While I was at IPCPR in July this cigar was one of the most talked about smokes of the show. However, every time I went by the booth there were none to be found. I wasn't even sure that they existed to be honest, since I did not see a single one anywhere during the time I was in Vegas. Wild speculation ensued as to the whereabouts of this particular cigar; conspiracy theories were hatched, foil hats were worn, hearings were held...Of course all of this took place while I was alone in my suite, but it happened, I swear it did...
It was with great interest that I read an e-mail last week from my local B&M that these elusive cigars had finally landed, as if maybe they had been on some journey to outer space (Google this tidbit, you might be entertained). I didn't rush right in to get one, I do work for a living after all, but I did put it on my to smoke list with as asterisk for immediate attention. The minute I got the chance I headed on over there and sat down to see what all the talk was about in July.
The cigar presents well with intricate and entertaining band work. The perfecto is nicely constructed with a very tapered foot, somewhat akin to the Fuente Hemingway series. The wrapper leaf is a wonderful medium brown and it is applied expertly, even the seams are hard to discern. Alec Bradley has really come a long way in a short period of time. My examination does not reveal any areas of concern and the only real issue I can see off the bat is the tapered foot, which often makes the draw tight and lends to early heat in a smoke. The pre light draw is fluid and smooth and smacks of wheat and pepper. The pre light aroma shows a nice mix of earth and wood with a light spice.
The smoke opens with a profile that is somewhat unexpected for me. The core flavors are showing tons of wood and earth notes that are developed, but could use a complementary feature to make it more complex and balanced early on. The back of the palate and through the nose show some nice spice and slight touches of pepper that are interesting, However, I am again left feeling like something more needs to be present here. The draw is very strong and my concerns about the tapered foot are soon allayed. The burn is also on the money early on.
The first half of the smoke develops very nicely. The core profile has a solid woody base that allows for flavors of earth and cinnamon and light pepper to dance across the top of the palate, my only complaint is that there additional flavors are wispy and leave the palate wanting more in a desperate way. The back of the palate really kicks up the spice quotient and I am picking out some clove like flavors with some tones of ginger that has a sharp quality to it, there is also a more satisfying burst of pepper here that adds to the experience nicely. The draw has really opened up and is delivering perfect amounts of smoke with each easy draw. The burn gets a little wonky, but evens out without any effort from me.
The final half of the cigar is also very strong. The core profile really settles into a nice array of earth and wood, again some complementary flavors would be favorable here, but I am nit picky about this kind of stuff. At the back of the palate the cigar really starts to deliver peppery blasts that are full and prevalent, there are still some nice spice notes here and there, but I would like more of it to be present. The draw and burn are solid to the end.
The finish is long and full of pepper notes that linger.
A nice cigar but, watch the price tag as these sneak into the Super Premium range in the larger sizes.
Appearance- 94 a very nice looking smoke that has elegance
Taste- 88 all in all not bad, but it could have been so much more
Construction- 91 some burn issues in the middle, but nicely made
Strength- 87 a nice medium/full
Overall- 89.75 a nice above average smoke and another solid offering from Alec Bradley
Showing posts with label Alec Bradley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alec Bradley. Show all posts
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Monday, August 6, 2012
Alec Bradley Empire State (6x54)
Alec Bradley cigars have always been hit or miss for me. I have loved the Prensado and Tempus, been indifferent about the Black Market and Maxx, and really did not like the American Classic. This cigar was released back in 2010 for the New York market only. In Florida, where I live, it was a cigar Unicorn if you will, a myth. Imagine my surprise when I finally found some in a little old Sarasota brick and mortar. I stole some quick glances out the front door to make sure I did not somehow end up on Long Island, I saw palm trees so I figured I was still in Florida. I considered asking the woman behind the counter, but they already believe I am pretty strange so I just checked the GPS on my Iphone. It confirmed that I was still in the Sunshine State, relieved I made the selection and made my way home. As most of you know, I have a cigar radio show every Saturday (shameless plug coming! On WTMY 1280 AM in Sarasota and surrounding areas, or you can stream us live at WTMY.com), so I decided to put this cigar down and share it with my esteemed co-host as a featured cigar on the show. This past weekend we did get a chance to sit down and give it a smoke, what follow is only my impression of the cigar, my co-host does not write a blog so you will just have to ask him what he thought.
The cigar is nice looking. The wrapper is bold, it has a deep and rich brown coloration that evokes a vision of a roasted chestnut. There are very few veins and the wrapper appears to contain some very nice oils. The construction appears to be bulky, I don't care for big ring smokes, but it is well put together and I can't find any areas that concern me right off the bat. The pre light aroma is surprisingly light, there are some hints of light wood and some light earth, but the aroma is not nearly as robust as the visual would indicate. The pre light draw is odd, showing some sharp wood flavors that border on bitter.
The cigar opens with a profile that I can only describe as a wrongful assault on my palate. The flavor is all wet wood, my co-host describes it as the type of wet wood that is at the bottom of the wood pile after a long winter of snow and rain and spring melt, and I can't find a way to disagree with him here, anyone that has ever lived up north knows this wet wood type because we have seen it for winters on end. Perhaps this attribute helped in the New York area, winters are bad there and maybe they like this kind of wood. I found it to be bitter and foul. The back of the palate is being cascaded with putrid flavors as well, it's almost as if the cigar is over humidified, but I conducted a survey when I pulled them out of the humi and they most certainly were not. There is a horrific aftertaste forming as well, it almost makes the throat sore. On balance this is one of the worst starts to a cigar I have had in a long time. Sadly, this cigar draws like a dream for me, just perfect amounts of resistance and delivery of smoke. The burn is also very solid at this point.
