My latest cigar conquests include some of the finest tobacco products in the market, so it would be an opportunity missed if an indulging smoking experience will be kept a secret.
Assembled in Raices Cubanas factory in Honduras, Alec Bradley The Lineage Robusto boasts a construction hand-made with pride. The eyes will be pleased by its reddish-brown wrapper and neatly worn band. Compared to Alec Bradley’s traditional tobaccos, the cigar I’m holding is a lot fancier. A true enthusiast can tell how it’s made out of passion, which prompted me to explore its underlying history.
Before lineage cigars settle into every aficionado’s humidor, they were first rolled in someone’s mind. A dedicated family man named Alan Rubin is their genius craftsman. Rather than naming the prized company after himself, he made a fatherly choice of deriving its name from people dear to his heart—his sons Alec and Bradley.
The successful cigar maker wasn’t entitled to any cigar business when he started taking an interest in the industry. He was a newbie. In fact, the brand’s debut in 1996 was filled with uncertainty. As there were too many cigars on the market while the demand was insufficient, Alec Bradley’s first rolled cigars were not guaranteed to succeed.
However, amid doubts and debts, Alan Rubin made it work. Owning a boutique cigar company, Rubin established a solid reputation in the competitive industry through his premium offerings. Today, the Alec Bradley cigars are one of the highly-rated smokes of the cigar aficionado.
Among Alec Bradley’s cigar lines, The Lineage is sure to leave a pinch in your heart, for it was born of a father’s love. As a celebration of the company’s second-generation cigar makers, his sons, Alec Bradley the Lineage, was created.
| Wrapper Origin: Honduras | Shape: Robusto |
| Length: 5.25 | Ring: 52 |
| Wrapper: Hybrid | List Price: $158 (Box of 20) |
| Origin: Honduras | Strength: Medium |
Pull of Cigar
Visually, the cigar looks good; it’s evenly dark and fairly glistening with oil. The Honduran wrapper displays a pattern of delicate veins and mostly tight seams necessary for a tobacco leaf. Beneath its glamorous exterior lurks a blend of Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos, devoid of nothing to deliver pleasure.
As I rolled it in between my palm, I found the cigar to be firmly packed all the way through with no traces of soft spots. This alone tells me that Alan Rubin only settles for the best quality. Among its attractive features, the pigtailed endcap is my favorite. Indeed, my Alec Bradley cigar is an exquisite piece of art.
The pre-lit scent welcomes you with a creamy and buttery tobacco aroma that will leave you wanting more. Surrendering to my desire, I took my razor-sharp cigar cutter to penetrate the cigar. The moment it entered my mouth, my taste buds were attacked with delight. A faint flavor of dried wood initially emerged. Soon after, a fruity note sweetly waves to the palate.
Spot-on, the pull of cigar got me so hooked. It was neither loose nor tight. The draw furnishes the right amount of resistance I was searching for. For the enjoyment to continue, I must light it up and see how it tastes.
Taste
The cigar started with plenty of smoke output. On the initial whiff, a spicy cedar note stroked the throat with a dry consistency. It was followed by a well-balanced, subtle spice that eventually went into the background as another flavor appears. Replacing the pungency, the nuance of natural tobacco pours creaminess to soothe the palate. Though it was only the outset, my Alec Bradley The Lineage Robusto seems to unleash its A-game, setting the bar way too high.
If you prefer to retrohale, expect the sharpness of pepper spice to pass through your nasal cavity. To those who might get intimated by its fiery smoke, worry no more since it’s blended with a sweetness reminiscent of freshly picked raspberries. After 15 minutes of indulgence, the cigar slowly establishes solid ash marked by a clean burn. The equally weighed amount of dried wood, earth, and creamy tobacco worked together to achieve an irresistible taste.
While burning halfway, the cigar reveals aromas of spiced oak and sweetened berries. During this stage, a slight transition of flavor profile happens. Pretty much similar to the first third, the cigar still holds notes of cedar, earth, and natural tobacco—only that the consistency shifts from dry to powdery. Rather than raspberry, I could now detect floral notes instead. When smoked through your nose, the sharpness became more elaborate—a mix of white and red peppers. So far, so good.
As the last stage unfolds, the cigar required few minor touch-ups, yet the smoke output remains impressive. There was no major change of flavors; for the most part, I can taste dried wood and petrichor. Some salty elements are also present, seasoning the smoke with succulence. The newly introduced grassy note like that of hay caress the palate on the finish. The retrohale is where the thrill lingers. The peppery spices took a step backward, allowing the flavor of citrus to shine.
Overall
Before my final verdict, let me acknowledge the impeccable craftsmanship that this cigar exhibits throughout the entire smoke; it was magnificent. Alec Bradley cigars are unquestionably one of the best. Their outstanding quality, spot-on taste, and affordable price are all manifested in the Alec Bradley The Lineage Robusto.
Overall, this medium-bodied smoke truly has what it takes to belong to the Alec Bradley family blend—soulful and complex. If I were to put my level of satisfaction into numbers, it would be a 91 out of 100. At this moment, one thing is for sure: this isn’t the last Alec Bradley I’m smoking.
