Alec Bradley Safe Keepings Robusto

Alan Rubin, the founder of Alec Bradley cigars, has been blending and producing cigars since 1997 that have 90+ ratings from Cigar Aficionado, Cigar Insider, and Cigar Journal, just to name a few. His cigars also consistently make Cigar Aficionado’s annual Top 25 list, making his cigars some of the most sought out in the industry. If you don’t know where the name Alec Bradley came from, look no farther than Alan’s two sons, Alec and Bradley, who are now partnering with their father in the family business.

Alec Bradley’s Safe Keepings represents the revival of an old long-lost recipe that was “kept safe” in the company’s extensive blend book. This bold Nicaraguan puro is the first to be released under the Safe Keepings line, and it features a gorgeous orange-hued Nicaraguan Habano wrapper leaf that secures a Nicaraguan binder leaf and a delicious blend of Jalapa and Condega long fillers, and a flavorful Criollo '98 leaf from Estelí. Give the foot a toast and you can expect notes of medium to full bodied oak, spice, and honey. Pair this smoke with a glass of W.L. Weller Antique 107 Bourbon.

The Nicaraguan cigar industry originated when Cuban cigar makers escaped the revolution and re-established their livelihood in Nicaragua with Cuban-seed tobacco. Blessed with dark, rich soil, their new home was ideal for tobacco cultivation and Nicaragua quickly became known for cigars that rivaled Cuban quality. Unfortunately, revolution and war came to Nicaragua in the 1980s and devastated the industry, but it’s rebounded dramatically and is once again producing tobacco considered by many to be the finest in the world.

The Esteli Valley is in many ways the heart of Nicaraguan production and is known for its very powerful and spicy tobacco. The Jalapa Valley produces arguably the finest tobacco in the country: somewhat sweeter and less intense than Esteli, but extremely complex. The tobacco of the Condega Valley is often described as a blend of the other two regions.