Alec Bradley American Classic Torpedo - Box of 24

Before American Sungrown gave Alec Bradley a bolder, darker option, there was American Classic, a genuine tribute to the affordable, smooth, complex cigars once rolled in Tampa's early 20th century cigar factories. Founder Alan Rubin, when asked how he could possibly know what a cigar from the Teddy Roosevelt era tasted like, explained his approach simply: he'd smoked some very old, vintage cigars, and while there wasn't much flavor left in them, he could imagine what they'd originally tasted like, and built this blend around that imagined memory.

The Torpedo, at 6.1 x 52, wraps a beautiful, silky Honduran Connecticut-seed leaf around a bold Nicaraguan Jalapa binder and an aged recipe of Nicaraguan long-fillers from Estelí and Condega, handmade at Nestor Plasencia's Segovia factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. Cigar Aficionado awarded the line 90 points, describing this exact vitola as sweet and floral with a woody core, hints of cereal and a bit of dried fruit on the finish, consistent with the light wrapper's promise. The flavor journey moves through distinct phases: an oily, slightly sweet opening with a light tobacco feel, softening into leather and cream through the midpoint, before deep earth and a hint of earthiness settle in toward the final third, closing on smooth, soft smoke as the cigar reaches its nub.

What makes this cigar genuinely notable is how much complexity Alec Bradley built into a mild to medium-bodied blend at a genuinely affordable price. One detailed early review called it a new standard for inexpensive cigars, its flavor and construction worthy of a price considerably higher than its actual cost, with cedar, nuts, and cream giving way to espresso and dark chocolate as the smoke progresses. It's worth mentioning honestly that as with any handmade cigar at this accessible price point, occasional construction variance is possible, at least one buyer reported a wrapper that began unwrapping shortly after cutting, though this appears to be the exception rather than the rule across the overwhelming majority of reviews, which consistently praise a well-rolled, true-burning smoke that holds its ash impressively well.

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Flavor progression:

1. Opening: an oily note with a slightly sweet, light tobacco character, cedar and nuts building alongside the Connecticut-seed wrapper's cream
2. Mid-smoke: soft leather and a creamy texture develop, coffee and a woodsy depth settling in as deep earth notes emerge
3. Close: espresso and dark chocolate round out a smooth, soothing finish, the mild to medium body staying gentle through to the nub

Key Features:

1. Brand: Alec Bradley
2. Line: American Classic
3. Concept: A tribute to old-style, Tampa-made cigars from the early 20th century
4. Factory: Segovia factory (Nestor Plasencia), Estelí, Nicaragua
5. Country of Origin: Nicaragua
6. Wrapper: Honduran Connecticut-seed
7. Binder: Nicaraguan (Jalapa)
8. Filler: Nicaraguan (Estelí and Condega)
9. Construction: Handmade
10. Vitola: Torpedo
11. Size: 6.1 inches x 52 ring gauge
12. Strength: Mild to Medium
13. Flavor Profile: Cedar, nuts, cream, coffee, espresso, dark chocolate, woody, honey sweetness, dried fruit
14. Rating: 90 points, Cigar Aficionado
15. Box Count: 24 cigars
16. Price per Cigar: approximately $5.00