Today's Smoke: Alec Bradley American Sun Grown Robusto

"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn) 04/22/2014 at 15:13 • Filed to: Cigarlopnik

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Today was a new cigar for me, the Alec Bradley American Sun Grown Robusto. The cigar buyer said that it is "the best cigar in the store for under $5.00." It sells at my shop for $4.99/stick. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! has a good write up on it:

The Robusto isn't a big cigar at 5 inches long and a 50 ring gauge, but don't let its size fool you. The whole-leaf filler is made with Nicaraguan Esteli tobacco, and the binder comes from the same region. The three Nicaraguan tobaccos found here (filler, binder, wrapper) make up a puro cigar (a cigar with components that all come from the same region) that has a rich flavor without punching you in the mouth with overpowering strength. In this case, according to Rubin, the puro status is a coincidence. "It's purely a byproduct of the blend we picked. There was no intent on making it a puro. The American Sun Grown Blend and the American Classic Blend were created to give cigar enthusiasts a lot of satisfaction in an everyday cigar — cigars that people are happy to pick up and can still explain the purchase to their spouses."

This is a good-looking cigar, something that does matter in the smoking experience. Sun-grown wrappers are often veiny, but for the most part ours was smooth. The slightly oily sheen and the colorful band enhance the aesthetics of this dark cigar. This robusto is also well-rolled: it's not too tight and not too loose, free of tunneling and producing just the right amount of draw. Alec Bradley certainly took the time to issue a cigar that speaks to a high level of quality. And for around $5 a stick, that's impressive, even before it's lit.

Once it is burning, pleasant cedar aromas leads to an initially sweet flavor. The ash is a dark grey that holds up well despite a slightly uneven burn. The draw is perfect, allowing the rich smoke to permeate through the stick throughout the entire smoke. Some sun-grown wrappers can beat up the palate, but the Alec Bradley has a noticeable but not overpowering strength; it's smooth without any bite or bitterness. It is, quite simply, a pleasurable smoke that is a couple of rungs up on the strength meter than the American Classic, with more body while remaining consistent from first light to finish. We thoroughly enjoyed it, and if you're game for more than just a beginner, light-bodied smoke, this should be your next choice.

My personal experience was similar. Excellent burn, good draw, dense ash, hearty flavor. It was a little heady for me, but still very enjoyable. It got a bit strong down at the end, and I like to smoke down as far as I can. I've got a nice little cigar buzz going right now. But I highly recommend it to experienced smokers. It would probably be a bit much for the first-timer or the casual smoker. I would add that for something of a similar size, I enjoyed the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! (4 x 60) a bit more.

Addendum : What makes the wrapper sun grown vs. maduro? Both are dark wrappers, but maduro wrappers are left to ferment for three to five years, which is what gives them their dark color and strong taste. Sun grown wrappers are, as the name suggests, grown in the sun, rather than in shade, and produce a thick, dark wrapper. Done correctly, it lends a certain sweetness to the wrapper.

Sn210 > ttyymmnn 04/22/2014 at 15:43

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I think I've tried this one before. I remember it being really good

fhrblig > ttyymmnn 04/22/2014 at 16:15

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I'll have to look for those. I've stayed away from Alec Bradley cigars because a lot of them are full-bodied and I am a lightweight, but this sounds like it's up my alley.