A green wrapper cigar, limited to 3000 boxes

Green is not an easy colour for a cigar, but Alec Bradley, a brand well known to aficionados, has a 2015 release: a cigar from the Black Market Filthy Hooligan range whose distinguishing feature is a light green wrapper.

A green cigar, a surprising result

This Toro is dressed in a green wrapper, also known as candela, produced in Nicaragua. These unusual cigars are sold under the Alec Bradley name. Launched in 1996 by Alain Rubin, the brand was selling between two and three million cigars a year worldwide in 2011. It was also awarded 96 points out of 100 in 2011 by Cigar Aficionado magazine for its Alec Bradley Prensado Churchill.

The candela leaf is heat-dried over 72 hours in order to fix the chlorophyll. The result is striking: a light green cigar with a thin, perfectly taut wrapper.

The packaging is particularly careful, with each cigar wrapped in a light grey sheet printed with the logo of the brand and of the range. It measures 15.2 cm x 1.98 cm.

Production is limited to « only » 3,000 boxes of 22 cigars.

Alec Bradley candela, the tasting notes

The first third is described as mild and light, with notes of nutmeg and vanilla alongside a slightly herbaceous character.

The middle third is reported to be a little stronger while remaining mild, with earthy notes following on from those first impressions.

The final third is more pronounced, with sharper notes of pepper and spice.