Wrapper: Nicaraguan Jalapa- Colorado Maduro
Filler: Honduran Jamastran Valley, Panamanian
Binder: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Size: 6 x 50 “Toro”
Body: Medium
Price: $7.00-$7.50

I recently reviewed two house brands made exclusively for Best Cigar Prices.com. They were the Star Insignia and the Medici. I like them both. I think it is for two reasons. First, BCP had their hand in it, and second, the A/B folks are using this opportunity to get into the New Breed game.

Typically, A/B cigars take some time to age properly once you have them, removed their cellos, and stored them in your humidor. That’s Old School. The guys with the tattoos are working hard at making cigars that are ready to smoke with just a couple weeks of humi time, or close to right away.

The New Breed blends came just in time as the economy tanked and smokers no longer had the time or money to buy cigars and wait 6 months. They needed immediate, or close to it, gratification. And the new breed blends brought that to the table.
I like A/B cigars but they need time and my cigar budget is low and I want cigars, like their Nica Puro which can be smoked right away, in my humidor.

So now I venture outside the arena of house brands to the tried and true. Alec Bradley Black Market, released at the 2011 IPCPR Trade Show. Lots of reviews. Lots of opinions.

Now it’s my turn. The packaging is eye candy. The tube covering half the cigar. And the secondary band just above it with the simple words of the blender and the blend.

Construction is excellent with beautifully concealed seams. Some big and small veins are easily apparent. The Colorado Maduro color is gorgeous with its dark coffee bean color and that slightest twinge of a reddish hue. The stick is solid. And there is a beautiful oily sheen with some sandiness to the touch.

I love the way the Alec Bradley folks describe the wrapper: “cured to a dark, shimmering patina.” There is a writer after my own heart.

I clip the cap and discover aromas of cedar, earthiness, spice, and mint…or spearmint. There are also notes of cocoa, coffee and clove.
Time to light up.

The first puffs show off a bunch of natural sweetness. There is red pepper on the tongue. Smoke pours from the foot clouding my vision as I type with the cigar in my mouth. I also taste a rich earthiness. The char line is pretty good, so far.

I love the spiciness. I should add that this cigar has been in my humidor for almost a month.

The flavors become more interesting after the first inch. The cocoa appears and I dash for a Diet Coke…although, I would not ordinarily do this for a non-Nicaraguan blend. But the wrapper is close enough.

The ash disembarks the ship at one inch. A buttery, smooth creaminess shows up.

And then there is that earthiness which continues to embed itself into the main profile. The sweetness reminds me of honeysuckle and a spicy, cinnamon candy, coated apple on a stick. While the other kids went for the caramel covered apple variety, I went, 100% of the time, to that glistening, shiny red, dentist’s dream, spicy cinnamon hard candy covering on the apple. You don’t see that much anymore. Now all you see are those ridiculous caramel, candied apples with everything on them but the kitchen sink.

The burn line becomes a bit wavy. No touch ups required yet. I approach the end of the first third and the cigar is mighty tasty. Simple, but tasty.

Hopefully, the second third opens new vistas for this cigar.

The cigar sees the red pepper escalate. And that spicy cinnamon elevates with it. The honey-like component is now taking a back seat to the creaminess. I might add that these last two flavors are subtle and muted. The earthiness is a constant.
So as I hit the halfway mark, I wonder if this cigar has any more to offer. The char line is very close to requiring a touch up. There is no complexity yet. The cigar, at this point, appears to be a one trick pony. A very pleasant cigar but not bowling me over with flavor.

I’m beginning to think that this stick should be more in the $5-$6 range than its $7.50 price point.

I pass the halfway mark and the end of the second third is near. Nothing has changed nor added.

While it is pleasant, I can think of many more cigars at this price point I would purchase before the Black Market. It seems to be stuck in neutral.

The secondary cigar band comes off with a struggle…too much glue, so I use my trusty, sharp Kershaw knife to carefully remove it without damaging the wrapper.

I would be tempted to buy a box of toros if it weren’t for the $155-$160 price tag. I’m sure these sticks can be had for less on Cbid.

The last third begins and there is a small amount of bitterness in the flavor profile. It becomes a little harsh. The body is a strong medium.

My preferred size is a robusto because of the flavor intensity and duration of smoke. Once a cigar gets boring, having another few inches to go is a struggle.

The cigar has lost most of its spiciness. What is left is now black pepper in the back of my mouth. The cocoa is gone. And so is the coffee. What is left is a small amount of sweetness and the earthiness. The cigar teased me in the first third.
As I write this, I realize that a whole bunch of smokers are telling me that I’m full of shit. But I smoke my review cigars first thing in the morning when my palate is fresh. As the day progresses, and my chain smoking continues, nuance and finesse disappear. My palate literally burns out by the end of the evening.

At this point, I believe the $6 Star Insignia and $5 Medici from Best Cigar Prices are better Alec Bradley blends.

The Black Market keeps on chooglin’ with the same flavor profile as the halfway point…limited interesting components. That’s too bad because I was looking forward to this cigar. And a month should be plenty of time for a cigar to mature enough in order to taste the blender’s intent.

The last couple inches sees the flavors bite the dust. I’m left with the memory of all those early wonderful flavors. Even the creaminess is gone. I’m left with a bit of spice some earthiness, and sweetness and that’s it.

The A/B Nica Puro is a great cigar and in the same price range as the Black Market. The character of these two cigars is night and day. I would pick the Nica Puro over the B/M any time.

The cigar finishes out limp in the flavor department. It is an OK cigar but after this experience, I think I could find better ways to spend my dough.

Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS