Late in 2025, Alec Bradley Cigars released the latest rendition of their famed Kintsugi late last year. The company explains on their website:
“Following in the footsteps of one of Alec Bradley’s most celebrated cigars, Wabi Sabi is the next chapter in the Kintsugi story. Inspired by the Japanese philosophy that finds beauty in imperfection, authenticity and the passage of time, Wabi Sabi embraces a different kind of balance — one that’s rich, grounded and deeply human.
To bring it to life, we turned to AJ Fernandez in Estelí, where carefully selected tobaccos from Ecuador, Mexico and Nicaragua were brought together in a cigar that celebrates depth, nuance and the beauty of the real.“
The blend for the Wabi-Sabi is described as:
- Wrapper – Ecuadorian Habano
- Binder – Mexican San Andres
- Filler – Nicaraguan
The blend is expressed in a single (6 x 52) toro vitola and comes packaged in 16-count boxes with an MSRP of $12.49/cigar.
For this review I sampled 2 Kintsugi Wabi Sabi’s that I received from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.
Pre-Light Examination
The Alec Bradley Kintsugi Wabi Sabi is draped with a smooth and shiny, medium brown leaf that exhibits minimal veins and tight seams. The cigar is packed well and does not have any soft spots along the barrel. A double cap finishes the construction.
A large singe band adorns the cigar. It uses a green, gold, and cream motif and boldly declares his as the Kintsugi. The bottom of the band defines this one a the Wabi|Sabi.
Running the cigar along the nose I picked up rich nutty notes off the foot along with touch of natural sweetness along the barrel.
I sliced the cap straight ross the shoulder of the cigar and gave it some cold draws that I found to be spot on with restriction and offering notes of sweetness, nut, and spice – peppery spice grows as you continue to cold draw it.
Using my single flame torch, I warmed th foot to an even orange glow and drew in the first puffs of peppery spice to start the journey. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Introduction note of peppery spice especially on the first retrohale
- A solid light grey ash begins to develop
- There is a touch of sweetness laying in the background early in the journey
- A pleasant and enticing nutty aroma wafts off the foot
- Cream notes evolve deep in the first third
- The ash does start to get flaky
- Moving into the second third, a dark chocolate note begins to evolve
- There is a slight increase of spice midway
- The early cream maintains and has been more noticeable moving through the second third
- The wrapper is imparting definitive natural tobacco sweetness on the lips and tongue
- The profile starts to evolve and shift to more of an earth and woody sensation moving into the final
- The early spice has pulled back a bit
- Medium in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 40 minutes
Final Analysis
The Alec Bradley Kintsugi Wabi Sabi opens with an introduction of peppery spice, most noticeable on the first retrohale. Beneath the spice, a subtle touch of sweetness lingers in the background, adding balance to the opening notes. A pleasant and enticing nutty aroma wafts off the foot, enhancing the overall experience. Deep into the first third, creamy notes begin to evolve, softening the profile nicely. As the cigar settles, the ash starts to show some flakiness, though it remains intact.
Transitioning into the second third, a dark chocolate note gradually emerges, bringing richness and depth to the blend. Midway through, there is a slight uptick in spice, though it never overwhelms the palate. The earlier creaminess continues and becomes more noticeable through this portion of the cigar, providing a smooth counterbalance. The wrapper contributes a definitive natural tobacco sweetness, clearly present on the lips and tongue, adding another layer of enjoyment.
As the cigar moves into the final third, the profile begins to evolve, shifting toward more earthy and woody sensations. The early spice pulls back noticeably, allowing the deeper, grounded flavors to take center stage. The transition is smooth and measured, closing out the cigar with a refined and well-balanced finish. This is worth grabbing a fiver of.
Point Deductions: (-1) Off Burn; (-1) Flaky ash
Bonus Points:(+1) Well Balanced
