rotation. A buffet spread that ranges from crisp salads to rich, savory island-inspired dishes. You don’t just eat here. You pace yourself.

     That slow, indulgent rhythm is exactly why Corey uses it. No one rushes a meal at Graycliff. Conversations stretch. Deals unfold. Classified intel get exchanged between courses.

     And then there are the cigars.

     Graycliff is home to one of the Caribbean’s most respected cigar operations, with its own factory on property. The Graycliff Cigar Company produces premium hand-rolled cigars that have become legendary among aficionados. The hotel’s walk-in humidor is an experience in itself. Even if you don’t smoke, it’s worth stepping inside just to take in the scent of aged tobacco and polished cedar.

     In recent years, Graycliff has continued to polish its reputation as one of the Caribbean’s grand dames. It remains family-owned, carefully restored, and consistently recognized for its wine program and culinary excellence. While Nassau has grown with new mega-resorts and cruise traffic, Graycliff stays deliberately intimate. Fifty-six rooms. Lush gardens. Quiet courtyards. It feels exclusive without being stiff.

     That contrast is exactly what makes it perfect for a spy series.

Sunlight outside. Secrets inside.

     The Corey Pearson–CIA Spymaster Series moves through lush tropical settings across the Caribbean, but Graycliff stands out. It offers history, elegance, indulgence, and just enough shadowy corners to make you wonder who’s watching from the next table.

     So if you’re drawn to places where luxury meets intrigue, where a 300-year-old wine might sit a few feet from a whispered intelligence exchange, you’ll feel right at home.

     Pour a glass. Light a cigar. Pull up a chair.

     Corey Pearson is already there.

 

Robert Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) and writes about the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC). He also writes the full-length Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster Series, which blends his knowledge of real-life intelligence operations with gripping fictional storytelling. His thrillers reveal the shadowy world of covert missions and betrayal with striking realism.