Cigar Review: Family Blend Lineage by Alec Bradley

Vitola: Toro
Size: 6” x 54 ring gauge
Price ~$7.50
Review sample provided by Alec Bradley

Background

One of my favorite Alec Bradley releases in the last decade was the Family Blend. When it came out, I have to admit that I was all over it…I smoked 8 or 10 from the first releases and figured I had found something I would keep smoking regularly for a very long time. Something happened. Either the blend changed somewhat (it happens with different crops of tobacco leaves…consistency over the long run is one of the most difficult things in the cigar industry, I think) or I changed. Honestly, it could have been me…at one time I enjoyed several Alec Bradley and Rocky Patel blends, but at a certain point, I fell somewhat out of love with most Honduran-heavy blends. To be sure, there are some that still light my fire–Camacho Corojo, some of the Oscar Valladares blends (Leaf and Rosalila)–but many times blends that rely heavily on Honduran leaf end up leaving me flat.

I was contacted by someone at Alec Bradley a month or so ago about trying their new “Family Blend” and possibly writing a review. Does any cigar reviewer ever say “No” when a company asks if they want to try something new? Pretty sure I know the answer to that. So a week or so later I got a single sample of the Family Blend The Lineage in the mail, perhaps befitting the theory that I had when I started the Tiki Bar (our old blog, for those of you who came in late): a reasonable person should, with some control of the circumstances, be able to determine how they feel about a cigar with a single stick. Other reviewers have vehemently disagreed with that notion over the years–”To be fair to the blend, you have to smoke it 3 to 5 times!”–but I maintain that 90% of the time, I make my mind up how I feel about a blend based on the first time I smoke it. There are exceptions…when I get a bad stick, when my palate is fried for some reason, or if the blend is just exceptionally challenging…but those times when I smoke 3 samples for a review, I usually have a number in my head after the first one. It may change by 1/2 a point or so when I smoke the actual reviewing sample, but that’s about it. All that to say, this new blend gets one chance for me.

The original Family Blend, released about 5 years ago, used NIcaraguan and Honduran fillers, an Indonesian binder, and a Honduran Trojes wrapper. The Lineage extension to the line is specifically referring to the sons of company owner Alan Rubin, Alec and Bradley (yes, the company was named after his two sons), who have reached the legal age to smoke cigars (in most states…although I would guess they are legally allowed to join the military and go fight and possibly die for their country in any state…yes, there is something terribly wrong with treating them as adults in one way, but “protecting” them from adult decisions in another). The Lineage uses Honduran and Nicaraguan fillers, a Nicaraguan binder, and a Honduran Trojes wrapper. The specs sound similar to the original Family Blend except for the binder, but I could not find any specific references to the blends being similar, so it could be almost entirely new…or almost entirely identical. Six sizes were released in May, with the smallest ring gauge being 52; the line also features the first time Alec Bradley has released a 7×70 cigar. I’m going to repeat…I hate the trend toward bigger and bigger ring gauges and really hate the fact that “50” is the new “Lancero” for many companies. I know they sell well, but they simply don’t have the sharpness and specificity of flavor.

Prelight

One thing I believe Alec Bradley has done quite well over the years is banding, packaging and marketing of their cigars. The Lineage is another quality piece of work with elements such as font, filigree, shapes and foil that create the impression of a classic look, but with a modern interpretation. It’s ornate without appearing too flamboyant or overboard. The cigar seemed well-made, too, with an expertly applied wrapper, flat seams and well-coiled pigtail cap. The color was a medium brown with a bit of a reddish hue and the aroma was manure and leather. The foot had a combination of earth, wood and rotting vegetation aromas. The cold draw was good and tasted of earth and wood.

Flavor

Before lighting the “wood” flavor was fairly indistinct, but after lighting it came more into focus as cedar. I also got notes of hay and earth and natural tobacco. There was a touch of pepper spice on the back of the palate and on the nose. As the first third continued to burn I picked up on some citrus sweetness and the pepper increased a bit.

The second third saw the flavor profile mostly stay consistent: more hay, a little earth and some pepper and citrus to keep things interesting.

In the last third, the pepper spice increased a bit and the notes of earth did, as well.

Construction

The build on the Family Blend The Lineage was superb. Flawless draw. Straight burn line. Solid ash.

Value

The asking price on this line of cigars is very fair.

Conclusions

I found the Alec Bradley Family Blend The Lineage to be a good smoke, although not one that was particularly inspiring to my palate. Since it was blended to be an homage to the namesakes of the company on the time they can legally smoke (in most states) I would say it probably fits the mission well: it would be a very good cigar for beginning cigar enthusiasts. It had a steady, even delivery of medium-bodied smoke that never challenged the palate too much. I have to honestly say, though, that many modern smokers graduate beyond that level pretty quickly into the more full-flavored world of cigars.

By-The-Numbers

Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 3.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 8.5/10