To start with this Alec Bradley review, it is important to mention that the Cigar Boom was a tumultuous time in the industry.  The nearly 10 years of the boom was followed by an equally impactful “bust” that put many promising manufacturers out of business.  It was right at the tail end of the boom where we saw one of today’s leading premium cigar manufacturers burst onto the scene.  Alan Rubin, a Florida businessman, sold his family hardware company and decided to enter the premium cigar market.

This story is one of the tremendous hardships, doubt, followed by immense success. Alan had a rough go of it for several years while using unknown and unreliable manufacturers, he failed to make an impact for quite some time.  He initially tried to create a brand targeted at golf courses, along with some budget options and flavored cigars.  The brands failed to catch on.

Around 2000, Alan teamed up with Ralph Montero and shifted the focus of the company to a more premium offering, and began to work with brick and mortar retail establishments.  His first success came when they were able to acquire some cigars from the now-famous Heinke Kelner, lead blender for Davidoff.  This brand, at the time called Occidental reserve, finally got cigar smokers’ attention.

The big turn around came a few years later with the Alec Bradley Tempus line this full-flavored, premium cigar was a massive success and helped the company establish itself as a serious player in the premium cigar scene. The company enjoyed a successful run for a few more years, but it was in 2009 where it released its most important cigar to date, the Alec Bradley Prensado.

The Prensado was the project that launched the company to new heights, and forever cemented the legacy of the company in the pantheon of cigar greats.  In 2011, it was named the Cigar Aficionado #1 Cigar of the Year, the most coveted award in the entire industry.  Today, we are going to take you through the smoking experience of one of the world’s most highly rated and beloved cigars.

The Alec Bradley Prensado is hand-rolled at the Raices Cubanas factory in Danlí, Honduras.  It is blended with a combination of aged Honduran and Nicaraguan filler tobaccos, alongside a Nicaraguan binder, and a dark and oily Honduran wrapper.  From a visual standpoint, the cigar looks fantastic.  The wrapper is nearly flawless and the band is certainly luxurious and eye-catching.

The cold draw reveals some dark, rich, and slightly sweet notes.  The cigar has the perfect texture and the right amount of sponginess.  The cold draw is also nice and open, so thus far the construction seems on point.  Upon lighting, you are met with a bevy of intense, interesting flavors.

It starts out with a solid amount of pepper, along with a subtle, mesquite sweetness. This is combined with touches of earth and dried fruit.  In terms of a high-end Honduran cigar, this is the best you will ever find.  It is all the flavors one would expect out of Honduran tobacco, just elevated to new heights.  The burn and ash quality is on point, fitting a cigar of this reputation.

As we approach the 2^nd third, the spice tends to calm down a bit.  The dark rich notes are still there, with the addition of some cream and even a dash of coffee.  While the ash quality is still on point, there was a touch-up or two needed on the burn line.  This is to be expected with a box-pressed cigar of this size and is hardly a detractor.

In the final third, the flavor remained consistent, with some added pepper and spice, but I oddly found the cigar to get a bit smoother, which is rare in a stronger offering.  Usually, the strength will kick up a bit towards the end, but for the Prensado, I found it to have a smooth and creamy finish.  The rich, coffee and wood notes are still present, as is the great ash quality.  The burn finally settled and required no more touch-ups.  The draw on this cigar was impressive all the way through.