Alec Bradley Black Market Esteli - Gordo (BOX OF 24)

The 93-rated, #9 Cigar of the Year sequel to the Black Market. Sharper, spicier, and built around the tobacco capital of Nicaragua.

When Alec Bradley's Alan Rubin created the original Black Market, it earned a 90-point rating on mystery alone. The Black Market Estelí was built to take that premise further by bringing Estelí, the undisputed cigar capital of Nicaragua, into direct focus. Produced at the Plasencia Cigars S.A. factory in Estelí and blended with a combination of Nicaraguan and Honduran tobaccos, the Estelí is a noticeably bolder, more intense, and more complex premium cigar than the line that preceded it. Cigars International awarded it 93 points and named it the #9 Cigar of the Year, calling it "a rich combination of savory and sweet, loaded with earthy, leathery notes balanced by undercurrents of raisin and cocoa."

The Gordo at 6 x 60 is the largest vitola in the Black Market Estelí lineup. The wide 60 ring gauge burns slow and cool, giving every layer of the blend time to develop fully across a session that runs approximately 90 minutes to 2 hours. If you are looking for the fullest, most expansive expression of the blend, this is the format to choose. This box of 24 is the standard humidor investment for anyone who wants these Esteli cigars in regular rotation.

The blend includes:

1. Nicaraguan wrapper, dark espresso-hued with a generous oil sheen and slight box-press, toothy and tacky to the touch
2. Dual Nicaraguan and Honduran binder, the Honduran influence broadening the flavor texture in a way the reviewers consistently credit for making this blend special
3. Nicaraguan long-filler from Estelí, Plasencia-grown and selected for the line's bold, full-body character

From the first draw, you will notice:

1. Cashews, leather, dark chocolate, and a vanilla sweetness on the cold draw
2. Leather, earth, oak, hay, and coffee opening the first third with light spice and black pepper on the retrohale
3. Dark chocolate taking the dominant position in the second third alongside salted peanuts, freshly roasted coffee, and floral notes
4. Bittersweet cocoa, raisins, aged oak, and espresso building through the final third
5. Strength escalating deliberately to full by the close, with a long, peppery, leather-forward finish

The room note is one of the more frequently praised aspects of the Black Market Estelí, described by Holt's as "remarkable." Smoke output is generous, the burn is slow and cool particularly in the Gordo format, and the draw runs from slightly resistant to open as the cigar progresses.

Compared to other 93-rated full-bodied Nicaraguan cigars:

1. Estelí-sourced Plasencia tobacco brings a complexity and intensity that pure Nicaraguan puros often lack by themselves
2. The dual Nicaraguan and Honduran binder is credited by multiple reviewers as the key textural element that elevates this blend above the competition
3. The distinctive double-band packaging keeps the tobacco blend information intentionally mysterious, a Black Market tradition
4. At this price per cigar, the 93-point rating and #9 Cigar of the Year placement represent exceptional value for the quality level delivered

Compared to other Black Market Estelí vitolas:

1. Gordo (6 x 60): largest format, 90 minutes to 2 hours, slowest and coolest burn, fullest flavor evolution
2. Toro (6 x 52): same blend at 60 to 75 minutes, slightly more concentrated draw
3. Torpedo (6.5 x 52): tapered head sharpens flavor definition, 60 to 75 minutes
4. Robusto (5 x 52): most compact format, 45 to 60 minutes, same blend character in a faster session
5. Punk (4.25 x 42): smallest vitola, quick petite corona format, 20 to 30 minutes

This product is best suited for:

1. Experienced full-body smokers who want a 93-rated, #9 Cigar of the Year in their regular rotation
2. Fans of Estelí and Nicaraguan tobacco who want leather, dark chocolate, cocoa, and bold pepper in a slow-burning 60-ring format
3. Alec Bradley enthusiasts ready to upgrade from the original Black Market to a sharper, more intense expression

Key Features

1. Brand: Alec Bradley
2. Line: Black Market Estelí
3. Vitola: Gordo
4. Size: 6 inches x 60 ring gauge
5. Wrapper: Nicaraguan (dark espresso, oily, slight box-press)
6. Binder: Dual Nicaraguan and Honduran
7. Filler: Nicaraguan long-filler (Estelí)
8. Factory: Plasencia Cigars S.A., Estelí, Nicaragua
9. Strength: Full
10. Flavor Profile: Leather, earth, dark chocolate, salted peanuts, coffee, cocoa, raisin, baking spices, oak, white pepper
11. Room Note: Remarkable (Holt's)
12. Smoking Time: 90 minutes to 2 hours
13. Rating: 93 points, #9 Cigar of the Year (Cigars International)
14. Packaging: Box of 24