Alec Bradley Black Market Churchill (BFYBRW)

[ctsigler317]

As @MoeFOH alluded to, my BFYBRW isn't a Cuban.  Going purely on price point, enjoyment, and length of smoke this weekend. 😶‍🌫️

Disclaimer- I'm not a reviewer at all!  lol  This is my first attempt.  I don't have the defined palette yet to describe my tastes, but I do recognize the differences in tastes and aroma between various cigar types.  I don't like bold and bitter... I prefer a more natural sweetness and richness that is mostly found in Cubans.   Nonetheless, I still smoke way more NC due to the price point. I'm slowly building up my Cuban collection with the assistance of FOH!

I digress.....   on to the review!

My first ever Alec Bradley was a Prensado, chosen at random off a cigar menu while at a nice cocktail lounge.  Ended up absolutely loving it.  Wonderfully creamy and rich smoke.  Later, I read about the AB Black Market and decided to also give it a try.  Bought a fiver of these online for $20, making each stick only $4. Not bad for the 2022 CI #6 of the year.  🏆

Cost: $4    Total smoke time: 2 hours     Price per hour: $2

Today's temps reached 52F in the Midwest, so I decided to finally do a gutter cleanout and trim a few low-hanging branches.  Needed a long lasting cheap smoke for my work.  Alec Bradley Black Market Churchill for the win!

IMHO, the band is pretty bland, cheap, and unappealing.  Not nearly as ornate as the Prensado.  Let's take off this huge paper band and see how she tastes.  Removing the huge band left a smaller ring band with just the maker and blend.  Went with a V-cut as I tend to do on larger sticks.  Cold draw is very barnyard, musky, hay.     No sweetness at all.  Time to head outside and light it up.

First stop- the front yard.  Lots of leaves and sticks in the gutters, and tons of low hanging branches blocking the sidewalk and porch entrance.  Made my way around the brush and finally lit it up.

The sunshine is beautiful.  Sunshine and a nice stick are even better. 

The first third smoked very slowly, as I tended to the ladder, constantly moving it around as my son climbed up and down.  (It's even a better bargain when your son helps you with your yard work!)  The burn was pretty uneven and jagged... very warped...  but I blame that on my lack of attention to the cigar as I walked around and manhandled it.  Slightly windy outside.

Made it around to the back of the house while on the first third.  The foot was looking pretty shaggy and jagged by the time I made it around, but it required absolutely no touch-ups at all.  It evened out on its own, as I rotated and tried to let it works its own magic.

Lots of medium to full bodied flavor.  Very rich and smoky.  Tons of leather and nutty notes.  Not a lot of spice at all to start.  Pretty earthy and herby to begin with.

Second third begins to get a little more spicy and peppery, but not tons.  It's hit or miss with each puff.  It's beginning to get a little sweeter, and I can feel the nic begin to start kicking in.  It's getting chilly in the backyard so I move my chair from the shade to the sunshine.

It's not until the sunshine hits the wrapper that I notice how beautiful it is.  It's a dark colorado maduro color.  It's much more colorful than it looked inside and in the shade.  Has a nice red tint to it.  The wrapper has a nice grit to it, a bit sandy in texture.

I'm getting close to the second band as I finish off the second third, and don't notice as it begins to char.  Time to remove it.

The final third is delicious.  Same result as the first time smoking the Black Market.  It became much more sweet, rich, savory and addictive.  Not sure if it's the nicotine or what, but it's like you don't want to put it down.  Each puff give off a pure tobacco richness that I crave.

Time to enjoy the final third and bask in the sunshine.  It's burned for well over 1h 30m now, so I need to enjoy the last 30m.

By this time, the wife is checking on my whereabouts and the kids are waiting on a promised trip to Orange Leaf for a cup of froyo.  I don't nub it, but wish I could have.   I have to stop here:

 

Overall I give this a 9/10 for taste, length of burn, satisfaction from the smoke, and addictiveness.

The uneven burn would get an 8/10 but I blame it on myself, so I bump that up to a 9/10 as well.

Give one a try!   I know there are AB lovers and haters out there..........  but for $4 you can't go wrong with this guy.

 

-ctsigler317

 

[HuffnPuffff]

Nice review, well done.
Hope you enjoyed a froyo too!


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[ctsigler317]

7 hours ago, HuffnPuffff said:

Nice review, well done.
Hope you enjoyed a froyo too!

Thank you!  Yes, had some excellent froyo and then watched a short drone show our town put on in honor of Veterans Day.  Great finish to an even greater day!

[El Presidente]

great review 

[ctsigler317]

19 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

great review 

Thanks!