Gotham Heroes Alec Bradley | Cigar Reviews by the Katman

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Sun Grown
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Size: 5 x 50 Robusto
Body: Medium/Full
Price: $6.00
Humidor Time: 2.5 weeks
Number of cigars smoked prior to review: 2

Today we take a look at the Gotham Heroes Alec Bradley. A house blend for Gotham Cigars.
Thanks to Manny Balani for the samples.

BACKGROUND:
Factory: Nestor Plasencia (Nicaragua)
Sold in 5 packs only. One size.
There is no significant information about this cigar on the Gotham Cigars web site.
Manny Balani told me “Just a heads up…we have had them humidified from our end at least 8 months and from Alex Bradley’s side at least 6 months. I would say try one now if you want and wait.”
I did as instructed and the cigar needed a bit more humidor time so it got a couple weeks. Based on my trial stick two days ago, it’s ready.

DESCRIPTION:
An oily, mottled, coffee bean brown wrapper. Stick is solid. Nice amount of tooth.
Seams are tight. Lots of small veins. The triple cap is near flawless.

AROMAS AND COLD DRAW POINTS:
From the shaft, I smell soft cocoa notes, pepper, pumpkin spice, cream, cinnamon, a bit of floral, cedar, and golden raisins.
From the clipped cap and the foot, I smell red pepper, chocolate, sweetness, cream, cedar, espresso, floral, and dried fruit.
The cold draw presents flavors of red pepper, malts, chocolate, cinnamon, espresso, caramel, creaminess, cedar, salted nuts, and dried fruit.

FIRST THIRD:
I’d be less than truthful that if I didn’t admit being skeptical about a $4-$6 house blend. They came down the chute in March for around $2-$4 before settling on $6. Early prices were part of a promotion to get the attention of Gotham’s clientele….Now Gotham’s fingers are crossed that word of mouth, and reviews, are positive.

Things start out with dueling flavors: Red pepper and a creamy chocolate.
Right behind are the malts, summer melon, caramel, salted nuts, cedar, mousse-like nougat, and a wonderful generic sweetness.
Not a bad start.

Strength begins at medium body but quickly ascends to medium/full.
Construction is rock steady. The char line is behaving.

The chocolate and the cream are so integral that it morphs into hot cocoa with marshmallows.
Blam. The first sweet spot occurs with only ¾” burned. Flavors go from subtle and nuanced to balls out bold.
Now we’re talking. I can taste the A/B influence. Its flavor intense, full of chocolate and cream, and it has a meaty element that makes it difficult to take the cigar away from your mouth.
The Gotham Heroes Alec Bradley just hit high premium status. I am pleasantly surprised.

I recently reviewed another inexpensive cigar and it too surprised me…but not in a good way. All my ranting about expensive cigars and down the pike comes a reasonably priced stick that will easily go into your everyday rotation.
I’m impressed.

The cocoa transplants to an ice cream chocolate malt.
We have complexity. We have transitions. We have character. Bingo.

Gotta be honest here. I like the Gotham Heroes Alec Bradley better than some regular brand Bradley blends. And it is certainly the best house blend I’ve tasted….not counting the ridiculously priced boutique online store house blends that go for high double digits. They always tend to disappoint. I can’t remember a joint venture cigar I’ve enjoyed as much as this blend.
The Gotham Heroes Alec Bradley is kicking my arse with loads of flavor; putting a big smile on my puss.

SECOND THIRD:
Smoke time is a leisurely 30 minutes.
Sweet spot 2.0.
Wow. I know you hate me using the term flavor bomb…but it perfectly describes the Gotham Heroes Alec Bradley.

It is going nuts with over the top flavor elements. The complexity is deep, nuanced, and chock full of personality.

It’s early but if the Gotham Heroes Alec Bradley continues on this path, two things will occur….First, it will receive a damn fine rating. And second, you will purchase of a 5 pack or two.
How the hell do they do this? A blend that could have gone for $8-$10 and they nail down the price to $6. There aren’t a lot of cigar manufacturers that still believe in giving the consumer a big bang for their buck. Nice to be reviewing one right here.

Every single flavor described earlier is in play. And then some…steak sauce, Crème brûlée, black licorice, raisins, and a touch of prune.
Finally my friends, an inexpensive cigar that proves to be a killer blend.

I reach the halfway point. Smoke time is 45 minutes.
There is no stopping the Gotham Heroes Alec Bradley. Each puff brings a swirling complexity to the table.
I gotta get some of these.
I love the big booming largesse of smoke output. Construction is in check and the char line needs no touch ups.
The finish is a mile long. I smack my lips like a cow chewing its cud.

The creaminess brings out a root beer float element. Haven’t had one of those in years.
Back in the day, in high school, there was a chain of drug stores similar to Walgreens. Only back then, they always had a lunch counter. I would take off from lunch at school and sneak over to the lunch counter and grab a root beer float. Hadn’t thought of that in years. Thank you Gotham Heroes Alec Bradley.

Strength hits full body. A touch of nicotine emerges.

The Gotham Cigars web site has 20 customer reviews. Almost every one of them gives the cigar a 5 star rating. Right on.

This blend is so good that it will be the first time I have put an inexpensive cigar on my top 25 cigar list for the year. The Gotham Heroes Alec Bradley earned it.

I don’t get my social security til the 3rd. I swear…if you guys buy them all up before I get a chance to purchase mine, I will come to your house, with Charlotte, and I will allow my wife to psychoanalyze you. It will reduce you to a warm puddle on the carpet.

Two weeks! Now this is New Breed style of blending personified. Warning. Do not smoke one ROTT. Be patient and let them rest. Ye shall be rewarded.

LAST THIRD:
Smoke time is one hour 5 minutes.
The burn line needs its first touch up. No big deal. I just want my photos to be purty.

The Gotham Heroes Alec Bradley simmers down into an extremely smooth blend. Full strength, yes…but blaring away on all cylinders.
I’ve been pretty brutal with some recent blends I reviewed. What a wonderful thing to be able to write a rave review.

Manna from the gods. Holy crap folks. Rush over to the Gotham Cigars web site and score some.
I’m getting nuances from some great brands like Illusione, AJ, La Flor, and Ezra Zion.
That’s some pedigree.

Wanna impress your mooch friends? This is the cigar. Tell them it is an $11 cigar and they will believe in your Yoda-like wisdom.

I don’t want this to end. Thank goodness that the cigar was packed perfectly. Nice slow roll. And this Robusto will become a 90 minute smoke.
I’m not going to list flavors again because you will think I’m nuts.

The malts are varied…Rye malt, caramel malt, and chocolate malt.
This is a stick you savor.
Kudos to Gotham Cigars and Alec Bradley.
Final smoke time is one hour 25 minutes.

RATING: 93