Alec Bradley Black Market Review
5/1/14
Cigar: Alec Bradley Black Market
Size: Robusto, 5.2"x52
MSRP: $6.95
Strength: Medium
Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Origin: Honduras
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Prelight: The Black Market has a nice ruddy, almost reddish wrapper with very slight veins. The cigar is certainly delicious looking and has a very well made triple-cap. The aroma off the wrapper is earthy and a tad floral. There is an earthy, leathery dung scent on the foot. The draw from a v-cut is perfect and the cold taste is extremely floral.
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1/3: The cigar starts out very sweet, like dried cherries. There is a slight note of chocolate in the background as well. Immediately the burn becomes jagged, but the ash is very white and flakey. Towards the end of the first third, there is a spice flavor, like nutmeg.
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2/3: I have to touch up the Black Market during the second third. The burn was just too uneven. Now the flavor is predominantly that spice from the first third, as well as a slight mintyness and a hint of oak. The flavor change is subtle and welcome, and the oak becomes a stronger flavor as I reach the final third.
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3/3: Another touch up in the final third. This cigar just won’t burn straight, but that is it’s only flaw. The flavors change again, becoming mostly charred oak paired with a bitter-sweet grass. The ash lasts about an inch and a half at a time.
Overall: Great flavors, but the burn bummed me out. There was almost no wind tonight (a rarity in the San Joaquin Valley) but still, the burn line was jagged at all times. The flavors went from sweet to savory and kept my interest well. This cigar is far better than the Filthy Hooligan version I smoked during St. Pat’s day. I would smoke this again, and definitely not be afraid to hand them out to guests.
