Alec Bradley Prensado (CA '12 #1)...thoughts?

[mattdivo]

Any reviews of the Alec Bradley Prensado? This was recently awarded Cigar Aficionado's #1 Cigar of 2011.

Tx,

M.

[Marker]

I love the cigar. Dollar for dollar might be in the top 10 since you can get it for $4 but it is not the top cigar, even dollar for dollar they could have smoked this year.

[Colt45]

I've not smoked one so can't comment, but this discussion may be of interest:

Link

[canadianbeaver]

I would but Art, Frank, Tom and Tony would make fun of me.

CB

[cigcars]

Have had this cigar and it is indeed a very good smoke. Number One? I'm thinking in the NC world Pete Johnson's brown band Tatuaje should probably be more deserving of a number one spot among those CA offerings. I see what you all are talking about now! That Tatuaje is a FABULOUS smoke!

[szeliga10]

Haven't smoked the churchill but have had a couple of the torpedos or belicosos or whatever they were.

While I wouldn't say it was a horrible smoke I would say that they were far from great. If someone were to give me one I would probably just regift it. In fact I gave the last two I had away.

My advice is try one but don't start with a box purchase because it might just be a huge waste of money. I notice that a lot of vendors online and b+m alike are really pushing these now since the rating.

My prediction is that there are going to be alot of disappointed people out there and that this selection as #1 will haunt CA just like the Casa Magna fiasco did.

+1..... I had two of them and they just didn't do much for me. They weren't awful smokes by any means but I wouldn't be buying anymore. I was definitely shocked to see that was the cigar of 2011.

[Len]

GARBAGE.

[mk05]

It's like smoking peanuts. Prob would go well with the Mac 18 noir.

[ckgdrums]

+1 on the Tatuaje Brown label...very nice indeed.

[thechenman]

I've smoked pretty much all the different lines that Alec Bradley offers. As far as the Prensado goes...it's a decent smoke, but wouldn't be anywhere near number one in my book. I prefer the Family Blend and the Tempus to the Prensado. The Prensado is a full cigar, a bit to strong which in my opinion made it unbalanced. The strength is easily noticeable as it slaps you across the face, but the flavors tend to get muddled. I remember lots of spice and lots of dirt flavors...and no, I don't equate dirt with earthy.

[sactochris]

I thought the churchill was excellent. I was less than impressed with the grand toro. The robusto is also a very nice smoke.

[TexAg]

It's a fairly decent smoke in my opinion. It has a very distinct flavor.

[newyorkcity]

Though I don't subscribe to or read CA, many people have asked me about this cigar. I had two and was dismayed that CA would give this average cigar the number one ranking in 2011. I think we all scratch our heads and wonder what is going on behind the scenes. I'd rather trust the threads in forums such as these and analyzing the comments over a period of time. As an everyday cigar smoker I can better rely on you guys and my favorite cigar shops for a straightforward opinion.

[Skitalets]

Have had this cigar and it is indeed a very good smoke. Number One? I'm thinking in the NC world Pete Johnson's brown band Tatuaje should probably be more deserving of a number one spot among those CA offerings. I see what you all are talking about now! That Tatuaje is a FABULOUS smoke!

Agreed. The Tat cabinet Noella is one of the best cigars out there. Not sure I'd rate it #1, but would certainly rate it over AB. It's a consistent -- and consistently good -- cigar.

[rhodges]

I had a Churchill a few weeks ago, good smoke but not number 1. Kinda reminded me if padron 1926 flavor profile