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.

[DrRus]

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".

I feel the same way. Smoked Presando, Tempus, Sun Grown and Black Market - neither impressed me or had a perfect burn. I have the rest of his blends sitting in the humi and now I'm thinking of trying Maxx, thanks to this thread, but I doubt the rest of the AB cigars I have will be smoked anytime soon.

[ggiese]

I feel the same way. Smoked Presando, Tempus, Sun Grown and Black Market - neither impressed me or had a perfect burn. I have the rest of his blends sitting in the humi and now I'm thinking of trying Maxx, thanks to this thread, but I doubt the rest of the AB cigars I have will be smoked anytime soon.

Have you ever had the opportunity to try the Alec Bradley Pryme Gold? I picked a few of them up when they first hit the stores. I was incredibly disappointed - the cigar was not nearly as good as the hype and the price. Really not necesarily a bad cigar in my view, just not a "...high end, super-premium handmade" as touted by the company.

And then a funny thing happened... A couple of years later they showed up at Cigars International as a "blowout" special. They were so doggone cheap I decided to buy in. I'm not sure what happened... Perhaps it was additional "aging" - perhaps it was a different batch than what I'd originally purchased. Bottom line - for the $$$ they absolutely blew me away. As a matter of fact - if they'd been that good when I originally bought them I would have been hoarding them and CI would not have had them on "blowout" special!

[DrRus]

Have you ever had the opportunity to try the Alec Bradley Pryme Gold? I picked a few of them up when they first hit the stores. I was incredibly disappointed - the cigar was not nearly as good as the hype and the price. Really not necesarily a bad cigar in my view, just not a "...high end, super-premium handmade" as touted by the company.

And then a funny thing happened... A couple of years later they showed up at Cigars International as a "blowout" special. They were so doggone cheap I decided to buy in. I'm not sure what happened... Perhaps it was additional "aging" - perhaps it was a different batch than what I'd originally purchased. Bottom line - for the $$$ they absolutely blew me away. As a matter of fact - if they'd been that good when I originally bought them I would have been hoarding them and CI would not have had them on "blowout" special!

Haven't had those, but I am also hoping that with time the AB cigars I have will change to something pretty good. I agree that they are not really bad cigars, I just wouldn't buy a box of them, that's all. If someone offered me a free box - I'd take it :)

[ashauler]

Have you ever had the opportunity to try the Alec Bradley Pryme Gold? I picked a few of them up when they first hit the stores. I was incredibly disappointed - the cigar was not nearly as good as the hype and the price. Really not necesarily a bad cigar in my view, just not a "...high end, super-premium handmade" as touted by the company.

And then a funny thing happened... A couple of years later they showed up at Cigars International as a "blowout" special. They were so doggone cheap I decided to buy in. I'm not sure what happened... Perhaps it was additional "aging" - perhaps it was a different batch than what I'd originally purchased. Bottom line - for the $$$ they absolutely blew me away. As a matter of fact - if they'd been that good when I originally bought them I would have been hoarding them and CI would not have had them on "blowout" special!

I remember those. Actually, still have a "couple" in the humi. I think there's a review around here on those. Can't remember if leather is in it though, so read it at your own risk.