Although the Black Market Toro’s burn is uninspiring, the flavor is good overall. Pepper and that familiar citrus flavor dominate the first third and hit me with a unique mix that isn’t always experienced. The second third offers up a trio of cedar, earth, and creaminess. The final third brings more pepper and cedar to the table. The strength never goes above the medium-bodied mark, giving me a smooth, relaxing ride.

I definitely have to give the folks at Alec Bradley credit for their originality with the Black Market line. You could say that the cigar’s aura and packaging piqued my interest. I did not find the Black Market Toro to be particularly memorable, but I cannot deny that it is a quality cigar. Alec Bradley followers and anyone seeking something that is spicy and smooth at the same time will probably enjoy the Black Market. Singles sell for around $7 to $8 each, and the cigar can also be found in boxes of 22 or packs of five. I would suggest a box if you are looking to splurge and want to have a nice collector’s item when all is said and done.

The Alec Bradley Black Market Toro earns a rating of 3.5 out of four stars.

Room 101 LTD Namakubi Tiburon

Room101 released its Namakubi line as an addition to the brand’s LTD series. The Namakubi name honors ancient Samurai culture, where the losing party of a clan battle would normally die from battle wounds or be executed. As part of their tradition, the Samurai would present a severed head, or Namakubi, of the losing party on a platter to the winning clan’s leader.

The Namakubi Tiburon measures 6 x 44. In case you were wondering, Tiburon is Spanish for shark. Other sizes offered by Room101 include the 4 x 42 Papi Chulo, 4 x 48 Roxxo, 7 x 48 Sucio, and 5 x 60 Monstro. The cigar’s filler is a combination of Vuelta Abajo tobaccos from the Dominican Republic and Honduras. The binder is of the Honduran Generoso Seed variety. A Habano wrapper tops it all off. Room101 lists the Namakubi as being medium to full-bodied in strength.