The first time I heard about the Alex Bradley Magic Toast cigar, my enchanted mind started playing tricks. This spellbinding smoke evokes whimsical images and has a fantastic origin story in its own right.
The magical night that inspired the name of this medium to full-bodied stogie comes from an experience the company’s founder Alan Rubin and Ralph Montero (a partner in Alec Bradley) had in a Honduran tobacco field. With the darkness setting in, they resorted to using a flashlight to see the tobacco, which Rubin called an “awe-inspiring experience…almost magical.” The pair then cracked open a bottle of whiskey and proposed a toast to the future use of the tobacco. Magic toast was born.
Released in 2018 at the ICPCR, we couldn’t resist carrying out our own Alec Bradley Magic Toast review to see if it left us with our own magical feeling.
Brand Overview
Founded by Rubin in 1996 after he and his father had sold their hardware (nuts and bolts) business, the company was named Alec Bradley after his two sons. Despite having no experience or the obvious ‘tools’ to be a success in the cigar industry, Rubin enjoyed cigars and sold his first stogies in 1997. Known as “Bogey’s Stogies”, this line of cigars was primarily aimed at golf courses. Unfortunately, this proved to be an unprofitable venture.
It wasn’t until the turn of the century that the brand’s fortunes shifted. Rubin hooked up with cigar industry professional Montero, who came to work for Alec Bradley and formed a plan.
Scraping together enough money to launch a new line called “Occidental Reserve,” this wallet-friendly cigar sold out almost overnight and allowed the company to flourish in the market. Future entries, including the Maxx, the Tempus line, and a triangular cigar called the Trilogy, have all gone on to be successful.
Cigar Specs
- Country of Origin: Nicaragua
- Strength: Medium-Full
- Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
- Binder: Nicaragua/Honduras
- Filler: Nicaragua/Honduras
- Sizes Available:
Cold draw
Handcrafted at the Raices Cubanas factory in Honduras, the Alec Bradley Magic Toast is wrapped in a beautiful purple-brown wrapper. There’s a mystical look to it with stars and different astronomical symbols.
Once I’d made a straight cup to remove the cap, I raised the head of the cigar to my lips. The cold draw was slightly tight, but I could still detect some rich wood and damp earth. Other Alec Bradley Magic Toast reviews have hinted at a heavy dose of sweetness in the dry draw, with hints of figs, green tea, and citrus all being cited.
Let’s see if that pleasant sweetness came out once I’d put fire to foot.
Flavor profile: first third
Once the cigar is nicely toasted, I’m rewarded with some of my favorite notes from the cigar flavor wheel. It’s impressively malty and rich with raisins, black coffee, earth, and dark chocolate flying straight off the bat.
The dash of white pepper on the retro-hale rounds off what’s been a very enjoyable start to the smoking experience.
Flavor profile: second third
The midpoint saw the sweet wood from the pre-light draw make its move. However, the rich flavor profile hasn’t changed dramatically, with the deep coffee and earthiness still weaving their alchemy alongside accents of leather and sweet cocoa.
There’s thick, chewy smoke with every puff and this is the first point at which creaminess appears, helping to balance the blend even further.
Flavor profile: final third
Some smokers may anticipate the toasted flavor note from the initial stages, but this had subsided somewhat. However, the peppery zest is certainly more notable, lingering on the finish.
The cigar takes on a Maduro character in the final third with rich, dark hits of chocolate and black pepper, while still spraying a subtle sweetness on the palate. Anise flavors came through from time to time, making this unique blend of Honduran and Nicaraguan tobacco intensely aromatic.
Conclusion
Through their passion and persistence, Alec Bradley has forged an award-winning reputation for producing premium cigars. Magic Toast is another one of theirs to add to your box of cigar tricks. The bold flavors have fantastic depth, and even though the complexity isn’t as bewitching as the name suggests, the consistent profile is still an excellent one.