Alec Bradley Black Market Churchill

Alec Bradley "Black Market" Churchill (7x50)
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It's a nice Kona color with a Nicaraguan Wrapper, a Sumatran Binder, and a filler mixture from Honduras and Panama. I kind of like the “plain Jane” label No fancy gold wrapper with a picture and words too small to read. The Construction has some veins but not real throbbing sticks buldging out and has a rough but oily texture. The cigar feels pretty firm all the way through and makes me worry it will be hard to draw on. The smell is very pleasant and reminds me of a plant that doesn’t have a natural odor but just freshness.
Underneath the Large wrapper is a small one that simply reads “Alec Bradley/ Black Market”. Being that I prefer a concentrated draw I punch the head and notice a very loose open draw and an odd flavor that I can’t quite make out… maybe a sour-earthy flavor???.

I “toast and roast” and I draw a cloud of smoke in and…. It’s an amazing flavor! It reminds me of an orange peel and the bottom of the glass after the ice melted in a drink; mixed with a light earthy flavor. I am wowed!
This is my first Alec Bradley and it is fantastic!


I assumed that by the color that this cigar was a Maduro, but it’s very creamy like a Connecticut. The cigar has a little lop-sided burn but nothing needing correction at this time. I think it would go amazingly well with a Sam Adams Spring Ale.I did the next best thing.


The first third of this stick is holding true to an earthy-citrus flavor that isn’t over powering or weak. The smoke is bellowing a nice blue and the ash is a very dark gray.

The ash held grate until about a 1/3 of the cigar and I dumped it. The 2/3 has an increasing citrus draw to it but it still maintains a well balanced flavors. The stick is still rolling clouds of smoke from it. I had to perform the first burn correction that it has needed with my trusty Xikar Tech Torch (I love this thing and plug it every chance I get!) The most surprising thing so far besides the flavor, is that the cigar is medium bodied even at the ½ way point. There hasn’t been any “bite” it and the cigar is rather fast burning.

The 3/3 of the cigar has stayed the course with flavor and needed no correcting. The earthy flavor is a little stronger now but still maintains a balanced flavor that makes a nice finish to a very nice cigar! I am truly happy with my purchase and can’t wait to see what some age will do to the flavor of this cigar.