Why is it so special?

Alec Bradley is known for iconic cigars. Alen Rubin, the founder of Alec Bradley, has etched his niche in the cushy premium cigar market. Every time an Alec Bradley is released, cigar aficionados get positively bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Because, you know if it's an Alec Bradley, it's definitely phenomenal.

However, even with all the success, there is one cigar that put Alec Bradley on shelves of every cigar store across the world; the Alec Bradley Prensado!This rich handmade beauty got unprecedented ratings from Cigar Aficionado and all the other renowned cigar reviewers. I am a huge fan of Alec Bradley cigars and more so this robust, complex stogie. So, prepare yourself for a bit of gushing.

A little History

Alan Rubin in 1998 established the Alec Bradley brand. This was a weird period, mainly because the cigar boom was in a lull. However, Alan Rubin wasn't fazed as he began the Alec Bradley cigar company. He named the company after his sons, which shows his commitment to family values and the quest to build relationships through shared cigar experiences.

In his own words,"The power of the cigar…it brings people together. It creates bonding moments between people, and I get to be a part of that".From their first cigar, the Occidental Reserve, to the internationally acclaimed Alec Bradley Prensado, Alec Bradley has consistently produced decadent smokes for cigar enthusiasts all over the world.

About Alec Bradley Prensado

The Alec Bradley Prensado is the first box-pressed line in the Alec Bradley arsenal. It is tremendously complex and the most muscular Alec Bradley to date. This strikingly delicious stogie is redolent of the Cuban Traditions of cigar making. It encases premium fillers from Honduras and Nicaragua swaddled in a Nicaraguan Jalapa binder.
Now, the wrapper is where it's at. The Prensado is wrapped in a proprietary estate-grown Corojo from the Trojes region of Honduras. That's not all.

This Corojo leaf was grown in late 2006 and then delicately fermented and aged through mid-2008. The result is kickass strength and complexity with implicit sweetness and backloads of smooth potent smoke.
Alec Bradley Prensado comes in 6 Vitolas;

Corona Gorda (46x5.62)

Robusto (50x5)

Gran Toro (54x6)

Churchill (48x7)

Torpedo (52x6.12)

DBL Toro (62x6)

This baby is made at the Raices Cubanas Alec Bradley facility in Danli Honduras.

Alec Bradley Prensado Review and Ratings

Cigar enthusiasts like myself know the weight behind a stellar review. More importantly are the ratings according to Cigar Aficionado, Cigar Advisor, and Cigar Obsession among other trendsetters.
One of the most renowned accolades is the Cigar of the Year Award by Cigar Aficionado. Alec Bradley Prensado clinched the 2011 Cigar of The Year Award.

Also, Alec Bradley Prensado got a staggering 96 Rating from Cigar Aficionado. In their own words,"Alec Bradley Prensado is as gorgeous a cigar as you'll ever see, with a picture-perfect head and a stunning wrapper. But it is the flavor that makes it a classic smoke. The Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos come together to create leather, chocolate and spice notes, and a long, lush finish." That is quite a feat!
Another feature that makes Alec Bradley Prensado stand out is the gentle box-press. The box-press gives this stogie a strikingly flawless look thanks to the dark wrapper and immaculate triple cap.

Also, it is true what they say; box-pressing a cigar tends to intensify the flavor. Why you ask?
My theory is that the gentle press allows more of the flavors from the wrapper to seep into the binder and fillers.
I reckon there's some truth to it.

Alec Bradley Prensado Tasting Notes

This is my favorite part of writing this review. I get to, well, gush about the piquant flavors in this bad boy.
For this review, I went with a Churchill.

Prelight

My Churchill is impeccably rolled. There are no divots, knots, or soft spots. Oh, and that triple cap!
The wrapper is a dark brown satiny leaf with a slightly reddish hue. It smells musty with a feisty barnyard aroma and shy floral undertones. The cold draw is implicitly dark with a little spicy cedar.

First Third

My Prensado opens strong. Billows of thick delicious chewy smoke fill the air. This baby is unbelievably smooth and creamy. A dash of spice and pepper tickle the back of my throat and into the retrohale.
Upfront I can taste rich leather notes, creamy chocolate, and a whole lot of earth.
The finish is so long; it lasts until the next draw. It is predominantly delicious chocolate cream and molasses. T
he best way I can describe it is chocolate ice-cream with caramel toppings, but just the creaminess, without the sugar.The strength at this point is a strong medium while the body is teetering on full.

Mid Third

As the red pepper recedes to the background, a whole new flavor profile emerges. Deep cedar and premium rich tobacco take over the palate. The creamy notes are still present comingled with leather and a touch of pepper.
But here is the thing. There is a unique flavor note at the very end of the draw and slightly into the retrohale. The best way to describe it would be salty dry wood with a dash of espresso and sweet cocoa. Really, I don't know if I have done it justice. This cocktail of flavors is so sophisticated and exquisite; I can only attribute it to the Trojes wrapper.

Strength is very close to a full while the body is a stupendous full and then some. Sadly though, the burn line is less than perfect. It's dangerously wavy correcting itself from time to time. I am glad though that I have not had to retouch it.

Final Third

Into the final third, my Prensado Churchill went darker. A fusion of oak, dark coffee, and earth jump to the front. Sassy leathery notes plus caramel and a skosh of fruity notes hold down the fort. Retrohale is all leather, red pepper, and deep charred wood.

The creamy chocolatey long finish comes back. Or it never left? I am not sure at this point. That's how thoroughly I enjoyed this smoke. The strength went up to full towards the nub exacerbated by the darker flavors. My Churchill closes after about an hour and 40 minutes.

Alec Bradley Prensado Pricing

Alec Bradley Prensado goes for between $10 to $14 a stick depending on the size. This is entirely fair for such a divine treat.

Overall Review and Final Thoughts

My recommendation would be to go for the box. You can age them in your humidor and enjoy one every once in a while. This is a special occasion cigar, and it smokes like one. You cannot afford not to have one laying around.
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