Cigar Geeks - Alec Bradley Select Cabinet Reserve Robusto

Cigar Geeks Geek Critique

Alec Bradley Select Cabinet Reserve Robusto
Written by Cigar Geeks Member: David Fine (stogie_foggie)

81
Cigar Geeks Rating

Welcome to another Cigar Geeks Critique of a cigar provided to us by our good friends at Alec Bradley Cigars. Up for review this time is one of their new lines - the Select Cabinet Reserve "SCR". They have generously provided a number of cigars in the Robusto size for our memebrs to review. Special thanks to member podman28 (aka Tim) for lining this up through his relationship with the Alec Bradley company.

Alec Bradley Select Cabinet Reserve Robusto

Brand:: Alec Bradley
Name:: Select Cabinet Reserve Robusto
Length:: 5
Ring Gauge:: 50
Country of Origin:: Honduras
Filler:: Honduras
Nicaragua
Binder:: Honduras
Indonesia
Wrapper:: Honduras
Color:: Colorado
Strength:: Medium
Shape:: Robusto
Average Member Rating:: (22 Review(s))

This cigar was enjoyed with Coca Cola w/ Ice

Pre-Light: 18 Points of 10 Possible

Milk chocolate wrapper with some veins. Visible seams but nicely rolled with a nice double cap. Firm pack throughout, with a nice swirled tobacco roll. Pre-light aroma and draw are of chocolate.

Lighting and Burn: 13 Points of 15 Possible

After a nice toast of the foot, easily lit with ample smoke. These clouds of smoke are eveident throughout. Slow burn rate, which makes for a nice smooth, cool smoke. The burn was crooked at times, but corrected itself every time. Light gray ash, that held for inches at a time but would fall off when you least expected it.

Construction: 24 Points of 30 Possible

Nice draw, tight but not so much I had to really puff. Exactly how I like to smoke. The head stayed firm throughout the smoke and could withstand heavy chomping. A thicker wrapper but stayed together and I think the firmness added to the jagged burn at times.

Flavor and Aroma: 26 Points of 45 Possible

Strength and body evolved from light to heavy throughout the smoke, which is usually the case.

First 1/3: Light spice, like cinnamon. Lighter flavors and body. An occasional sharp taste.

Second 1/3: Strong hay flavors, still that occasional sharp taste. Spice is gone, but replaced with this heavy hay, almost grassy, herbal flavor.

Last 1/3: Much heavier strength and body, with hints of cocoa or bitter coffee flavors. Grassy taste still there but has gone into the background a little more.

Light aftertaste, almost as though I didn't smoke for that long.

Summary

Overall, the smoking experience was excellent. Great draw, ample smoke and a nice cool smoke. Nice looking cigar that held up well to the beating I can sometimes give cigars during the length of time I smoke, which in this case was about 60 minutes.

Where this cigar fell through was flavor. There was some complexity, from light spice to a cocoa coffee flavor. The body and strength really never got over the medium level. The main flavor, however, was this grassiness that I didn't enjoy as much. I suspect this cigar would do well with a little rest in the humidor to bring out its true potential. While I liked this, I still believe that I prefer the Tempus, but I also prefer a full-bodied cigar. I would give this another chance, after a little aging.