The first half of the cigar continues to show serious deficiencies. The core profile is still smacking of wet wood and the bitterness is almost overwhelming. I am actually pretty stunned, previous Alec Bradley cigars that I did not enjoy were at least ok, this one is horrendous to this point. The back of the palate is not gaining any positive marks either as the bitterness coming from the main profile cloaks whatever might be there. I will point out that at the halfway point I am starting to sense that some good changes are afoot, but I also nearly chucked this beast before I got there which shows just how bad the first half was. The draw is still very good and the burn is still moving right along.
The final half of the cigar finally starts to show some cigar like qualities. The profile balances out and starts to show some nice wood flavors and there is some muted spice that has a cinnamon like tone to it This development is nice and saves the cigar from getting the old el chucko, but it will not be enough to redeem the cigar overall. At the back of the palate there is a nice earthy tone, but it is not deep enough to be particularly noteworthy. The draw is still very nice, and the burn stays solid right through to the end.
The finish was a bit short and I still had some serious aftertaste problems upon completion, my mouth was left dry and the flavor was bitter.
Appearance- 89 a very nice looking smoke
Taste- 78 I just can't go any higher here
Construction- 93 a very nicely done cigar performance wise
Strength- 85 a very mundane medium
Overall- 86, saved by a very impressive performance from a burn and draw perspective
The cigar is nice looking. The wrapper is bold, it has a deep and rich brown coloration that evokes a vision of a roasted chestnut. There are very few veins and the wrapper appears to contain some very nice oils. The construction appears to be bulky, I don't care for big ring smokes, but it is well put together and I can't find any areas that concern me right off the bat. The pre light aroma is surprisingly light, there are some hints of light wood and some light earth, but the aroma is not nearly as robust as the visual would indicate. The pre light draw is odd, showing some sharp wood flavors that border on bitter.
The cigar opens with a profile that I can only describe as a wrongful assault on my palate. The flavor is all wet wood, my co-host describes it as the type of wet wood that is at the bottom of the wood pile after a long winter of snow and rain and spring melt, and I can't find a way to disagree with him here, anyone that has ever lived up north knows this wet wood type because we have seen it for winters on end. Perhaps this attribute helped in the New York area, winters are bad there and maybe they like this kind of wood. I found it to be bitter and foul. The back of the palate is being cascaded with putrid flavors as well, it's almost as if the cigar is over humidified, but I conducted a survey when I pulled them out of the humi and they most certainly were not. There is a horrific aftertaste forming as well, it almost makes the throat sore. On balance this is one of the worst starts to a cigar I have had in a long time. Sadly, this cigar draws like a dream for me, just perfect amounts of resistance and delivery of smoke. The burn is also very solid at this point.
The first half of the cigar continues to show serious deficiencies. The core profile is still smacking of wet wood and the bitterness is almost overwhelming. I am actually pretty stunned, previous Alec Bradley cigars that I did not enjoy were at least ok, this one is horrendous to this point. The back of the palate is not gaining any positive marks either as the bitterness coming from the main profile cloaks whatever might be there. I will point out that at the halfway point I am starting to sense that some good changes are afoot, but I also nearly chucked this beast before I got there which shows just how bad the first half was. The draw is still very good and the burn is still moving right along.
The final half of the cigar finally starts to show some cigar like qualities. The profile balances out and starts to show some nice wood flavors and there is some muted spice that has a cinnamon like tone to it This development is nice and saves the cigar from getting the old el chucko, but it will not be enough to redeem the cigar overall. At the back of the palate there is a nice earthy tone, but it is not deep enough to be particularly noteworthy. The draw is still very nice, and the burn stays solid right through to the end.
The finish was a bit short and I still had some serious aftertaste problems upon completion, my mouth was left dry and the flavor was bitter.
Appearance- 89 a very nice looking smoke
Taste- 78 I just can't go any higher here
Construction- 93 a very nicely done cigar performance wise
Strength- 85 a very mundane medium
Overall- 86, saved by a very impressive performance from a burn and draw perspective
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Alec Bradley Black Market Robusto (5.25x52)
There is something clandestine in the imagery of a cigar with a moniker that has the words "black market" attached to it. I think about buying something forbidden, something difficult to find in this country, something of such value and taboo that people will guffaw in shock when it is presented. Oddly, I found this cigar just sitting out in the open for all to see, and purchase, as if no one cared or knew that it was supposed to be verboten. I stole some uneasy glances as I looked it over, no one seemed to be paying any attention. I perused some other areas of the store to see if I had attracted any attention while perusing the forbidden area, no one was watching. I watched with anticipation as a suited man entered the store, he had dark shades and a dark suit, he smelled like a fed. Turns out he had just come from some work Christmas party. Still tentative I made some other selections and hid the object of the investigation from view. The cashier of course saw it and said loudly, " Ahh the Black Market!". I shrunk back out of the light sure that my foray was over, no shackles, no awkward questions, just pay and leave. This journey had only just begun and I was exhausted.
The cigar presents with a paper wrapper, further establishing an image of something not to be seen in daylight. I decloak it and take it in. The wrapper is nice, it has some prominent veins, but it has a nice dark brown sheen to it. The construction seems a little too tight to me, but I can't find any areas that are too firm or that cause me any concern. The pre light aroma is full of tea notes. The pre light draw is thin and I am concerned about it being too tight, but it has a nice flavor of dark wood and perhaps some raisin.
The cigar opens with a profile that is all tea. Not a sweet or aromatic tea, but a dark and nearly bitter tea flavor. It is one dimensional and the flavor is not particularly deep, I am struggling to find something else here. At the back of the palate there are some hints of dark wood and some tobacco flavors, but the overall impression is rather thin. The draw is too tight at this point and there is some labor involved in getting a nice amount of smoke. The burn is solid at this point and I don't see any reason why it won't stay this way.
