Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the Alec Bradley Safe Keepings Robusto is medium brown and has some thick, raised veins present. The seams are smooth and the caps well applied. The band is primarily gold and black along with some blue, green and brown. It denotes the brand and line. The aroma from the wrapper is dark earth and wood while the foot brings bread, stone fruit and some ammonia zing. The pre-light draw brings a fresh cedar along with a mild spiciness on my lips.

First Third

The cigar begins with toasted cedar, earth and some mild baking spice. At a half inch in, the cedar takes on a heavy toast. The retrohale is heavily toasted cedar and earth. At three quarters of an inch in, some walnut shell joins the profile. As the third comes to a close, the heavily toasted cedar is just ahead of the earth, with walnut shell in the middle of the profile and some mild baking spice in the background. The strength was right at medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the mild baking spice transitions to a slightly fuller black pepper. The retrohale is now toasted cedar, earth and mild black pepper. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar is just ahead of the earth, with walnut shell in the middle of the profile and black pepper a bit further behind. The strength remained at medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the walnut shell increases a bit. At a third of an inch in, the cedar now carries a light char. The retrohale is now toasted cedar, earth and zingy black pepper. At an inch in, some wood bitterness becomes present. As the cigar wraps up, the lightly charred cedar is just ahead of the earth, with walnut shell just in front of the middle of the profile and black pepper and wood bitterness a bit behind. The strength bumped up to slightly above medium.

Burn

The burn was a bit wavy at times, but never needed any attention. The ash held on in inch and a half increments.

Draw

The draw was slightly looser than I prefer, but didn’t cause any issues with the smoking experience.

Overall

The cigar began with toasted cedar, earth and some mild baking spice. The cedar took on a heavy toast not long after. some walnut shell joined a bit later. The second third saw the baking spice transition to black pepper. The final third saw the walnut shell increase a bit. Later, the cedar transitioned to a light char and some wood bitterness joined in. The Alec Bradley Safe Keepings Robusto had an average flavor profile through the first two thirds, focused around heavily toasted cedar, earth and walnut shell. It took a step down in the final third as the heavy toast transitioned to light char and some wood bitterness joined. Not really a great experience as the heavy toast, and later char, was a bit of a hinderance to the rest of the components. I don’t see myself returning to this one.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.15

Cost/Point

$2.39

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Alec Bradley Safe Keepings Robusto