Posted August 16, 2016 by theaveragejoescigarmedia Cigar Reviews

“Rich and spicy” Alec Bradley Tempus Nicaragua Cigar Review.

Brand History

The Alec Bradley Cigar Company has one goal: to give the cigar smoker an unforgettable experience. Founded by Alan Rubin in 1996, Alec Bradley Cigar Company has distinguished itself as a world-class boutique producer and purveyor in the premium cigar industry. The Alec Bradley brand is synonymous with quality and accessibility, garnering top ratings from critics and expanding a loyal clientele.

In 1996, Alan Rubin was charting a new course in his life. Having sold the family import business, he wanted to create a company dedicated to his passion: cigars. Mr. Rubin sought to bring the handcrafted tradition to the market without losing any attention to detail. To oversee daily operations Mr. Rubin brought in Ralph Montero; Mr. Montero is currently executive vice president. A partnership with Henke Kelner produced Occidental Reserve, Alec Bradley’s entrance into the premium cigar market. The product line expanded with Trilogy, a triangle press, and Maxx, which offered a 60-ring gauge at an accessible price point.

By 2007, Alec Bradley Cigars had created huge industry buzz. The cigar smoking community was waiting for Alec Bradley to do something special. That “something special” arrived with the launch of Tempus. Tempus established Alec Bradley Cigars as a top competitor in the market. Tempus (which is Latin for time) represented all the time-consuming traditions Mr. Rubin loved: waiting for the perfect crop of tobacco; partnering with a small, family-run operation to produce, ferment, and roll the tobacco; and personally overseeing the blending process. The result was a phenomenal cigar that represents the quality product consumers have come to expect from Alec Bradley. Invigorated by the success of Tempus, the Company continued to develop and launch a number of highly rated lines, notably SCR, Family Blend, Prensado, and Maxx Connecticut.

Currently, Alec Bradley Cigar Company has ten full-time employees at their corporate offices in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and 13 sales representatives covering eighty percent of the United States. The Company markets and distributes 12 lines and introduced 2 more lines in 2011 (the Alec Bradley Black Market and the Alec Bradley Fine and Rare). When Mr. Rubin was asked about the success of Alec Bradley he stated, “we live true every day, believe in our products and respect one another”.

Appearance:

The cigar had a dark, reddish and oily smooth wrapper. It was sweet, rich and spicy with a hint of pepper and a roasted smell. There was some toasted, woody aroma on the pre-light.

Journey Profile:

1^st quarter: There was a slight resistance on the draw. Spices immediately hit the palate through the nose and were in the aroma. Light and creamy texture was noticeable the first five minutes into the cigar. Some light wood, earth and cocoa notes were evident. 2^nd quarter: The draw became effortless and started to produce a lot of smoke. There were rich earthy tones with some cedar and hints of cocoa notes on the palate and in the aroma. Spice continued developing through the nose. The draw produced big earthy flavors with creamy smoke through to the palate and in the air. 3^rd quarter: The aroma and wood flavor continued to develop and intensify, delivering alluring characters along with more rich and full flavored smoke. A full and very flavorful aroma remained consistent throughout. 4^th quarter: There was a dense texture to the smoke and a flavorful finish. Spices remained consistent through the nose, offering intense full flavors. Light peppery notes were also present through the nose and on the finish.

Final Thoughts:

The Alec Bradley Tempus cigar offers consistent spices in both the flavor and aroma with traces of earth and cocoa. It is an effortless cigar to smoke with a solid medium body and very rich flavors. Extremely well made with creamy rich tobacco notes, this cigar is both intriguing and complex.