The first half of the cigar shows some regression. The profile is muddled, there are bitter tea flavors and some odd salty meat notes. This is not a pleasing combination and the saltiness is very off putting for some reason, I have experienced briny cigars before and they have never rocked my world, but I never found them repugnant as I do here. At the back of the palate there are still some wood notes, but they are becoming more sharp and cedar like as the cigar progresses further. This would not necessarily be a bad thing if it complemented the front of the profile, but it does not. The draw is opening up as I go along which is nice. The burn is still solid at this point.
The final half of the cigar is not much better than the rest of it. The main profile continues to show a bitter tea flavor, the salty flavors have moved on which is nice, but the profile is still lagging. At the back of the palate some pepper notes are coming through which is a nice switch, but the wood notes are fading and that takes away some much needed depth. The draw is fine by the end of the smoke and the burn stays solid throughout.
In the end the only thing that should be forbidden is smoking this cigar. The finish was short and filled with bitter tea flavors.
Appearance- 87 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 81 just very thin and one dimensional
Construction- 83 early draw issues take away some points here
Strength- 85 a very middling medium
Overall- 83.25 a sub par effort
The cigar presents with a paper wrapper, further establishing an image of something not to be seen in daylight. I decloak it and take it in. The wrapper is nice, it has some prominent veins, but it has a nice dark brown sheen to it. The construction seems a little too tight to me, but I can't find any areas that are too firm or that cause me any concern. The pre light aroma is full of tea notes. The pre light draw is thin and I am concerned about it being too tight, but it has a nice flavor of dark wood and perhaps some raisin.
The cigar opens with a profile that is all tea. Not a sweet or aromatic tea, but a dark and nearly bitter tea flavor. It is one dimensional and the flavor is not particularly deep, I am struggling to find something else here. At the back of the palate there are some hints of dark wood and some tobacco flavors, but the overall impression is rather thin. The draw is too tight at this point and there is some labor involved in getting a nice amount of smoke. The burn is solid at this point and I don't see any reason why it won't stay this way.
The first half of the cigar shows some regression. The profile is muddled, there are bitter tea flavors and some odd salty meat notes. This is not a pleasing combination and the saltiness is very off putting for some reason, I have experienced briny cigars before and they have never rocked my world, but I never found them repugnant as I do here. At the back of the palate there are still some wood notes, but they are becoming more sharp and cedar like as the cigar progresses further. This would not necessarily be a bad thing if it complemented the front of the profile, but it does not. The draw is opening up as I go along which is nice. The burn is still solid at this point.
The final half of the cigar is not much better than the rest of it. The main profile continues to show a bitter tea flavor, the salty flavors have moved on which is nice, but the profile is still lagging. At the back of the palate some pepper notes are coming through which is a nice switch, but the wood notes are fading and that takes away some much needed depth. The draw is fine by the end of the smoke and the burn stays solid throughout.
In the end the only thing that should be forbidden is smoking this cigar. The finish was short and filled with bitter tea flavors.
Appearance- 87 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 81 just very thin and one dimensional
Construction- 83 early draw issues take away some points here
Strength- 85 a very middling medium
Overall- 83.25 a sub par effort
Monday, October 10, 2011
Alec Bradley American Classic Robusto (5x50)
This is a price point entry in the cigar universe, retailing in the $4.50 range I would say this is a cigar that is aimed at value. I am often skeptical, if not fearful, of cigars that are entrants into this category because I have smoked so many bombs in this area over the years. There seems to be real push of late to appeal to the value oriented smoker, and I am little confused about where the market is heading in this area. In my experience the value smoker smokes bundle or machine made cigars that retail for under $2 apiece, asking them to take a leap into the $4 area seems a bit too much for me. Conversely, the ultra premium or premium smoker is used to paying $6 and up for smokes so coming down to $4 might be possible for an everyday smoke, but it has to be of very high quality to appeal to this type of smoker. I have smoked very few cigars at less than $6 that meet the very high quality standard that premium smokers would be looking for. My point is that there just seems to be some market schizophrenia right now in this area.
This cigar presents with some interesting band work, but nothing too flashy. The wrapper is a touch dry for me, but it looks nice. The cigar appears to be well made, I detect no areas of concern when rolling it through my fingers. There are some veins in the wrapper, but I don't believe they will cause any problems at all. The pre light aroma has a nice barnyard fragrance and some nice spice notes at the foot. The pre light draw is thin and shows some sour, fuel like character that has me concerned.
The cigar opens with a profile that is neither complex, deep or enjoyable. The core profile is sour and the fuel taste noted in the pre light draw is prominent. This taste could most accurately be described as kerosene at this point, with perhaps some essence of naphtha that almost burns the palate with a strange menthol like remnant. At the back of the palate some wood and tobacco notes are present, but the fuel like flavor has overwhelmed any redeeming efforts. The draw is excellent, I wish it weren't at this point. The burn is a touch off, but no touch ups are required to this point.
The first half of the cigar blessedly improves, though not much. The menthol flavors have given way to something that is slightly minty, but there is a very nice undertone of oatmeal sneaking in here as well and I am hoping it will become fully involved. The depth and complexity are still not here, but the departure from a fuel like taste is welcome. At the back of the palate a nice, light wood presentation has taken over and gives the cigar a measure of cohesion. The draw is still very nice, delivering plenty of smoke with minimal drawing effort. The burn has evened out and is not causing any problems.
The final half of the cigar is still showing some nice improvements, but the cigar never reaches any status that would be noteworthy. The profile continues to be minty with some shots of vanilla and oatmeal showing up here and there. The level of depth and complexity never really come home for me, this cigar is just too thin in the delivery of flavor categories. At the back of the palate there are still some nice wood presentations, but the fuel taste starts to creep back into the smoke in the final third. The draw stays nice throughout the smoke, and after initial issues the burn stays strong as well.
The finish was middling and left some lingering fuel like character.
