Alec Bradley Black Market Robusto

📌 Brand: Alec Bradley
📌 Line: Black Market
📌 Size: Robusto (5 1/4" × 52)
📌 Weight: 18.9 g
📌 Age: 3 years
📌 Origin: Honduras

‍ ‍Tasting Notes

• Dark Earth – Heavy, slightly rough core

• Black Pepper – Sharp and upfront spice

• Charred Wood – Appears after corrections

• Bitter Cocoa – Faint and inconsistent

First Impressions

The Black Market Robusto has a rustic look with its dark wrapper. It feels reasonably firm in hand. Pre-light aroma reveals earth, spice, and a touch of cocoa. Cold draw is decent, though slightly uneven.

Smoking Experience

• First Third – Opens with earth and black pepper dominating. Smoke is decent, but the profile already feels a bit rough.

• Second Third – Burn begins to struggle and requires a correction. Harshness starts to build, overtaking the subtle cocoa notes.

• Final Third – Continued burn issues require additional touch-ups. The cigar becomes increasingly harsh with charred wood notes taking over.

Pairings

• Alcohol – Disaronno Amaretto (Italy) - Sweet almond and vanilla help soften the cigar’s harsh edges and add some perceived richness.

• Tea – Chinese Jin Jun Mei Black Tea - Honeyed sweetness and smooth body help counterbalance the bitterness and roughness.

Music Pairing

“Matador” – Los Fabulosos Cadillacs
Bold and intense, fitting the cigar’s aggressive moments.

Final Thoughts

Alec Bradley Black Market Robusto offers some earthy and spicy character, but burn issues and increasing harshness limit the overall enjoyment and refinement.

Final Score: 6/10
Why not a 10?
Uneven burn and harshness disrupted the balance and overshadowed the cigar’s better moments.

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