The Alec Bradley cigar brand has a new cigar release coming that is raising eyebrows for a few reasons. The AB brand has really moved up through the ranks of the cigar world in the last few years. They have moved up from a mid line brand status just a few years ago to one of the superstar brands with top rated cigars and widespread recognition. The Prensado and the Black Market were both reviewed by this cigar smoker with very favorable results.
The new release is slated for a March introduction to coincide with St. Patrick's Day, and you guessed it, it's GREEN! The Candela wrapped version of the AB Black Market, named the Filthy Hooligan, will only be available as a 6 inch by 50 ring Toro, composed of a filler blended from Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama tobaccos with 2 binder leaves, one Honduran and the other Nicaraugan. The wrapper is from Nicaragua and furnished by the Plasencias. Only 2000 boxes of 22 cigars will be available of this limited run cigar, and the release is said to be March 5th, 2013
Now for the eyebrow raising part, this cigar was originally to be named the "Dirty Hooligan". The AB folks had already begun the creatives, with some promotional items already in the works, as well as boxes, bands, etc, when a text was received by Alec Bradley founder Alan Rubin from the head of Drew Estate, Jonathan Drew. DE uses the word "Dirty" pretty prominently in the names of a few of their product lines. Rubin then announced the name change on January 21st. The PR angles seem to indicate that it was an amicable discussion, Rubin was quoted by Cigar Aficionado as saying "The product is good enough to sell on its own, no matter what we called it". CA also quoted Sam Phillips, AB Vice President of marketing on the situation and the relationship with Drew, “We view the friendship as more important and the relationship as more important” .
Readers, please chime in with your take, was the name change needed and/or justified?
Thank You for reading and Long Ashes!
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