In my mind there are two very worthy cigars priced under five dollars, the Padilla Terraza Maduro and the Don Tomas Sungrown, smoke either one of those if you are looking for premium quality at a bargain price.
Appearance- 87 a slightly above average visual appeal
Taste- 83 some redemption in the middle, but fuel tastes in the start, end and finish kill the score
Construction- 91 the only real value in this smoke
Strength- 85 mild to low medium
Overall- 86.75 based on solid construction
This cigar presents with some interesting band work, but nothing too flashy. The wrapper is a touch dry for me, but it looks nice. The cigar appears to be well made, I detect no areas of concern when rolling it through my fingers. There are some veins in the wrapper, but I don't believe they will cause any problems at all. The pre light aroma has a nice barnyard fragrance and some nice spice notes at the foot. The pre light draw is thin and shows some sour, fuel like character that has me concerned.
The cigar opens with a profile that is neither complex, deep or enjoyable. The core profile is sour and the fuel taste noted in the pre light draw is prominent. This taste could most accurately be described as kerosene at this point, with perhaps some essence of naphtha that almost burns the palate with a strange menthol like remnant. At the back of the palate some wood and tobacco notes are present, but the fuel like flavor has overwhelmed any redeeming efforts. The draw is excellent, I wish it weren't at this point. The burn is a touch off, but no touch ups are required to this point.
The first half of the cigar blessedly improves, though not much. The menthol flavors have given way to something that is slightly minty, but there is a very nice undertone of oatmeal sneaking in here as well and I am hoping it will become fully involved. The depth and complexity are still not here, but the departure from a fuel like taste is welcome. At the back of the palate a nice, light wood presentation has taken over and gives the cigar a measure of cohesion. The draw is still very nice, delivering plenty of smoke with minimal drawing effort. The burn has evened out and is not causing any problems.
The final half of the cigar is still showing some nice improvements, but the cigar never reaches any status that would be noteworthy. The profile continues to be minty with some shots of vanilla and oatmeal showing up here and there. The level of depth and complexity never really come home for me, this cigar is just too thin in the delivery of flavor categories. At the back of the palate there are still some nice wood presentations, but the fuel taste starts to creep back into the smoke in the final third. The draw stays nice throughout the smoke, and after initial issues the burn stays strong as well.
The finish was middling and left some lingering fuel like character.
In my mind there are two very worthy cigars priced under five dollars, the Padilla Terraza Maduro and the Don Tomas Sungrown, smoke either one of those if you are looking for premium quality at a bargain price.
Appearance- 87 a slightly above average visual appeal
Taste- 83 some redemption in the middle, but fuel tastes in the start, end and finish kill the score
Construction- 91 the only real value in this smoke
Strength- 85 mild to low medium
Overall- 86.75 based on solid construction
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Alec Bradley Prensado Robusto (5x50)
This is a cigar I have not smoked since it's introduction to the market last year. It is in the high end premium category and I remember thinking that it was overpriced when I smoked it initially. This cigar presents with a very appealing wrapper that is very dark and full of flavorful looking oils. There is little veining and the construction seems a bit firm to me. There is a slight box press to the smoke and I have never been a fan of this presentation. The pre light aroma has some hints of coffee and a nice earthy presence. The pre light draw shows some pepper and nice spice.
The smoke opens with some intense peppery notes, there is also some dark chocolate and spicy character as well. At the back of the palate there is some earthy quality that is nice, but there are some bitter notes early in the smoke that make the experience more harsh than I would like. The draw is too tight, and I am worried about heat late in the smoke. The burn is slightly uneven, but I do not anticipate any issues.
The first half of the cigar progresses in an acceptable manner, but I am not blown away. The profile has evened out to solid presentations of pepper and spice, there are also some interesting bursts of mint in the smoke. The overall depth and complexity is not what I would like, but there are some nice flavors present. At the back of the palate the cigar continues to show rich, earthy notes and the bitterness has mulled as the cigar progresses. The draw remains too tight and there is some heat in the smoke, so I decide to slow it down even further (typically I smoke a robusto in about an hour, I smoked this for an hour and a half to keep the heat down). The burn is still lopsided, but it is not causing any issues.
The final half of the cigar develops well, but is still lacking in complexity and depth. The profile still shows some pepper, but the spice has taken over at this point and the earthy qualities have come to the forefront as well. At the back of the palate it is all rich earth, and it is almost too much at this point. The draw is still too tight and there is still undue heat in the smoke, it is a shame because it ruins the last two inches of the smoke.
The finish is long and shows rich earth and pepper.
Appearance- 91 a very nice looking smoke
Taste- 87 a nice profile, but it lacked complexity and depth
Construction- 82 the draw was too tight and hurt the smoke
Strength- 85 a very average full bodied smoke that needs to compliment the profile more efficiently
Overall- 85.75 slightly above average and hurt by the construction issues
The smoke opens with some intense peppery notes, there is also some dark chocolate and spicy character as well. At the back of the palate there is some earthy quality that is nice, but there are some bitter notes early in the smoke that make the experience more harsh than I would like. The draw is too tight, and I am worried about heat late in the smoke. The burn is slightly uneven, but I do not anticipate any issues.
The first half of the cigar progresses in an acceptable manner, but I am not blown away. The profile has evened out to solid presentations of pepper and spice, there are also some interesting bursts of mint in the smoke. The overall depth and complexity is not what I would like, but there are some nice flavors present. At the back of the palate the cigar continues to show rich, earthy notes and the bitterness has mulled as the cigar progresses. The draw remains too tight and there is some heat in the smoke, so I decide to slow it down even further (typically I smoke a robusto in about an hour, I smoked this for an hour and a half to keep the heat down). The burn is still lopsided, but it is not causing any issues.
The final half of the cigar develops well, but is still lacking in complexity and depth. The profile still shows some pepper, but the spice has taken over at this point and the earthy qualities have come to the forefront as well. At the back of the palate it is all rich earth, and it is almost too much at this point. The draw is still too tight and there is still undue heat in the smoke, it is a shame because it ruins the last two inches of the smoke.
