Alec Bradley Havana Sun Grown Robusto

Apperance and Constuction (13 of 15 points possible)

The cigar is a nice tan brown leather color with a nice sheen of oil applied. Minimal vein on the wrapper with just enough to show it is an actual leaf. The cap is done well enough to be nice and presentable. Solidly built, firm and nice heft for a robusto.

Flavor (20 or 25 points possible)

First couple of draws load the palate with a creamy spice, wood, coffee and citrus tones. At halfway the flavors evolve a bit into a creamy spice with the addition of a little pepper, leather, coffea and citrus tones still tailing.
The cigar has just enough complexity to keep everything interesting. Sometimes a cigar with a solid core of flavors that doesnt get to fancy just does the trick. The body is a solid medium sometimes medium-full. At 3/4 the smoke is still chock full of spicy leather, citrus and coffea. The cigar finishes up nice with a assualt of spice on the palate, citrus, leather and earthy undertones. There was a little bit of sharp Charryness towards the very end. A little age will work this out and do wonders for this smoke. It finishes up medium-full at the end.

Smoking Characteristics (24 of 25 points possible)

The aroma is a little different IMO than most cigars because the aroma is nice and spicy, it leaves a little tingle in the nose accompanied by wood and tobacco notes. I dumped the ash at 1", a nice consistency with a salt and pepper color. The constuction on these cigars are very nice, they always burn razor sharp down to the end. I guess that being made at the Tabadom Factory by Hendrik Kelner has something to do with it. Its a dream to smoke, just light it and puff away, there is no need to keep a light handy for touch ups.

Overall Impression (31 id 35 points possible)

This is a cigar that I have smoked many of, the consistency from smoke to smoke is amazing. Im on my 3rd box. This cigar impresses me alot because of price and its flexibility. It seems to go well with just about any drink, including beer, wine, and bourbon. It is a favorite smoke I pull out especially when Im drinking Corona with lime. The alchol seems to bring out more spice in the smoke. The HSG's are priced right, ranging for 50-60 bucks and sometimes less if you can find a special! It reminds me of a poor mans Padilla Hybrid (But its not by no means a Padilla Hybrid) minus a bit complexity.

Overall score-88

Awesome review as usual Stoge.

I agree completely. This is a good consistent smoke, and a GREAT smoke for the price.

Nice review. Who carries these online? I've been looking for an online vendor but can't find anyone who carries these online.

Mike

Best bet is smokeall.com

Stogie made a believer out of me. I'll always have some of these around. Can't beat it for under $3 a smoke!

Phatash
cigarking
smokeall
Atlantic
They all carry them BlueSky, sign up for the cigarking and Phatash E-mail specials, they run good deals on these from time to time. Smokeall and Atlantic are probaly the best on daily prices though.

Nice review stogie. I like these a lot. The only thing that bugs me about them is the occasional bad burn. Other than that, they are a great smoke for the price.

I ordered a box from Atlantic since Smokeall was out of the robustos. Can't wait to try them. I'm a real sucker for Connecticuts, sungrowns, and cameroons anymore, can't get enough of the three and love them all.

Mike

Mike, you'll love those. I can't believe their made with Dominican tobacco. They have a taste all their own.

I'm sure I will El Presidente...just wish they would come already.....lol....can't wait to try one out the box and then let the rest humi out for a month and try them again. If they are as good as the Montesinos and Cuesta Rey or the chateau sungrowns, then it'll be a heckuva bargain

Mike

quote:

Originally posted by El Presidente:
Mike, you'll love those. I can't believe their made with Dominican tobacco. They have a taste all their own.

Exactly, thats what I think everytime I smoke one. That Hybrid wrapper really adds alot to that cigar in terms of flavor.

They don't taste like any of those Mike. You just gotta try one.

If you've had a Pryme yet, even though they have different filler blends (supposively) they do have a similar flavor profile. Must be the wrapper.

Got my box in while I was on my trip to Orlando and set them in the humidor last night to rest. Very nice looking cigar and I just couldn't resist. Lit one up as a late evening smoke since I couldn't sleep anyway and wow, what a nice cigar. Thanks for the nice review on this Stoge, and El Presidente, you were right, very hard to imagine the tobacco in this cigar coming from the Dominican Republic, it definitely has hints of a stronger tobacco.

Thanks guys..
Mike

Yup, those are staples now.

Stogie has pretty good tastes in cheap cigars and cheaper woman!

yep, definitely was a decent price for a robusto size cigar. Maybe with some kind of luck I can get some of his luck with the cheap women

Mike

I'm smoking one now that stogie sent me. I definitely get the wood, citrus, and the spice. This cigar has a little bit of cinnamon flavors like the don carlos or torano 1916 but there is also an underlying creaminess. It is a medium to full bodied cigar that still manages to finish somewhat smooth and delicate. Definitely a good cheap smoke. Thanks stogie, I haven't had one of these in a long time, they are just as good as I remember. The last 2 inches on this were fantastic.

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