With so many different tobaccos packed into the Fine & Rare 2012, I must admit that I expected some complexity.  Luckily, the cigar delivered that complexity and then some.  The first third is rather smooth and medium-bodied with notes of mild spice, earth, and wood.  The spice intensifies a bit in the second third and blends with sweet, creamy, and buttery notes that are very pleasant and satisfying.  Finishing off this wonderful smoking experience are notes of chocolate, nuts, and cedar in the final third.  I would describe the overall strength of the cigar as medium to full-bodied.

I can definitely say that the Alec Bradley Fine & Rare 2012 lives up to its name.  This is a fine cigar, and I would recommend it to smokers in search of complexity and a ton of flavor.  Of course, this is a limited release, so the price tag of $16.50 per single makes the Fine & Rare 2012 more of a selection for special occasions.  I would at least try to pick up a single, and if you don’t mind paying a premium for a great cigar, pick up a box of 10, if you can find one.

The Alec Bradley Fine & Rare 2012 earns a rating of four out of four stars.

Nat Sherman Timeless Dominican Hermoso

The Timeless Collection from Nat Sherman was created in two distinct varieties.  One comes to us from Nicaragua, while the other, which I will be sampling for this review, is Dominican.  The Dominican version is produced at the MATASA factory in the Dominican Republic by the Quesada family.  It’s said to offer up a smooth smoking experience with medium-bodied strength, so I decided to fire one up accompanied by a nice cup of Colombian coffee.

The Nat Sherman Timeless Dominican Hermoso measures 5 1/2 x 54.  There are four other sizes in the line, ranging from the 3 3/4 x 43 #5 to the 7 x 48 Churchill.  The cigar’s filler is a combination of Dominican and Nicaraguan tobaccos.  The binder is Dominican, and the wrapper is Honduran.