The finish is long and shows rich earth and pepper.
Appearance- 91 a very nice looking smoke
Taste- 87 a nice profile, but it lacked complexity and depth
Construction- 82 the draw was too tight and hurt the smoke
Strength- 85 a very average full bodied smoke that needs to compliment the profile more efficiently
Overall- 85.75 slightly above average and hurt by the construction issues
Friday, May 21, 2010
Alec Bradley Family Blend No.1 (5.5x50)
Too small to be a toro and a bit too long to be a traditional robusto, this cigar presents as a bulky and densely packed smoking experience. There is a whimsical pigtail finish that adds some visual appeal to the pre light endeavor of examining the smoke. The wrapper is a nice medium brown shade and it shows little veining. An examination of the smoke leads me to believe that it is well made and that I will not encounter any issues. The pre light aroma is slightly sour, but has some notes of spice and earth. The pre light draw is thin, but shown some hints of coffee bean and nice tobacco character.
The cigar opens with a profile that smacks of slightly charred coffee, there are some interesting notes of dark wood present as well. The profile is straight forward and lacks depth, but it is not terrible at this point either, although the charred character of the coffee flavors threatens to cause some issues. At the back of the palate there is a very satisfying earthy quality to profile. The smoke is thick and heavy, but the draw is above average and produces ample smoke without effort. The burn is slow and progresses evenly for the first inch or so before becoming flaky.
The first half of the cigar continues to show a straight forward profile that is devoid of complexity or depth. The core profile continues to show some charred coffee flavors, but the coffee part of the equation is fleeting and the left over charred portion tastes ashy and leaves the palate coated in a filmy aftertaste. At the back of the palate there are still some nice earth tones, and there are some notes of dark wood that would be better serving the smoke as part of the core profile. The draw continues to impress and the burn is still even, although the flaking ash is annoying.
The final half of the cigar improves some. The core profile shows some nice balanced flavors of black pepper and dark wood, the charred notes have dissipated and that is a relief. At the back of the palate there are still some solid earthy notes showing through making the finish of this cigar stronger than the first half. I still find myself yearning for more complexity or depth in this cigar. The draw and burn were consistent throughout.
The finish was long and unfortunately fouled by the charred tastes from earlier in the smoke.
Appearance- 89 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 84 early charred notes hurt the score, but the back half of the smoke pushes the profile to nearly being average
Construction- 92 I have no complaints here and I think this was excellent
Strength- 88 a nice medium bodied smoke
Overall- 88.25 a solid smoke, but the profile was disappointing
The cigar opens with a profile that smacks of slightly charred coffee, there are some interesting notes of dark wood present as well. The profile is straight forward and lacks depth, but it is not terrible at this point either, although the charred character of the coffee flavors threatens to cause some issues. At the back of the palate there is a very satisfying earthy quality to profile. The smoke is thick and heavy, but the draw is above average and produces ample smoke without effort. The burn is slow and progresses evenly for the first inch or so before becoming flaky.
The first half of the cigar continues to show a straight forward profile that is devoid of complexity or depth. The core profile continues to show some charred coffee flavors, but the coffee part of the equation is fleeting and the left over charred portion tastes ashy and leaves the palate coated in a filmy aftertaste. At the back of the palate there are still some nice earth tones, and there are some notes of dark wood that would be better serving the smoke as part of the core profile. The draw continues to impress and the burn is still even, although the flaking ash is annoying.
The final half of the cigar improves some. The core profile shows some nice balanced flavors of black pepper and dark wood, the charred notes have dissipated and that is a relief. At the back of the palate there are still some solid earthy notes showing through making the finish of this cigar stronger than the first half. I still find myself yearning for more complexity or depth in this cigar. The draw and burn were consistent throughout.
The finish was long and unfortunately fouled by the charred tastes from earlier in the smoke.
Appearance- 89 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 84 early charred notes hurt the score, but the back half of the smoke pushes the profile to nearly being average
Construction- 92 I have no complaints here and I think this was excellent
Strength- 88 a nice medium bodied smoke
Overall- 88.25 a solid smoke, but the profile was disappointing
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Alec Bradley Tempus Cigar Rights of America Edition
This is another from the CRA sampler I received for joining the organization. It appears to be a standard Tempus toro that CRA slapped a CRA band on, but I am happy to give it a go anyway. The cigar presents well with a dark, rich wrapper that has plenty of tooth. There is one huge vein that I have some misgivings about before I get started. The rest of the cigar appears to be of acceptable construction. The pre light aroma has some notes of spice and orange zest. The pre light draw has some interesting vanilla qualities and some notes of dark wood.
The smoke opens with a core profile of very nice vanilla notes and some hints of dark wood. At the back of the palate there are some rich tobacco flavors, but the vanilla has permeated and diffuses some of the tobacco strength. The draw is nice, but could be a bit looser. The burn is off, almost like the cigar is too wet, which is not possible as it has been in my 65% environment for three months.
The first half of the smoke shows a complete drop off of the early vanilla notes. Instead the profile becomes a show of wood and tobacco flavors that have no real depth or complexity. At the back of the palate there are some ideas of dark wood, but they are charred and show some bitter qualities. I find myself vainly hoping for some return of earlier characteristics, but in the first half there are no signs of it. The draw is still a bit too tight for me and the burn is still off, but not causing any issues.
The second half of the smoke is unfortunately much like the first half. The flavors in the core are of tobacco and wood, but there is no discernible development to these flavors and they flatten out on the palate like a prisoner against a wall as the spotlight comes his way. At the back of the palate the charred notes persist and dominate the experience. I am very disappointed with this profile. The draw and burn remain much the same through the smoke, average.
