There are two solid cigars up for review today. First, is the Alec Bradley Prensado Robusto. To follow, we have the highly-rated Padron Family Reserve No. 45 Maduro Toro.

Alec Bradley Prensado Robusto

Alec Bradley is a brand known for producing solid smokes. With its Prensado line, the brand aimed to offer something bolder for its fans that also featured a bit of a change in construction. What exactly makes the Prensado different in its construction from the rest? Keep on reading...

The Alec Bradley Prensado Robusto measures 5 x 50. The line is offered in four other sizes as well: the 5 5/8x 46 Corona Gorda, the 6 x 54 Gran Toro, the 6 1/8x 52 Torpedo, and the 7 x 48 Churchill. The cigar features a mix of tobaccos in its filler that are Nicaraguan and also from the Trojes area of Honduras. Its binder is Nicaraguan as well, and a Corojo 2006 wrapper from Trojes, Honduras. The wrapper is the focus of the cigar, and it was aged for two years until the cigar makers at Alec Bradley found just the right tobaccos to accent it. After the extensive aging and nearly half a year of experimenting with different combinations, the Prensado line was finally born. During the manufacturing process at the Raices Cubanas factory in Honduras, the Prensado is box-pressed, which sways away from Alec Bradley's usual cigar making process. Aimed at fans who prefer bolder cigars, the Prensado falls into the full-bodied category. In fact, it's one of the strongest offerings from the brand.

The Prensado Robusto is quite a classy cigar in terms of its appearance. Its large band near the head catches the eye first. The band displays the Alec Bradley name as well as the Prensado label. The gold, black, and blueish color scheme are a nice combination and give off a feeling that the cigar you are about to smoke is filled with quality. The cigar itself is dark with a slight tint of red. There are a few large veins running throughout the body, and some oil is visible when put under direct light. The cigar feels very firm to the touch and appears to be well-constructed. Prior to lighting, there is a sweet, welcoming scent given off. The cold taste is almost a bit chocolatey.