Cigar Review: Post Embargo by Alec Bradley

• Vitola: Robusto
• 5” x 52 ring gauge 
• MSRP $8.00
• Purchased at Burns Tobacconist

Background

Perhaps they were getting ahead of themselves…perhaps it was wishful thinking…but at the 2015 IPCPR show, Alec Bradley Cigars debuted a line called “Post Embargo,” heralding the changing relationship between the United States and Cuba, as well as looking forward to a future without an embargo in place. The cigars shipped before the end of 2015, but the embargo is still in place at the time of this writing (the end of February 2017). Despite the widespread belief that “Obama overturned the Embargo, dude!” it simply didn’t happen…you can now buy Cuban cigars in other countries and bring them back to the United States, but you cannot buy Cuban cigars in the United States yet (legally, anyway).

We didn’t get Post Embargo at Burns right away. It actually showed up right around August of 2016 and I got a sample from the rep at that time. You may have noticed that I haven’t posted a review of an Alec Bradley cigar in a very long time (almost 2 years, to be exact, with the H-Town version of the Nica Puro (which I enjoyed), but then almost another year before that since I reviewed the Lineage (it was okay) and the Fine and Rare (just so-so). The bottom line is there just haven’t been many Alec Bradley cigars that have matched up with my palate, so I’ve kind of given up on them. This cigar ended up breaking that streak.

Post Embargo is made in Raices Cubanas (like many AB cigars) in Honduras. It uses Nicaraguan and Honduran fillers, dual binders from the same countries, and a Honduran wrapper. I have had a couple before this review sample, which I purchased at Burns Tobacconist. I got a little background info for the review from the Cigar Aficionado story about the release.

Prelight

The band of the Post Embargo has what appears to be shields (of a sort) emblazoned with Cuban and American flags, with a background of a sunburst and surrounding design elements including “AB” logos, gold foil, and embossing. It is all faded-looking, as it is supposed to be something left over from “pre-embargo.” I think it looks good, although it perhaps doesn’t stand out enough on a crowded cigar store’s shelves.

The wrapper was a peanut butter color with some darker mottling and fairly minimal veining. It was smooth and a bit oily to the touch, smelling strongly of barnyard earth. The foot of the stick was a little less pungent, mixing earth with cedar and a general vegetal note.

The cold draw was a bit tight, but it didn’t strike me as too much. The cold flavors were of earth, wet wood, and berries.

Flavor

The flavors on the Post Embargo didn’t need much time to develop. Within a couple puffs, I was getting a mix of berry sweetness, medium-roast coffee, earth and cedar. It was surprising and very good all at once. Surprising because I don’t recall an Alec Bradley blend that had this much flavor possibly ever, but especially not right at the start. The extraordinarily complex beginning didn’t last, though, and soon the cigar settled into a more solidly earthy character, with supporting flavors of cedar and a mild fruit sweetness. Pepper spice did start to come through after the first few puffs, both on the palate and on the nose.

The second third was characterized by sweet natural tobacco flavor, backed up by earth and red pepper flake. The retrohale was still very spicy. While the blend had backed off on complexity, it was still burning with a very good flavor.

The end of this cigar wasn’t nearly as satisfying and great as the beginning. It had more natural tobacco flavor with the sweetness ebbing away. The pepper died off, as well.

Construction

I had a great draw and solid ash throughout. I had to touch up the burn line several times along the way; not the end of the world, but a little annoying.

Value

The only other Alec Bradley cigar that I’ve had recently that I would gladly buy again is the Mundial and it’s about $5 a stick more expensive than this one. That makes this one very good value in my book.

Conclusions

For the first two third, the Alec Bradley Post Embargo is a great stick that defied my expectations from the company’s blends. Then it kind of died out toward the end. Nevertheless, it gave me my $8 worth with a spectacular opening act that was full of complexity and intrigue, as well as a solid second third that by itself ranks up there with the best the company has produced. The last third was a little dull, but overall it was a good smoke that I would buy again…probably for times when I’m working since I don’t tend to pay as much attention to them then.

By-The-Numbers

Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 1.5/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 8.5/10