This earthy beauty is the Alec Bradley Double Broadleaf cigar.
Broadleaf is a type of tobacco that is more challenging to work with than others, but if you treat it right, you get a really nice result at the end of the day. It’s rough and rustic, but has turned out to be just perfect for so many modern blends like the CAO Flathead, Tatuaje Broadleaf Reserva, and La Gloria Cubana Serie R (among a TON of others). Earthy, meaty, peppery… it’s just a dark feast for the senses and a totally different smoke than traditional cedary Cubanesque blends, or mild coffee sticks.
Variety is the spice of life, and broadleaf is the spice of cigars.
Alec Bradley Double Broadleaf cigars come from the company’s Experimental Series that produced Project 40, which landed on Cigar Aficionado’s 2019 Top 25 Cigars of the Year list. This time around, the work at the blending table clearly focused on broadleaf, because this stogie features it as the wrapper and one of the two binder leaves.
The wrapper is Honduran broadleaf, grown from Connecticut seeds. One binder is also Honduran broadleaf, which is joined by Nicaraguan tobacco for a super snug hold. The filler blend is a mix of Honduran and Nicaraguan leaf.
Expect flavor from the smoke, but don’t think the blend will take you over the top. It actually comes off fairly straightforward, which can be a good thing or not, depending on what you want from the smoke. We think there’s a time and place for in-your-face flavor and more restrained blends. That said, this one is still full strength, so don’t get it twisted. It’s a big boy/girl smoke.
Black pepper is the primary note, and it is layered onto a rich earthy flavor. This is joined by some minty flashes here and there, not unlike the mild taste you get from munching on wild mint you find while hiking (if you’re the type to mess around with a little survival foraging). On the whole, the stick is potent and enjoyable. It actually reminds us a bit of some strong La Flor Dominicana blends, but more peppery.
Anyhow, enjoy. This one is for the broadleaf lovers out there.
Please browse our selection of Alec Bradley Double Broadleaf cigars at your leisure.
