2018 Cigar of the Year Countdown: #23: Alec Bradley Magic Toast Robusto

“The cigar uses a foundation of coffee and earthy notes and then balances it out with the sweetness from the Bing cherry and the spices from the pepper. The little extra strength and body that is put into the mix gives Alec Bradley a winner here.”

Wrapper: Honduran
Binder: Honduran, Nicaraguan
Filler: Honduran, Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Honduras
Factory: Fabrica de Tabacos Raices Cubanas S. de R.L.
Robusto: 5 x 52
Price: $8.95
Review: Alec Bradley Magic Toast Robusto (11/25/18)
Appearances on Countdown (By Year/Company): 3 (2012, 2013, 2018)

Coming in at #23 the Alec Bradley Magic Toast Robusto. This is a cigar that made its official debut at the 2018 IPCPR Trade Show and subsequently released later in the year.

The story behind the name of this cigar traces back to when Alan Rubin and his partner Ralph Montero were down in Honduras at a tobacco field in the middle of the night. As they were looking at the area with a flashlight, Rubin noted how the experience was almost “magical.” Montero suggested they grab a bottle of whisky and propose a toast, thus the name Magic Toast. It also turns out that some of the tobaccos from that field would be incorporated into the Magic Toast cigar line.

Magic Toast utilizes a dark Honduran wrapper over a double binder of Honduran and Nicaraguan tobacco and a filler also consisting of Honduran and Nicaraguan tobacco. The cigar is produced out of Honduras at the Raices Cubanas factory and is the first Honduran-made cigar to land on the 2018 Countdown. As for the size, it’s the 5 x 52 Robusto that earns on spot on this year’s list.

The Magic Toast Robusto delivers a mix of coffee, earth, Bing cherry, and a combination of red and white pepper. While this cigar doesn’t go through a lot of radical transitions, the balance and synergy of the flavors produced are the real story here. The flavors produced are medium to full-bodied countered by medium to full strength.

The Alec Bradley Magic Toast is a cigar that can appeal to both the classic and contemporary cigar smoker. This is a cigar that has all the ingredients of being a staple in humidors for years to come.