The finish is short and has some bitter notes of charred wood.
Appearance- 87 the huge vein detracts from the overall impression
Taste- 81 a very sub par profile
Construction- 85 very average
Strength- 89 a nice medium/full
Overall- 84.75 a below average smoke
The smoke opens with a core profile of very nice vanilla notes and some hints of dark wood. At the back of the palate there are some rich tobacco flavors, but the vanilla has permeated and diffuses some of the tobacco strength. The draw is nice, but could be a bit looser. The burn is off, almost like the cigar is too wet, which is not possible as it has been in my 65% environment for three months.
The first half of the smoke shows a complete drop off of the early vanilla notes. Instead the profile becomes a show of wood and tobacco flavors that have no real depth or complexity. At the back of the palate there are some ideas of dark wood, but they are charred and show some bitter qualities. I find myself vainly hoping for some return of earlier characteristics, but in the first half there are no signs of it. The draw is still a bit too tight for me and the burn is still off, but not causing any issues.
The second half of the smoke is unfortunately much like the first half. The flavors in the core are of tobacco and wood, but there is no discernible development to these flavors and they flatten out on the palate like a prisoner against a wall as the spotlight comes his way. At the back of the palate the charred notes persist and dominate the experience. I am very disappointed with this profile. The draw and burn remain much the same through the smoke, average.
The finish is short and has some bitter notes of charred wood.
Appearance- 87 the huge vein detracts from the overall impression
Taste- 81 a very sub par profile
Construction- 85 very average
Strength- 89 a nice medium/full
Overall- 84.75 a below average smoke
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Alec Bradley Tempus Terra Nova
This is the Tempus version of a robusto. The cigar presents well with a wrapper that has a reddish hue, almost like a Colorado capa. There is some veining, but nothing that detracts from the overall visual experience. I will make special mention of the exceptional band work on this smoke, it is stunning. The pre light aroma has hints of spice and dark fruit. The pre light draw showed some sweet notes, but has a nice taste of rich tobacco.
The cigar begins with an interesting profile of cherry and spice flavors. There is some pepper, and a strange floral essence at the middle and back of the palate. The draw on this cigar is superb, very easy and smooth and producing scads of smoke from the get go. The burn is a bit crooked, but there is a nice shoulder at the meeting of the wrapper and the ash.
At the two inch mark the core of the profile is of cedar, but there are still some notes of cherry and spice in the backdrop. There is still a strange sweetness to the smoke and I can't attribute it to one particular flavor. The draw is still excellent, but the burn is still showing some crooked angles.
At the halfway point the profile shows notes of pepper and dark wood, but there is a charred flavor that has entered the mix. There are still some sweet notes at the back of the palate. The draw and burn are consistent with earlier observations.
The final half of the smoke continues to show notes of pepper and wood, but the charred notes are strong. The draw stayed excellent, but the burn was lopsided throughout.
The finish was thin and charred. The profile lacked depth and complexity.
Appearance- 92 a very attractive cigar
Taste- 83 the charred notes hurt what would have been a pleasant profile
Construction- 92 an excellent performance
Strength- 84 a medium/full that could have used more power
Overall- 87.75 saved by construction and appearance
The cigar begins with an interesting profile of cherry and spice flavors. There is some pepper, and a strange floral essence at the middle and back of the palate. The draw on this cigar is superb, very easy and smooth and producing scads of smoke from the get go. The burn is a bit crooked, but there is a nice shoulder at the meeting of the wrapper and the ash.
At the two inch mark the core of the profile is of cedar, but there are still some notes of cherry and spice in the backdrop. There is still a strange sweetness to the smoke and I can't attribute it to one particular flavor. The draw is still excellent, but the burn is still showing some crooked angles.
At the halfway point the profile shows notes of pepper and dark wood, but there is a charred flavor that has entered the mix. There are still some sweet notes at the back of the palate. The draw and burn are consistent with earlier observations.
The final half of the smoke continues to show notes of pepper and wood, but the charred notes are strong. The draw stayed excellent, but the burn was lopsided throughout.
The finish was thin and charred. The profile lacked depth and complexity.
Appearance- 92 a very attractive cigar
Taste- 83 the charred notes hurt what would have been a pleasant profile
Construction- 92 an excellent performance
Strength- 84 a medium/full that could have used more power
Overall- 87.75 saved by construction and appearance
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Alec Bradley Family Blend No.1
This cigar presents in a curious size between a robusto and a toro. It is finished with an interesting pigtail cap that is a bit stunted when compared to traditional pigtail finishes. The wrapper is a beautiful, rich looking leaf that has some veining, but nothing too prominent. The pre light aroma has notes of cedar and spice. The pre light draw is a bit thin, but shows some woody notes, most noticeably cedar.
The cigar begins with a solid profile of cedar and some light spice. There is some sweetness in the profile, but I can't assign a particular attribute to it. The draw is excellent and the burn is acceptable, developing a dirty gray ash.
At the one third point of the cigar the profile has maintained notes of cedar and some light spice, but there is a solid earthy undertone influencing the smoke at this point. The draw has stayed consistent and the burn continues to be solid, showing no issues.
To the halfway point I am disappointed by the lack of complexity and depth, but I like the flavors in the profile. At this point I am noticing some creamy vanilla notes, but the core of the profile is still of cedar, wood and spice. The draw and burn are still showing strength.
The final half of the cigar continues to show notes of vanilla, spice and cedar. I am still disappointed buy the lack of complexity and depth in the profile. The burn and draw have stayed solid throughout.
The finish is acceptable, showing notes of earth, wood and spice.
Appearance- 87 an attractive cigar, the weird pigtail hurts the score
Taste- 86 a solid profile, but lacking in complexity and depth
Construction- 92 a well made cigar that smoked impeccably
Strength- 88 a nice medium
Overall- 88.25 an above average smoke, that could be fantastic with more depth and complexity
The cigar begins with a solid profile of cedar and some light spice. There is some sweetness in the profile, but I can't assign a particular attribute to it. The draw is excellent and the burn is acceptable, developing a dirty gray ash.
