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

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