Alec Bradley Family Blend VR1

This 5 1/2 X 50 light brown cigar, has a few visible seems, a few veins and has a pigtail cap.  At first light I am met with a slight peppery cedar.  The draw is slightly loose and is produceing large plumes of smoke.  The black pepper has a bit of a zing to it.  Its a 3-10 on the pepper scale.  The cedar comes in on the draw, and the finish is all black pepper.  There is a slight nuttiness that mixes in with the pepper on the finish.  At the one inch mark the burn is almost razor sharp.  The body is currently at a mild to medium and is starting to ramp up to a solid medium

Around an inch and a half in the flavors have stayed the same, however a nice new flavor has come into play.  A sweet raisin flavor is now present with the cedar on the draw and then with the pepper and nuttiness on the finish.  My suspicions of the body coming up to a medium was confirmed.  The raisin flavor is relatively sweet and creamy.

With three inches remaining some new flavors have joined in.  On the draw the cedar has dropped off.  The sweet raisin is still there, along with the nuttiness, and a creamy leather flavor.  These flavors mesh into a roasted coffee on the finish and after taste that last all the way until the next draw.  The flavors are playing off of one another and add in a slight vanilla bean on occasional draws.

Now I have about two inches left and the flavors are starting to get warm and mushy.  The leather is still there but it is starting to become bitter.  The raisin, and coffee have faded way, but the leather and nuttiness have really elevated to the fore front.  I sat the cigar down the last time at the 1 hour and 42 minute mark, which is a excellent burn time for a robusto size cigar.

Price: $6.00
Appearance: 89
Draw: 92
Burn: 95
Flavor: 95
Burn Time: 96

Overall Score: 94