Stogie Reviews: Alec Bradley Prensado Robusto
20 Jul 2010
Another trade show from the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association is almost upon us. If you’re like me, though, you still haven’t tried a number of the new releases from the 2009 convention.
Such is the case with Prensado, an offering from Alec Bradley that was introduced last August. In my estimation, and given the accolades it has received, this blend may be the most prominent 2009 debut I have thus far overlooked. I decided to rectify that oversight by sampling three Robustos for this review.
The highlight of Prensado is its wrapper, a corojo leaf grown in 2006 in Trojes, Honduras. Alan Rubin, Alec Bradley’s founder and president, first tried it in 2008. It took Rubin and his team another six months to decide to pair the wrapper with the right blend of Nicaraguan and Honduran tobaccos. The result is a five-vitola blend that’s made at the Fabrica de Tabacos Raices Cubanas factory in Honduras, the same site that furnishes cigars for Illusione, Casa Fernandez, Padilla, and others.
The five inch by 50 ring gauge Robusto is a dark, slightly veiny cigar with a triple cap and glistening oils. It sports a slight box press (prensado is Spanish for “pressedâ€) and pungent pre-light notes of powdery cocoa off the foot—the sort of aroma that’s simultaneously mouth-watering and sneeze-inducing. A great fragrance.
From the outset it’s easy to see why Rubin calls Prensado his strongest blend to date. It starts with a hearty, chalky flavor of spicy pepper and black coffee. Sheer power with little depth or balance. The profile settles quickly, however, to include a creamy caramel sweetness.
The taste remains consistent from the second third through the finale as the gray, sandy ash builds off the foot. Each easy puff yields loads of thick, mouth-coating smoke, and the imperfect burn requires few touch-ups to remain even.
I enjoy this blend, but it leaves me underwhelmed in terms of complexity. Sure, while the interplay between bold peppery notes and creamy sweetness is interesting, I’m looking for more intricacy from a cigar that retails for just under $10 apiece. That’s ultimately why this Alec Bradley offering earns three stogies out of five.
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I can't say I enjoyed it either. Got a real strange lingering finish that didn't agree with me. I'll give it another try eventually.
Thanks. I was beginning to think I was the only one who just didn’t care for the Prensado.
Oh well, more for me! 😀 Although I enjoy these, it's good to see differing opinions out there…reminds me of why I love talking and reading about cigars.
Agree 100% here. Nothing too special, especially for the price.
I have had some good ones, but the last inch of every one is bitter. I can think of much better sticks for that price.
Do they get better with age?
since I found this cigar every other seems to come up short. I m fairly new to the subtle diferences from maker to maker of like blends and wrappers. started off with conecticut mild to medium and progessed to favoring more oily maduro types But for me I have found the ultimate smoke in this blend. A finish that starts with a prelite draw witch makes me hesitate liting for a while just enjoying aroma and the palet feel that lingers like a bailey"s coffee.And then te smoke…satisfaction! all the way. but being a budget smoker its special treat. I hope they remain consistent just the way they are as of april 2012
It's crazy to see how everyone's tastes are so different.. I live these sticks, specifically the Robusto.. You can get them for under 5 a stick on Monster or Thompson…