Alec Bradley American Sun Grown Blend
Friday, November 30th, 2012While the Sun Grown Blend isn’t exactly new, it is the latest in the Alec Bradley American series. I enjoyed the Classic Blend, but it was sort of your run of the mill Connecticut. That’s not to say it was bad. I was curious how this would compare, so let’s get to it.
Wrapper: Honduras Connecticut
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Esteli, Condega
Size: Toro 50 x 6
Price: Around $7.00
Pre-Smoke & Construction:
The wrapper was very smooth, with virtually no seams or flaws. I can only describe the scent as earthy with typical rich tobacco. Squeezing the cigar revealed some hard spots, mainly towards the head. This caused the draw to be a little snug, and barely within my tolerances. The pre-light flavor was mild spice and dark cocoa.
The ash held for just about one inch, and the burn required a few small corrections. Luckily, the tight draw loosened up in the first third.
Flavor:
The first third was a mixture of espresso, pepper, and nutty notes in the background. The smoke feel was dry, and had an interesting aftertaste. I couldn’t pin it down, but it reminded me of fruit.
Espresso mellowed a bit in the second third, which allowed sweet creaminess to stand out. At the halfway point, wood and fruity notes joined in. The pepper calmed down, but kept some pep.
The last third had dominant flavors of espresso and pepper. The sweet creaminess fell to the background, and the smoke feel became dry. That elusive fruity note remained way in the background, along with earthiness and a touch of leather.
Conclusion:
This a good medium to upper medium bodied cigar. It had some nice complexities and nuances that held my interest. I may have been in a picky mood while smoking this cigar. In some small way, there was a lack of richness, except in the last third. This isn’t to say it was bad, and my mood could have been a factor while smoking this particular cigar. The American Sun Grown Blend is worth a try for sure.