At the one third point of the cigar the profile has maintained notes of cedar and some light spice, but there is a solid earthy undertone influencing the smoke at this point. The draw has stayed consistent and the burn continues to be solid, showing no issues.
To the halfway point I am disappointed by the lack of complexity and depth, but I like the flavors in the profile. At this point I am noticing some creamy vanilla notes, but the core of the profile is still of cedar, wood and spice. The draw and burn are still showing strength.
The final half of the cigar continues to show notes of vanilla, spice and cedar. I am still disappointed buy the lack of complexity and depth in the profile. The burn and draw have stayed solid throughout.
The finish is acceptable, showing notes of earth, wood and spice.
Appearance- 87 an attractive cigar, the weird pigtail hurts the score
Taste- 86 a solid profile, but lacking in complexity and depth
Construction- 92 a well made cigar that smoked impeccably
Strength- 88 a nice medium
Overall- 88.25 an above average smoke, that could be fantastic with more depth and complexity
Friday, September 11, 2009
Alec Bradley Trilogy Authentic Corojo
This is the final review of the new Trilogy reblend. The cigar presents well with a rich brown wrapper, there is some prominent veining however and the wrapper seems like it might be a bit dry. The construction appears to be acceptable, with maybe a few spots that are firm. The pre light aroma is light and floral with a fruity undertone. The pre light draw has hints of spice and tobacco.
The cigar begins well with a light nutty character with a light hint of vanilla. The smoke is full and the ash begins to develop well. There is little change in the first half of the smoke.
In the second half a nice toasty character develops, there are hints of roasted nuts and spice. However, there are some vegetal notes that are becoming apparent in the profile and they are unpleasant. The construction has stayed acceptable and the burn is still nice.
The finish is short and vegetal and has papery notes. A disappointing end.
Appearance- 84 due to veining and dry feeling wrapper
Taste- 86 could use more complexity and the vegetal, papery notes hurt the score
Construction- 89 well constructed, but I did encounter some firm draws
Strength- 80 an unremarkable medium that did not compliment the cigar well
Overall- 84.75
The cigar begins well with a light nutty character with a light hint of vanilla. The smoke is full and the ash begins to develop well. There is little change in the first half of the smoke.
In the second half a nice toasty character develops, there are hints of roasted nuts and spice. However, there are some vegetal notes that are becoming apparent in the profile and they are unpleasant. The construction has stayed acceptable and the burn is still nice.
The finish is short and vegetal and has papery notes. A disappointing end.
Appearance- 84 due to veining and dry feeling wrapper
Taste- 86 could use more complexity and the vegetal, papery notes hurt the score
Construction- 89 well constructed, but I did encounter some firm draws
Strength- 80 an unremarkable medium that did not compliment the cigar well
Overall- 84.75
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Alec Bradley Trilogy Exotic Maduro
This cigar presents with a very dark maduro wrapper that is gleaming with oils. There is some prominent veining, but examination suggests that the cigar is well made. The pre light aroma is of dark fruit and there is a slight barnyard suggestion on the nose. The pre light draw is a bit tight, but hints of tobacco and earth.
The cigar begins with some tobacco and earth notes, but there is a metallic undertone that is slightly distracting. The burn is sharp and the ash is a dirty gray. There is no further development in the first half.
In the second half of the cigar the profile is muddled, but through the nose I detect some coffee character with notes of tobacco and earth. There is still a slightly metallic bite that is souring the profile. The burn has turned lopsided and there is small run in the burn.
The finish is short and hot, with notes of charred wood and paper.
Appearance- 86 veining hurts the score
Taste- 77 metallic notes detract from the profile
Construction- 85 minor issues are present
Strength- 83 a medium smoke that was unremarkable
Overall- 82.75 an average experience at best
The cigar begins with some tobacco and earth notes, but there is a metallic undertone that is slightly distracting. The burn is sharp and the ash is a dirty gray. There is no further development in the first half.
In the second half of the cigar the profile is muddled, but through the nose I detect some coffee character with notes of tobacco and earth. There is still a slightly metallic bite that is souring the profile. The burn has turned lopsided and there is small run in the burn.
The finish is short and hot, with notes of charred wood and paper.
Appearance- 86 veining hurts the score
Taste- 77 metallic notes detract from the profile
Construction- 85 minor issues are present
Strength- 83 a medium smoke that was unremarkable
Overall- 82.75 an average experience at best
Friday, September 4, 2009
Alec Bradley Trilogy Native Cameroon
This is a cigar that has been reshaped and re blended by Alec Bradley. It is a smart looking cigar with an oily Cameroon wrapper with few veins and no detectable flaws. The pre light aroma is of dark fruit. The pre light draw is of mellow wood notes and some citrus tang. The draw seems to be a bit loose, but the construction is seemingly acceptable.
The cigar opens with creamy and nutty notes that are mild and pleasing. There is a slight hint of a mineral undertone at the back of the palate. The burn is acceptable, but the draw is indeed loose. There is no further development in the first half.
The second half continues to show a core of nutty flavors and the mineral undertones have given way to a light dusting of spice. At just past the half way point it becomes very difficult to draw any smoke. The cigar has quit and I have to relight to stop from sucking nothing but air. Upon relight I can see that the tobacco is too loosely packed and now the cigar is hot and causing charred notes to present in the profile. This is a serious detraction from the cigar.
The finish is long and smooth with lingering notes of roasted nuts and light pepper.
