Alec Bradley Black Market Filthy Hooligan Review

3/18/2014

Cigar: Alec Bradley Black Market Filthy Hooligan

MSRP: $8.00

This cigar is a limited release by Alec Bradley for St. Patrick’s Day. Being 25% Irish (isn’t everyone?) I was ecstatic when I received this cigar a few months ago in a trade with a generous BOTL (this is last year’s model). This cigar is stated to be made with “the same exact long-filler core of the 90-rated Alec Bradley Black Market,” which I haven’t had yet, but will be having one soon. Cigars International also claims that “this isn't just a green gimmick you'll find in that glass of beer at the pub down the street.” My expectations were high.

I waited patiently for St. Paddy’s Day to arrive, and as the clock struck 5:00 and the work day ended, I opened a George Killian’s Irish Red, downed a shot of Jameson’s and headed out back to enjoy these celebratory cigar.

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Pre-light: There were a few cracks near the cap, probably from a rough year of shenanigans. I punched the cap in hopes to preserve what integrity the Hooligan had left. The aroma was mild, as was the cold draw. A little grassy. And some basic tobacco flavors.

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1/3: The torch went fairly well, but I was battling some pretty high winds, so burn became uneven nearly immediately. The cigar had a slight spice to it in the retrohale that calmed down quickly. Every now and then I tasted a sweetness, like chocolate, mix with the mild, grassy notes of the cigar. But, not much else.

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2/3: I was beginning to think that the shot of whiskey killed my taste buds, because the Hooligan remained a one-hit wonder. Slight sweetness like chocolate, grass, and something I have come to know as “General Cigar” flavor. It’s a generic cigar taste that I get from NC versions of RyJ and Cohiba. It’s not off-putting in the least, but definitely the epitome of “meh.”

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3/3: The wind continued to wreak havoc on the burn, which was nothing if not chaotic. Flavors never changed. Maybe the booze was hitting my empty stomach (corned beef in an hour), but it seemed like a slight nic-kick at the final third.

Overall: Not a bad stick, but nothing to write home to Eire about. Flavors were mild and one-dimensional. Burn may have been copacetic, but Mother Nature was determined to undermine it. This is a good cigar for those celebrating the lack of snakes in Ireland, even if they don’t smoke. Although claimed to not be a gimmick, I don’t see it as anything but. Sure, I’ll smoke it again, but only on St. Paddy’s Day. Slainte!