“Hearty and a rich looking” Alec Bradley Sanctum Cigars Review.

Brand History:

The Alec Bradley Cigar Company has one goal: to give the cigar smoker an unforgettable experience. Founded by Alan Rubin in 1996, Alec Bradley Cigar Company has distinguished itself as a world-class boutique producer and purveyor in the premium cigar industry. The Alec Bradley brand is synonymous with quality and accessibility, garnering top ratings from critics and expanding a loyal clientele.

In 1996, Alan Rubin was charting a new course in his life. Having sold the family import business, he wanted to create a company dedicated to his passion: cigars. Mr. Rubin sought to bring the hand-crafted tradition to the market without losing any attention to detail. To oversee daily operations Mr. Rubin brought in Ralph Montero; Mr. Montero is currently executive vice president. A partnership with Henke Kelner produced Occidental Reserve, Alec Bradley’s entrance into the premium cigar market. The product line expanded with Trilogy, a triangle press, and Maxx, which offered a 60 ring gauge at an accessible price point.

By 2007, Alec Bradley Cigars had created huge industry buzz. The cigar smoking community was waiting for Alec Bradley to do something special. That “something special” arrived with the launch of Tempus. Tempus established Alec Bradley Cigars as a top competitor in the market. Tempus (which is Latin for time) represented all the time-consuming traditions Mr. Rubin loved: waiting for the perfect crop of tobacco; partnering with a small, family-run operation to produce, ferment, and roll the tobacco; personally overseeing the blending process. The result was a phenomenal cigar that represents the quality product consumers have come to expect from Alec Bradley. Invigorated by the success of Tempus, the Company continued to develop and launch a number of highly rated lines, notably SCR, Family Blend, Prensado, and Maxx Connecticut.

Currently, Alec Bradley Cigar Company has ten full-time employees at their corporate offices in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and 13 sales representatives covering eighty percent of the United States. When Mr. Rubin was asked about the success of Alec Bradley he stated “we live true every day, believe in our products and respect one another”.

 Appearance:

The cigar had an oily, hearty and a rich looking wrapper with a sweet pre-light aroma similar to cocoa.  It was very smooth and seamless with a great coloration from its cap to the foot.

 

Journey Profile:

1^st quarter: A smooth draw allowed full flavored smoke through.  Some noticeable sweetness and some light initial spicy character were noticeable on the palate and through the nose with a clean finish.  2^nd quarter: There were some spices present through the nose along with a tangy, spicy aroma in the air.   The flavor was great right off the bat and settled in nicely, allowing a creamy texture to develop on the palate.  3^rd quarter: A woody texture and thick clouds of smoke delivered rich tobacco notes with more full characters.  A hint of cedar tones with an underlying sweetness and more spice also lingered.  A consistently slow burn produced a long and dense, white ash.  4^th quarter: There was some earthiness in both the aroma and finish along with slightly sweet undertones.  The cigar continued to develop into its full aroma, with rich mouthwatering characteristics and spices left on the palate.  It was a very solid ending to a well-made cigar.

 

Final Thoughts:

The Alec Bradley Sanctum Cigar offers a big, earthy profile from start to finish.  Spices developed nicely and were balanced by a great creamy texture with rich tobacco notes.  It was full flavored with a medium-full body.  Overall, the Sanctum has excellent construction and great complexity.

 

  

Myron Gooch Sr.

Reviewed at: Don Lupe Cigar Lounge Long Beach, CA.

Time Smoked: 1 hour 30 minutes.

Cost: $9.00

Wrapper: Honduran Corojo.

Binder: Costa Rican.

Filler: Colombia, Nicaragua and Honduras.

Size: 5” x 52.

Rating: 90