Quick Smoke: Alec Bradley Prensado Robusto
7 Jan 2012
Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief verdict on a single cigar of “buy,†“hold,†or “sell.â€
Released in 2009 by cigar maker Alec Bradley, the Prensado blend sports a box press and a corojo wrapper that’s grown in Trojes, Honduras. I reviewed the Robusto (5 x 50) back in July 2010 and recently decided to spark up another that I had been storing since late 2009, just to see how time had impacted the flavors. What I found was a cigar that has the same basic profile—black pepper, coffee, a chalky texture, some sweetness—but is slightly more toned down. I’m still underwhelmed by this blend, and I think the price point is too high, even though the cost seems to have come down from the original MSRP of $10.
Verdict = Sell.
photo credit: Stogie Guys
Patrick Ashby
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I agree. Decent cigar that never dazzles and costs far too much. Can't understand why anyone would consider it COTY material, but…everyone has their own opinion.
I agree as well, this smoke did little to impress me but a fair smoke just the same…Cigar of the year? I think not!
I swear… When I wrote and posted this, I had NO IDEA Cigar Aficionado would award the Prensado Churchill Cigar of the Year. And I never would have guessed that, either. What an amazing coincidence that I decided to write about this smoke again right when the announcement was made!
This cigar is way too expensive for what you get. As far as Cigar of the Year, we would do well to remember that Cigar Aficionado knows where their money comes from which is advertising.
Remember the travesty of Casa Magna winning #1 cigar of the year in Cigar Aficionado??
Let's hope Swisher Sweets is not advertising too heavily next year or the Phillie "Grape" flavor. No telling who could win…….
I thought it was very good personally. That being said, I don't think it's too big of a stretch of the imagination that Cigar Aficionado was playing favorites when they picked this cigar as COTY, but it's a great smoke nonetheless. I enjoyed the chocolate nutty taste, which came on strong early and stuck around without becoming too overpowering. The volume of smoke was rich and I would certainly smoke it again. The cost (at least at my B&M, ~$12 after tax) is a bit prohibitive, but I think it deserves to be compared against other premium smokes in the same bracket.
I have smoked many Prensado Robustos and have found them just ok. Many also had burn problems. However, this summer I purchased a huge sampler through my local shop and wound up with the toro size in my humidor. I procrastinated smoking it, always passing it over for more reliable cigars. One night in Nov. I decided to fire it up and was surprised at how good it was. Then I remembered the Tempus. The Robusto sucks in that blend too imo, (and the 55×5.5 ci special is mediocre) but I think the Churchill is just fantastic. AB's are not consistent flavored through each line. The different vitolas do vary.
That said, I agree to sell on the Rob, but in the event you have the opportunity to give a different vitola a whirl, go for it.
I've never smoked the Churchill, but I find the robusto to be lackluster as well. It's an absolutely gorgeous, but doesn't deliver where it counts for me. I did, however, enjoy the Casa Magna in the Churchill size , but have yet to try the former cigar of the year as a robusto.
I remember receiving the Prensado churchill as a bonus at an Alec Bradley event at my local B&M. My experience was far from memorable, in fact I never revisited that cigar in any vitola and doubt I ever will. Some cigars have that affect on me , I may give it another try or not and this one was a no repeat.
Could not agree more. I got suckered into buying a box given that the Prensado churchill was the number 1 cigar of 2011 for Cigar Aficionado. Boy was I underwhelmed… Good construction but its a flat smoke with no spice.