Alec Bradley...hit and miss

[Jason1982]

Has anybody noticed that some Alec Bradley blends seem to change flavors? I mean I know every growing year is different and thusly affects the taste. But the blends I am mainly talking about are the Tempus and the Prensado. I smoked the toro sizes of each blend. When our local store got the first batches of them in, they were awesome. The taste was superb, the construction was excellent, etc etc. The first boxes sold out quickly. But then they got a 2nd batch in...and a 3rd batch...and they were nothing like the first batch at all. I wasn't the only one who noticed this either.
That's why I'm saying Alec Bradley cigars are hit and miss. The first time you try one isn't always what you'll get. That disappoints me and causes hesitation because they make some other really good blends. The American Classic Blend, The Family Blend, Trilogy, Black Market (though I got to admit I didn't enjoy the Black Market), are all great cigars. Any thoughts on this matter? Has anybody else experienced the same thing?

[jimmyb]

I am currently smoking a Tempus. I don't notice any difference from the last time I smoked one. I also didn't care for the Prensado.

[ggiese]

I don't know that I would say Alec Bradley is necessarily "hit or miss". I'd say more like - too gimicky.

I like some AB cigars from time to time, but dislike others. In general - I'm pretty neutral about the entire line. Though you can pick up AB cigars at fantastic "blowout - gotta get rid of the overstock!" prices from time to time...

[heftysmokes]

I like the Prensado, but Ive only smoked a handful so I can't point towards any inconsistencies.

[BeardedDragon]

I can only speak to the Prensado and not the Tempus as I haven't tried one. I've had about 10 Prensado and enjoyed them all, found them to be consistent. I've had everything from the Robusto to the Double T. Obviously a little hype behind them due to their rating and being cigar of the year, but all that aside I really like the taste and construction. They haven't disappointed me yet!

[CptnBlues63]

I bought a 5'er of the Presnado's in a recent split. I've only smoked two so far and they were both decent. You won't hear me raving about them and the 3 remaining will probably sit in my humi for quite some time before I have another, but they weren't "bad".

The second one I smoked didn't burn very well. I had to keep hitting it with flame and even though the draw was alright (medium) it seemed hard to get it producing any real volume of smoke.

I smoked that second one last weekend while out camping and it may have been from a touch of over humidification as my travel humidor is VERY touchy and at the time I smoked it, the RH in my travel humi was at 70%. Typically I keep my humi at 65% but I put a half a cap of water in the humidifier and it took it way too high! I've subsequently ordered 65% beads from Heartfelt for the travel humi so I can add water and forget about it and not have to worry about the RH going too high again.