Alec & Bradley Wagyu A5

📌 Brand: Alec & Bradley
📌 Line: Wagyu A5
📌 Size: Toro (6" × 52)
📌 Weight:19.3 g
📌 Age: 4 years
📌 Origin: Honduras

Tasting Notes

• Cocoa – Sweet and earthy backbone

• Umami/Meaty Note – Savory richness unique to the blend

• Cedar – Woody balance throughout

• Black Pepper – Moderate spice on the retrohale

First Impressions

The Wagyu A5 Toro shows a dark, oily Mexican San Andres wrapper with a bold black-and-gold band. Pre-light aromas are cocoa, cedar, and a faint savory meatiness. Cold draw is open, with cocoa and spice coming through.

Smoking Experience

• First Third – Cocoa and cedar open smoothly, backed by pepper. Burn begins uneven.

• Second Third – Umami/meaty notes join the profile, adding intrigue. Multiple corrections required to keep combustion steady.

• Final Third – Pepper sharpens, cocoa fades slightly, and the cigar requires two relights before finishing.

Pairings

• Alcohol – Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky , with vanilla, tropical fruit, and sweet grain to complement the cigar’s savory cocoa profile.

• Tea – Kenyan Purple Tea, floral and slightly tart, cutting through the heaviness while adding contrast.

Music Pairing

“Immigrant Song” – Led Zeppelin

Intense energy, matching the pepper and savory notes.

Final Thoughts

The Alec & Bradley Wagyu A5 brings a unique umami-like note alongside cocoa, cedar, and pepper, making for an intriguing flavor profile. Unfortunately, repeated burn issues and two relights held back what could have been an excellent smoke.

Final Score: 6/10
Why not a 10?
Burn instability and relights disrupted the flow, overshadowing the blend’s distinctive flavors.

Only cigars that deliver flawless draw, balance, flavour evolution, construction and satisfaction get a 10.