Alec Bradley Prensado

Climbing the ladder of recognition in the oft-oversaturated market of premium cigars is no small task. But that's exactly what Alan Rubin set out to do when founding Alec Bradley Cigar Co. in 1996. Unfortunately for Rubin, he had just barely missed the peak of what is now referred to as the great cigar boom, entering into a crowded market with waning interest.

Naming his company after his two sons, Alec and Bradley, Rubin began selling bundle-style cigars meant to be smoked on the golf course. Alec Bradley eventually gained traction when partnering with famed artisan Hendrik Kelner, producing the affordable Occidental Reserve cigar out of the DR. But the 2007 release of Alec Bradley's Tempus line is the true turning point. With this Honduran blend, the company showcased a full-bodied offering for the first time; this laid the groundwork for the prominent Alec Bradley name that consumers know and love today.

Enter the Alec Bradley Prensado, the highest-rated (and most awarded) cigar to ever bear the AB name. Prensado is the term cigar factories use to describe cigars with a box-pressed shape. Not surprisingly, when the Prensado debuted in 2009, the full lineup arrived with geometrically clean box-pressed sides, using a signature Honduran Trojes wrapper as the main attraction. This leaf was joined by an all-Central-American interior, including a Nicaraguan binder and fillers of both Nicaragua and Honduras. Prensado was critically acclaimed upon release, praised for its atypical flavor profile and a focus on finesse over strength. The cigars are medium to medium-plus in body, bringing in rich characteristics of freshly cracked pepper, rich leather, citrusy coffee, roasted nuts, and sourdough bread.

Alec Bradley Prensado was given an outstanding 96-point rating by Cigar Aficionado in 2011 (awarded to the Churchill size), being ranked as the magazine's No. 1 Cigar of the Year!