Appearance- 93 an excellent looking cigar
Taste- 86 lacking in complexity and depth, but has a nice character
Construction- 74 the severe issues in the middle hurt this cigar
Strength- 90 a nice medium presentation
Overall- 85.75 poor construction hurt this severely
The cigar opens with creamy and nutty notes that are mild and pleasing. There is a slight hint of a mineral undertone at the back of the palate. The burn is acceptable, but the draw is indeed loose. There is no further development in the first half.
The second half continues to show a core of nutty flavors and the mineral undertones have given way to a light dusting of spice. At just past the half way point it becomes very difficult to draw any smoke. The cigar has quit and I have to relight to stop from sucking nothing but air. Upon relight I can see that the tobacco is too loosely packed and now the cigar is hot and causing charred notes to present in the profile. This is a serious detraction from the cigar.
The finish is long and smooth with lingering notes of roasted nuts and light pepper.
Appearance- 93 an excellent looking cigar
Taste- 86 lacking in complexity and depth, but has a nice character
Construction- 74 the severe issues in the middle hurt this cigar
Strength- 90 a nice medium presentation
Overall- 85.75 poor construction hurt this severely
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Alec Bradley Prensado
This is a new offering from Alec Bradley. The cigar is a beautiful presentation with a dark maduro wrapper the color of milk chocolate. There are almost no veins of any consequence and the cigar is supple and appropriately firm. The pre light aroma is of coffee with a slight barnyard undertone. The pre light draw is of cocoa and light wood.
The smoke opens with notes of coffee and black pepper, the pepper notes are near overwhelming and detract from the opening gambit. The burn is acceptable and a nice gray ash holds for a couple of inches before I have to quietly drop it in the tray. There is no further development in the first two inches.
The middle of the cigar develops with coffee and earthy notes that compliment each other well. There is a deep rich tobacco flavor at the back of the palate and the smoke is ample. A run develops that temporarily disrupts the burn, but I am able to smoke through it without issues. The cigar is otherwise performing well to this point.
The final third maintains it's core of coffee flavors, but there are notes of cocoa presenting themselves at the back of the palate. The burn has leveled off and the cigar continues with an above average performance.
The finish is long and contains notes of spice, cocoa and earth. There is a slightly sour note that appears, but it is not horrible.
Appearance- 92 an excellent looking smoke
Taste- 88 above average, but it was hurt by the sour notes and the peppery outburst at the outset
Construction- 86 the run in the middle hurts the score
Strength- 87 a nice medium smoke
Overall- 88.25 a solid above average performance
The smoke opens with notes of coffee and black pepper, the pepper notes are near overwhelming and detract from the opening gambit. The burn is acceptable and a nice gray ash holds for a couple of inches before I have to quietly drop it in the tray. There is no further development in the first two inches.
The middle of the cigar develops with coffee and earthy notes that compliment each other well. There is a deep rich tobacco flavor at the back of the palate and the smoke is ample. A run develops that temporarily disrupts the burn, but I am able to smoke through it without issues. The cigar is otherwise performing well to this point.
The final third maintains it's core of coffee flavors, but there are notes of cocoa presenting themselves at the back of the palate. The burn has leveled off and the cigar continues with an above average performance.
The finish is long and contains notes of spice, cocoa and earth. There is a slightly sour note that appears, but it is not horrible.
Appearance- 92 an excellent looking smoke
Taste- 88 above average, but it was hurt by the sour notes and the peppery outburst at the outset
Construction- 86 the run in the middle hurts the score
Strength- 87 a nice medium smoke
Overall- 88.25 a solid above average performance
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Alec Bradley Maxx Tradition Toro
I had not smoked this version of the Maxx before and I was anticipating this cigar in the smaller ring gauge. The wrapper is a beautiful dark chocolate brown that glistens with oils. There is a prominent vein near the foot of the cigar, but physical inspection leads me to believe that this cigar will be well constructed. The pre light aroma has faint hints of chocolate and spice. The pre light draw is of muted spice notes as well.
The cigar begins with excellent chocolate flavors with undertones of coffee. The profile is straight forward and the cigar booms volumes of smoke. The vein at the foot has caused no issues and the burn is even. The ash develops well and has bright white color, though it is a bit flaky.
At the half way point the cigar maintains strong notes of chocolate. The coffee undertone has given way to a pleasant rich tobacco flavor that mingles with hints of earth. The smoke is full bodied, but not overwhelmingly strong. The burn has stayed sharp and the construction of the cigar is excellent to this point.
The last half of the cigar does not develop any further and leaves me a bit disappointed as I was craving some complexity. However, the depth of the flavors contained in the profile is noteworthy and satisfying. I only encountered one small burn flaw and it was so minimal it almost could have passed notice.
The finish was long and left lingering notes of earth and chocolate on the palate. This cigar was a pleasant surprise.
Appearance- 91
Taste- 92
Construction- 92
Strength- 92 this was an excellent medium/full experience that was exceptional when considered against the cigar's other characteristics
Overall- 91.75
The cigar begins with excellent chocolate flavors with undertones of coffee. The profile is straight forward and the cigar booms volumes of smoke. The vein at the foot has caused no issues and the burn is even. The ash develops well and has bright white color, though it is a bit flaky.
At the half way point the cigar maintains strong notes of chocolate. The coffee undertone has given way to a pleasant rich tobacco flavor that mingles with hints of earth. The smoke is full bodied, but not overwhelmingly strong. The burn has stayed sharp and the construction of the cigar is excellent to this point.
The last half of the cigar does not develop any further and leaves me a bit disappointed as I was craving some complexity. However, the depth of the flavors contained in the profile is noteworthy and satisfying. I only encountered one small burn flaw and it was so minimal it almost could have passed notice.
The finish was long and left lingering notes of earth and chocolate on the palate. This cigar was a pleasant surprise.
Appearance- 91
Taste- 92
Construction- 92
Strength- 92 this was an excellent medium/full experience that was exceptional when considered against the cigar's other characteristics
Overall- 91.75
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