The Alec Bradley Sun Grown Robusto, an all-Nicaraguan blend, has been sitting in my humidor for quite a while. From countless times I contemplated cutting its aging time short, I’ve grown familiar with its shimmering, dark Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper leaf. The tight, seamless wrap is a work of art in its impeccability, while the lack of thick obtrusive veins makes it all the more appealing for a smoker. Its elegant band is also a sight to behold.
I want my Alec Bradley Sun Grown Robusto to be at its best before I draw my first smoke—unfurling its refined and balanced flavors untainted by my impatience. But after months of temptation and longing looks, I finally gave in and pulled a stick out for a smoke. Upon holding it, I figured it had a reasonable weight showing off an excellent balance. Although I still haven’t smoked it at this moment, this Sun Grown Robusto is, without a doubt, a fine cigar. Gently squeezing it from end to end, its core of Nicaraguan tobaccos feels perfectly distributed without a single spongy or hard spot.
| Wrapper Origin: Nicaragua | Shape: Robusto |
| Length: 5 | Ring: 50 |
| Wrapper: Habano | List Price: $120 (Box of 20) |
| Origin: Nicaragua | Strength: Full |
Pull of Cigar
After admiring the tobacco’s exterior, I decided to clip its foot. The pre-light aroma perfumed the air with enticing notes of sweet cocoa, coffee beans, and cedar. Before firing up, I took a few cold draws to prep my palate, which previewed pleasant layers of chocolate and cracked black pepper.
The pull of Alec Bradley Sun Grown Robusto had a touch of resistance, which I look upon as ideal. It’s finally time to toast its foot and experience what the smoking phase of this Robusto would have in store.
Taste
Upon firing up, my palate is awash in a plethora of palate-pleasing flavors. A wondrous combination of espresso and sweet chocolate come forth as I enjoy the first few draws. Every puff produces an ample amount of smoke production that gave off a wonderful aroma of cedar with sweet, underlying cocoa notes.
The initial impressions are a wonderful surprise from what I expected of a Nicaraguan puro. Instead of exploding with decadent spices and robust flavors, the Alec Bradley Sun Grown Robusto offers well-balanced flavors that can only come from finely tuned tobaccos. A few inches in, copious notes of leather enter the picture. A touch of red pepper then delivers a spicy tingle to my tongue, exciting my palate for what is more to come.
The second third rises with a savory and bitter crescendo of leather. The red pepper spice becomes less muted, not relenting on the retrohale. Meanwhile, the coffee and chocolate flavors move to the background as distant secondary notes. The Alec Bradley Sun Grown Robusto started as a medium-bodied cigar, but its intensity gradually increased, and by the end of the second third, its strength is touching the hem of medium to full-bodied.
Dark grey ash forms nicely on a consistently even char line. Subtle hints of citrus weave in and out as I near the finale of my cigar while its firm ash shows no signs of crumbling. A testament to the near-perfect construction of the stogie and the quality control standards by Alec Bradley.
The final third picks up where the second third left off. The pepper has faded slightly, but there is still a pleasant kick of spice through the retrohale. The notes of leather pick up as a faint touch of sweet cocoa teases my taste buds on the way to a tantalizingly smooth finish.
Overall Review of Alec Bradley Sun Grown Robusto
The Alec Bradley Sun Grown Robusto started up with sweet and savory bursts of smoke before tickling my palate with a dose of spice. Although the flavor profile was quite linear and not overly complex, it did provide for an error-free cigar smoking experience from the pre-light right down to the nub. The construction was right on the money, from the desirable draw restraint to the dark grey ash that held firmly and dropped in solid chunks on my ashtray. It is definitely what every cigar enthusiast needs whenever they want pleasure and solace.
The real surprise of this premium cigar was its strength. This Robusto started medium, but once it got past the halfway mark, the strength ratchets up and finishes at medium to full. I certainly plan on grabbing a box of these for an everyday smoke. I will also have to pick up some of the other vitolas, probably a Toro, to compare. Overall, this deserves a 90-point rating.
Other Cigars Reviews
Other Alec Bradley Cigar Reviews
Alec Bradley Maxx The Fixx
This AB cigar is a fat 58 gauge cigar that isn’t overpowering. It has a nice creamy, medium-bodied smoke. The filler tobacco in the Alec Bradley Maxx the Fixx is a blend from five countries: Costa Rica, Colombia, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua. The five-country blend makes for a complex and enjoyable smoke that could be appreciated by any cigar enthusiast or casual cigar smoker. It really is a great cigar.
Alec Bradley The Lineage Robusto
Alec Bradley Lineage 1996 cigars represent an evolution in the renowned Family Blend series, crafted to honor the legal smoking age of Alan Rubin’s sons, Alec and Bradley, in 2014. These cigars are distinctively produced at Raíces Cubanas in Danli, Honduras, with the unique feature of pigtail caps on all variations except the Torpedo. They offer a rich blend of Honduran and Nicaraguan elements, complemented by an exquisite Trojes wrapper, contributing to their full-flavored profile. This composition and background set the stage for an in-depth review of Alec Bradley The Lineage Robusto.
Other Nicaraguan Cigar Reviews
CAO Gold Robusto
The CAO Gold Robusto, with its golden brown Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, promises a delightful experience even before it’s lit. Originating from Nicaragua and boasting a mellow strength, this cigar offers an exquisite blend of flavors, from sweet butterscotch and cedar to complex notes of black pepper, dark chocolate, and creamy vanilla. The smoking experience is enhanced by its even burn, gray ash, and a variety of evolving flavors that include a medley of citrus, charred oak, and leather, all underpinned by a creamy undertone. Suitable for any time of day and appealing to both novices and connoisseurs alike, the cigar provides a satisfying, hour-long smoke. The review of CAO Gold Robusto concludes with a high recommendation and a 92-point rating, celebrating its balanced, subtly spicy, and richly layered profile.
Oliva Baptiste Robusto Maduro
The Oliva Cigar Co., with roots traced back to the tobacco fields of Cuba, has a rich history of passionate tobacco cultivation that began with Melanio Oliva. Over generations, the company has thrived, now producing 15 to 16 million handmade cigars annually. The Oliva Baptiste Robusto Maduro, a product of their lineage, showcases a USA Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper encasing a Nicaraguan filler and binder. Upon tasting, the cigar reveals a full-bodied strength with flavors of earth, cedar, black pepper, sweetness, and a hint of espresso. Its dynamic flavor transitions and impeccable construction earn it high praise. Conclusively, this detailed exploration showcases the excellence in the review of Oliva Baptiste Robusto Maduro.
