Alec Bradley Mundial PL6 Staff Review
Today I’m smoking my favorite size in the Alec Bradley Mundial line, the 6 x 54 Punta Lanza No. 6 (or PL6 for short). Mundial is Spanish for “world.” Alec Bradley Mundial turned a lot of heads at the annual cigar trade show in Las Vegas when it debuted back in 2013 – not because it was the most anticipated release, but because the cigars were launched into space. Yes, you read that correctly.
Before the trade show officially kicked off, the fellas at Alec Bradley attached a five-pack of their new Mundial cigars to a weather balloon and launched it from the roof of a Las Vegas casino. They recorded the cigars’ ascent into space as well as their plummet back to planet earth in the Nevada desert.
After I heard the story, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a Mundial and give it a shot.
The cigar is handcrafted at the Raices Cubanas factory in Honduras from an oily, dark-chocolate-hued Honduran wrapper and a blend of Honduran and Nicaraguan long-filler tobaccos. Mundial is constructed with dual binders.
The Punta Lanza No. 6 shape is notable. It’s an unusual Figurado. The first inch at the foot of the cigar tapers sharply – like a reverse Torpedo. Pre-light aromas are sweet and spicy. I pick up hints of pepper and dried cranberries. The cold draw adds some depth with notes of oak, leather, and walnuts.
Due to the tapered foot on the Mundial, the wrapper-to-filler ratio is intense in the beginning. Stinging notes of habanero are present with a bit of earth on the back end. The profile opens up nicely after the first inch is smoked. Notes of walnuts, leather, and oak command attention with a floral-like flavor.
As I slowly progress through the cigar, the taste becomes slightly bitter, similar to burnt coffee. Thankfully the bitterness doesn’t last too long, and the flavors smooth out. By the halfway point, notes of habanero begin to dominate with hints of charred oak.
It’s a shame that the cigar’s sweetness doesn’t develop until the final couple inches, but it is delicious when it happens. Notes of dark chocolate and dried cranberries mingle with a touch of citrus. The retrohale is actually quite salty and leathery. Alec Bradley Mundial finishes with a perfect combination of sweet and salty notes.
I’ve had bad luck smoking a Perfectos in the past, because, more times than not, the foot will burn oddly or the cigar will tunnel a bit. Alec Bradley Mundial PL6 broke that curse. The construction was flawless. The draw was superb, despite the miniscule opening of the cigar’s tapered foot. Alec Bradley Mundial is a great medium-bodied smoke, but make sure you smoke it slow to fully experience all the subtle transitions of flavor. Mundial will certainly send your taste buds into the stratosphere – especially if you buy it for a generous discount during one of our recurring Alec Bradley sales!
