Alec Bradley Black Market

Alec Bradley's iconic Black Market collection was launched at the International Convention of Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers (IPCPR) in 2011. Quickly it became very popular thanks to the unique aesthetic, the production and the blend of this new cigar.

For nearly a year, Alan Rubin, the founder of Alec Bradley, used his blending skills to create a new cigar line with particular flavors. Every month, he worked on blends based on a special tobacco from Panama to create his next masterpiece. To do so, he developed 18 different blends and when he smoked the third one, he immediately knew that it would be the one that would constitute the Black Market Collection.

What makes it so unique is its tobacco blend, coming from 4 different countries: the filler comes from Honduras and Panama, covered with a binder from the island of Sumatra in Ecuador. Finally, the whole is wrapped in a Nicaraguan wrapper with an earthy shade. In addition, only Viso and Ligero leaves were chosen to develop this cigar, they allow to release intense and pronounced aromas during the tasting.

This collection is composed of 8 vitolas, each rolled by hand at "Tabacos de Oriente", the Plasencia’s factory in Honduras.

Small review of the different cigars:

Let's start with the Black Market Punk (42 x 114 mm), due to its small diameter and small size, it offers a convenient tasting time of 30 to 40 minutes, especially when the timing is short. However, its construction is as meticulous as its peers, with intense tobaccos and flavors.

Let's continue with the Black Market Robusto (52 x 133 mm). This medium strength cigar is covered with a Nicaraguan wrapper, grown in the famous Jalapa Valley, and showing a few veins. Raw, it delivers cocoa and coffee flavors. Once lit, its draw is relatively soft.

As for the Black Market Toro (50 x 152 mm), it is a cigar whose meticulous construction reveals a few veins of different sizes. The wrapper is a beautiful dark Maduro with a subtle hint of a reddish tint and an oily finish.

Next, the Back Market Churchill (50 x 178 mm) is also composed of the unusual but memorable blend of Honduran, Panamanian, Nicaraguan and Ecuadorian tobaccos. It's a dark cigar that releases aromas of dried herbs, hazelnut and spices in its rich smoke.

Moving on, the Black Market Torpedo (54 x 152 mm) is a medium-bodied cigar, its smoke is delivering notes of cocoa, spice, coffee and earth. The draw is impeccable, which is a result of the fine tobacco and the superb construction of the cigar.

We are nearing the end of this collection with the Black Market Gordo (60 x 152 mm). Its strength evolves from medium to strong, its oily wrapper and regular ash show a beautiful construction. Its draw from which walnut and espresso notes escape, is quite easy.

And finally, let's finish with the Black Market Chunk (60 x 108 mm), more commonly known as a "Petit Gordo". It was first released in 2015 as an exclusivity for the Canadian market. Its power evolves from medium to strong while benefiting from the same composition as its fellows. Its sweetness and spices bring a rather creamy finish.

Nevertheless, to close this collection in the best way, the line was joined by a new vitola in limited edition, the Black Market Perfecto (54 x 156 mm). The latter is available in a box of 10 pieces only. The Nicaraguan wrapper harmoniously covers a well-rolled filler composed of Honduran, Panamanian and Sumatran tobaccos. It is an atypical but very well-balanced cigar.

While the name of the "Black Market" line may seem illicit, Alec Bradley packs his vitolas in the same style: each of these modules are arranged in boxes of 24 units (except for the Perfecto, arranged in a box of 10), looking like crates that were stolen straight off an airplane or a cargo ship. It's a modern aesthetic choice that illustrates the journey of this cigar.

About the brand:

Alec Bradley's story begins with a simple cigar enthusiast with no previous experience in the field. Through ambition, thirst for knowledge and hard work, Alan Rubin eventually learned all about the history, blending and culture of tobacco. He then realized his dream by creating the Alec Bradley Cigar Company, named after his sons, Alec and Bradley, in 1996.

Only 2 years later, the tobacco industry was heavily impacted by the decline of the tobacco boom and the company had to fight for its survival. However, Alec Bradley's future will take an unexpected turn thanks to an encounter with Ralph Montero, a tobacco industry professional.

In the 2000s, in order to face this crisis, Ralph proposed to join forces with Alan to change the direction of the company: they now have to make a name for themselves in the tobacco specialized retailer stores. To do so, they created a new line called "Occidental Reserve" with the help of Henke Kelner, a Davidoff cigar manufacturer.

500 samples of this new cigar were sent to different retail stores, it allowed them to gain new customers and thus, to bounce back in the industry thanks to this last chance. Then, Alec Bradley continued to develop new products such as the triangular cigar "Trilogy" which became a hit cigar, or its new line "Maxx".

The company started to experience a dazzling success, especially from 2007 when the brand experienced its greatest triumph with the introduction of a new full-bodied line called "Tempus".

Once they graduated, Alan's sons Alec and Bradley began working for the company full time while learning the business's ropes. The first works in marketing, promotions and sales support, while the second is involved in marketing and social media development. After several years of training, they developed their own blend with "Kintsugi," launched in December 2020, through a secondary line named "Alec & Bradley". In addition of creating new lines, they bring a fresh twist to the company by working on a new project that would give them the creative control of a regional exclusive to be released in their own territories.

At the end of the day, what's important to Alec Bradley is making lives a little better, during the time of a cigar, and offering to aficionados an unforgettable experience through their products. With a reputation the Rubins have spent more than two decades building, the company is truly family-oriented: "You can't imagine how proud I am. There are no words to describe how being able to work with my boys brings me joy. And my father, at 91, comes in every day, so we have three generations in the office every day" said Alec Bradley's founder, Alan Rubin , before his father's passing in 2019.

> Discover other premium standard cigars.

ALEC BRADLEY - Black Market - Toro 2021 - Box of 22
Vitola: Toro (50 x 152 mm)

ALEC BRADLEY - Black Market - Toro 2022 - Box of 24
Vitola: Toro (50 x 152 mm)

ALEC BRADLEY - Black Market - Torpedo 2021 - Box of 22
Vitola: Torpedo (54 x 152 mm)

ALEC BRADLEY - Black Market - Torpedo 2022 - Box of 24
Vitola: Torpedo (54 x 152 mm)

ALEC BRADLEY - Black Market - Robusto 2022 - Box of 24
Vitola: Robusto (52 x 133 mm)

ALEC BRADLEY - Black Market - Perfecto - Box of 10
Vitola: Perfecto (54 x 156 mm)

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