Alec Bradley Magic Toast

Purchased: 3 X 10-pack Robusto (5 X 52)
Store: CigarBid.com
Price: $24.50 ea
Buy Again: Yes
Box Worthy: I’ve only purchased bundles – and I purchase them a lot!
Experience Rating: 94

I did a search this morning to see if I have written about this stick and was surprised that I hadn’t yet written about it because it is a cigar that is rarely NOT in my rotation. This has become a mainstay, go-to smoke for me for the last few years, much like the CAO Brazilia or the LGC Serie R. I always have them on hand.

Sure, they’re inexpensive smokes. They won’t win beauty contests. They’re not complex. They minimally transition if at all. But that’s not why I love smoking them, and price has very little to do with it. You see, these little gems have a consistent flavor profile that just hits right in my wheelhouse. And I’m not alone in this. Post one of these on an online forum and you’ll get mostly positive reactions and feedback. People do not just accept them for what they are, they appreciate what they bring to the table.

As for the Magic Toast, when I’m in the mood for a mocha treat (which is often), I turn to this cigar. The predominant flavors in its profile are coffee and chocolate; specifically, Swiss Miss hot chocolate, though much more subtly sweet. But that rich and creamy texture is there. But it’s not just coffee and chocolate, I get malt, cedar, preserved stone fruit, black and white pepper, roasted cashew nuts, and even a hint of mint at times. While mocha is the predominant flavor, black pepper is always present on the finish, though the cigar doesn’t get at all spicy.

There’s not much more than this. The flavors don’t dance around during the smoke. They stay consistent, just intensifying as the smoke progresses. And that’s where I think the “magic” lies. It’s this consistent combination of flavors that is so pleasing to me. And I enjoy it so much that I smile every time I smoke one of these. And because the cigar’s profile is so consistent, I know what I’m getting every single time I light one up.

It’s a similar experience with the CAO Brazilia and any LGC core line. They’re predictable with a flavor profile that’s simple yet satisfying. And “satisfying” is the operative word. They’re not meant to bowl you over and make your head spin from complexity. They’re simply meant to satisfy.

While I mentioned price wasn’t a factor in my liking this cigar and the others I mentioned, it would be folly to say it didn’t count at all. But it’s really icing on the cake. The fact that I can often get these sticks for less than $3/stick is wonderful! And look, I have no shame in buying these. I get so tired of hearing people equate price with quality, etc. What matters to me is the enjoyment of the smoke.

To be fair, how I enjoy one of these sticks is much different from how I enjoy an ultra-premium stick. An ultra-premium stick demands my attention. Smoking one of those is like attending a Broadway show. I pay the price of admission and in exchange I’m rewarded with a complex visual and auditory presentation, though in the case of a cigar it’s an olfactory and gustatory (taste) presentation.

These kinds of sticks, on the other hand, require much less to be enjoyed. They’re simple cigars meant for simple situations, like reading a book, writing (like I am right now), or having a couple of drinks with some friends where the topic is not cigars. And hey! If I can get them at a great price, well, that’s even better!

Circling back to the Magic Toast, as I mentioned above, I always have plenty of these in my tupperdors. They actually age pretty well, so by the time I’m down to the last few, they will have had several months of humi time and they improve immensely. I laughed out loud when I won these on CBid for $2.45/stick. Such a deal for such a tasty cigar!