Alec Bradley Black Market Robusto cigar: Full bodied and full of life

As with a lot of New World cigar brands, Alec Bradley is relatively new on the market. They aim to make interesting cigars that you won’t forget and can be enjoyed by anyone from any walk of life, be they a high rolling stock broker or down to earth blue collar worker. The Black Market line definitely fits that aesthetic and having smoked, and enjoyed a few of the Punk’s, I thought I’d treat myself to the Robusto version and see if it was twice the enjoyment of its smaller sibling.

The maduro wrapper on the Black Market Robusto cigar was half covered by the oversized band, but when I removed it to start my ritual of cutting and lighting the cigar there wasn’t any damage. In fact, the cigar looked even more appetising than it did with the band on. Inspecting the stick it felt nicely firm all over and I was left with a coating similar to light olive oil on my fingers. The foot was lightly box pressed and aromas of cedar, leather and fermenting hay tickled my nose, enticing me to stop admiring the cigar and start smoking it.

Liquorice and leather filled my mouth as I took a good long cold draw on the Black Market and a moisturising and lightly sweet moisturising balm was left on my lips from the oily wrapper. The liquorice was still present as a dominant flavour once I lit the cigar. It was joined in the first third by the lovely, lightly sweet flavour of a fresh naan bread with a helping of cooking apples on the side. The burn was even with a black ring separating the cigar from the white ash, which glowed from the inside like a burning coal on a barbeque.

I paired the first third of the Alec Bradley Black Market Robusto cigar with a shot of Cubiana Nespresso coffee. The coffee really brought out and enhanced the sweet and rich tobacco and charcoal flavours. As I reach the end of the first third, the sweet liquorice flavour that had been present since the start had morphed into the more forthright taste of Pontefract cakes. Having finished my coffee, it was time to choose another drink to pair with the remainder of the cigar.

From the outset there hade been a continuous ribbon of smoke emanating from the foot. With each draw I got mouthfuls of rich and oily smoke. Whilst it sat with some weight in my mouth allowed me to blow smoke ring after smoke ring, watching each one expand and then dissolve into the ether. If you like your cigars good and smoky without having to hot box them, then this is the cigar for you.

My drink of choice for the remainder of the Alec Bradley Black Market Robusto cigar was a Caipiroska. A delicious combination of vodka, lime, sugar. The lime from the cocktail cut through the building bonfire night toffee flavour from the maduro wrapper that had been growing since I first lit up. Adding a pinch of salt to the cocktail really opened up the flavour allowing hits of allspice and nutmeg to permeate and add a real depth to the flavour in the middle part of the cigar.

By the time I reached the final third of the Black Market Robusto, the air was filled with aromas of rich cedar and oak bonfires. The liquorice from the opening third had made a triumphant return on the retrohale but was joined this time by notes of toasted strawberries, Everton mints and walnuts. The burn had become a little uneven, but nothing to worry about. A quick tickle from the lighter corrected it and I carried on without any more issues until the very end.

I decided to use one of my cigar daggers to allow me to savour the delicious flavours right down the the nub. I’m not a wet smoker per say, and maybe the flavours did get me salivating, but the cap fell off the cigar with an inch remaining. This didn’t spoil the remainder of the cigar, but rather knocked off half a point for enjoyment. Would I smoke it again? Yes. Would I smoke the Black Market Robusto over the Punk? It entirely depends on how much time I have on my hands, but this is absolutely a cigar that is worth spending time with.

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Alec Bradley Black Market Robusto Cigar Details