Back in May of 2024, Alec Bradley announced the launch of Safe Keepings, a new brand that will feature blends made according to recipes recorded in the Alec Bradley founder’s blend book.
Alec Bradley brand ambassador Bradley Rubin explained,
“When we felt the time was right, we opened the blend book and started to do a deep dive on the blend recipes inside. Together with the team, we selected the first blend we wanted to roll out. Alec Bradley Safe Keepings honors the blend legacy of the Alec Bradley cigar brand while giving us the opportunity to move forward with resources we never would have been able to access before. Alec and I are extremely proud of what Safe Keepings represents, and that’s a nod to the past and a glance into the future of the brand.”
Alec Bradley Safe Keepings is described as a Nicaraguan puro, crafted by Oliva at Tabolisa, featuring tobaccos from pristine fields in Esteli, Condega and Jalapa.
The full blend is described as:
- Wrapper – Nicaraguan Habano
- Binder – Nicaraguan Habano
- Filler – Nicaraguan (Jalapa, Condega and Esteli Criollo 98)
The line was launched with four vitolas that will become a permanent addition to the Alec Bradley cigar brand portfolio. Each of the frontmarks comes in 24-count boxes.
- Corona (5.37 x 46); MSRP per cigar $10.49
- Robusto (5” x 52): MSPR per cigar $12.29
- Toro (6” x 52); MSRP per cigar $13.89
- Gordo (6” x 60); MSRP per cigar $15.19
For this review, I sampled 3 of the Alec Bradley Safe Keepings Robustos that I received from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie press.
Pre-Light Examination
The Alec Bradley Safe Keepings looks to be a well-constructed cigar with its silky smooth, milk chocolate brown wrapper that exhibits minimal veins. It has nice packing with just the right give along the barrel. The wrapper also exhibits a fine oily sheen. A simple cap completes the construction.
A single band adorns the cigar and presents quite a bit of imagery. The center includes a staircase framed in a golden archway with the name Alec Bradley on top and Safe Keepings on the bottom. A green ivy vine spreads across the band and over the arch. To the left is a golden statue and to the right is a golden fountain, the Alec Bradley logo, and a golden key. That is a lot to study on the band.
Running the cigar along the nose, I picked up minimal aromas along the barrel while the foot presented enticing fruit and nut aromas.
I sliced the cap straight across the shoulder and gave it some cold draws that I found to be pleasant with just the right restriction and a delicate tobacco sweetness intertwined with a cinnamon spice.
Using my fan flame Xikar lighter, I warmed the foot to an even orange glow as I drew in the first puffs of earth and spice notes. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Earth and spice to start the journey
- A light grey ash forms on top of a thick wavy char line
- Creamy chocolate notes add to the early profile
- The pre-light sweetness begins to enter after a 1/4 inch of burn
- Ash fell in a decent chunk revealing a centered burn cone
- Moving into second third there is a slight bitter component in the blend
- There is a touch of fruit tantalizing the palate
- Deeper chocolate notes midway through the burn
- Caramel notes deep in second third
- Floral bitterness increases in the final
- Burns hot in the final
- Medium Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 25 minutes
Final Analysis
The Alec Bradley Safe Keepings Robusto journey begins with initial flavors that are rich and smooth, with creamy chocolate notes weaving their way into the profile. As the cigar progresses, the pre-light sweetness begins to emerge after the first quarter inch of burn, enhancing the complexity. As the smoke enters the second third, a subtle bitterness makes its presence known as a hint of fruit teases the palate, offering a surprising contrast to the more decadent chocolate notes that develop midway through. Caramel undertones add a layer of sweetness in the latter part of the second third, rounding out the flavor profile. In the final stretch, a floral bitterness intensifies, lending a sharp contrast to the sweetness. The burn grows noticeably hotter as the cigar draws to its conclusion. This is worth checking out a fiver of. I rate this a 90.
Point Deductions: (-1) Wavy Burn; (-1) Bitter Notes in Second half; (-2) Burns Hot in Final
