Alec Bradley Raices Cubanas Review
5/6/2014
Cigar: Alec Bradley Raices Cubanas
Size: Toro, 6.0”x54
MSRP: $9.50
Strength: Medium-Full
Wrapper: Honduran
Origin: Honduras
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Prelight: The wrapper is very rustic and unrefined looking. Not really smooth, a little lumpy, and seems to be darker at the foot. There is a slightly pungent floral odor on the wrapper while the foot smells very woody and earthy with a touch of sweetness. The cold draw is a bit on the loose side (but maybe it’ll firm up as I smoke like the Tempus did), and has a woody taste, but honestly reminds me of wheat cereal.
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1/3: The Raices Cubanas starts out extremely peppery. I mean eye-burning, nose-running pepper is coming out of this thing. There is a background of wood I am hoping takes over, as it’s a little too spicy for me. The burn is good and the ash is solid. As the first third comes to an end, it is still spicy, but not as bad. Just spicy cedar, and maybe, just maybe, a bit of dried fruit.
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2/3: Still spicy cedar, and the dried fruit comes and goes. There is a chocolaty sweetness once in a while as well. The burn is still doing better than previous ABs, but this one has had a bit more humi time.
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3/3: The cigar almost dies on me going into the final third. I got preoccupied looking at cigar websites on my phone, so I’m probably to blame. But, it’s not entirely my fault, as this cigar is not holding my interest. Still spicy cedar. That’s all. The burn (once I got it going again) is still straight and the draw hasn’t changed since the prelight.
Overall: A so-so cigar. Very monotonous, but if you’re into spicy cedar, you’ll love it. Great construction – the best I’ve seen on Alec Bradley cigars. Personally, I didn’t dig it. I’m gravitating more towards sweeter, creamy cigars right now, so I doubt I’ll pick this one up again. And it is a little lack-luster for the price tag.
