Alec Bradley - MAXX - Brazlian

Alec Bradley - MAXX Brazilian

Tale of the Tape:

Wrapper: Brazilian Habano

Binder: Costa Rica

Filler: Colombian, Honduran, Nicaraugan

Made in Honduras

Size: Robusto - 5" x 50 Ring

Alec Bradley; a brand named after the owner's two sons, this company seems to know their way around the blending room.  With the success of the Family Blend, Prensado and Tempus; Alec Bradley got ahead of themselves and put out a couple lackluster lines.
Personally, I heard bad things about the MAXX, but if you know me, I will try anything with Brazilian tobacco in it.  So along comes the MAXX Brazil and here we are.  My expectations low, I tested two of these for the review.

The Cigar
This cigar is a real eclectic mixture of tobacco; with 5 countries of origin, the tobacco in the MAXX Brazil is chosen to create a specific experience and highlight the qualities of the Brazilian wrapper.
The wrapper is a rich dark brown.  Not Broadleaf dark, but darker then your normal Habano seed, which seems to be characteristic of a lot Brazilian wrapper leaf.   Some small veins run along the cigar, but the leaf is smooth and has a little oil on it.

The binder is a true oddball, coming from Costa Rica.  You don't see much Costa Rican tobacco in the industry, so Alec Bradley has found a specific characteristic in this binder leaf that they like.  The filler is also a very specific mixture, containing Colombian, Honduran and Nicaraguan tobacco.
Hand-rolled in Honduras, the Brazil MAXX seems well-made.  It is firm and well-filled.  It isn't a heavy cigar  for its standard Robusto 5' x 50 ring size.

La Flor Dominicana - Air Bender

LFD Air Bender - This cigar had a lot of smokers anxious for its release.  La Flor Dominicana is known for full flavored cigars with prices that are easy on the wallet.  When I think of the brand, the phrase "a lot of bang for your buck" comes to mind.  Many of their cigars fall in the $4-$8 range, and lean towards the strong side of the flavor spectrum.
The Air Bender is filled and bound with Dominican tobacco.  The wrapper is a Ecuadorian Habano.  Ecuadorian wrapper leaves are used by a lot of cigar companies these days.  The sometimes cloudy weather in Ecuador filters the sun and allows the leaf to mature for a longer period of time.  That extra time means more flavor and a smoother taste.
The Air Bender seems to be that La Flor Dominicana is showcasing their ability to produce balanced and tasteful cigars.

Alec Bradley - Tempus

Alec Bradley Tempus- The Tempus has received much acclaim by the big review sources. A 94 from Cigar Aficianado and other above 90 ratings from various sources, one would think this would be a cigar that every smoker would love. But a true testament to the differences in palette and taste, this stick draws praise and criticism from both ends of the spectrum and no where in between. It is blended with Cuban-seed Nicaraguan and Honduran tobaccos and wrapped with a Criollo wrapper.

Prelight- I reach for a Churchill because I have a good amount of time to relax and am looking for a cigar to keep me company. The wrapper on this stick is attractive. Some gold foil with nice styling and an extra wrapper at the foot that reads "Tempus", it really is eye-catching. The Criollo wrapper has some veins and a rugged look, but the construction looks tight. The cigar smells a little of licorice and mild sweet tobacco. The prelight draw is smooth and has a peppery taste. Looks like this is going to be a good smoke.

Sparking it- Lights quick, first few draws are without issue and the tobacco is surprisingly milder than I expected from a cigar listed as a full flavor. The flavoring is definitely unique. I don't find the taste of cigar to be anything to jump up and down about, but it is nice on the palette. Although I'm a fan of full, complex flavoring- this cigars medium bodied beginning is a nice change of pace. The burn is even and I like what I'm smoking.

Smoking it- I've heard people say that they've had issues with the cigar going out or uneven burns, but I've experienced none of that. A '94' rating from CA, may be a little much. But this cigar is good. At $10 for a Churchill, I think there is some value in this stick. Overall, it is an enjoyable smoke. As I said before the cigar is smooth and the flavors are unique. Nothing really stands out as the prominent flavor, but there is some subtle evolution from start to finish. Towards the end the milder than expected taste turns to a peppery tingle, with Criollo taste shining through. I like this cigar. It won't be an everyday smoke, but I could see myself reaching for it again.

Overall- B+

Alec Bradley - Prensado

The Prensado - The latest addition to the Alec Bradley line in the Maduro-wrapped Prensado. A beauty of a box-press, this Honduran-wrapped stick premiered at the end of 2009. Already, the cigar has drawn rave reviews, with many predicting it to be the new flagship of the Alec Bradley line. They make a few sizes - Churchill, Torpedo among others. But I grab a Robusto. Comparitively sized to the CAO - Brazilia Box Press (one of my favorites), I wanted to see how the sticks compared.

Prelight- The looks of this cigar are on point. I'm not saying I wanted to make love to it, but it has to be admired. The smooth, oily, medium-dark brown box press, shows no sign of structural flaw. The cigar feels solid and well-constructed in your hand. I trim a bit off the cap and find the prelight draw to be aromatic with hints of raisin. All signs point to a great smoke. I'm a fan of the Alec Bradley brand and this cigar seems like a great addition.

Sparking it- With a torch to the front, I take a few shallow puffs and away we go. The pre-light aromas are more pronounced and the smoke is ample on a smooth draw. Alot can be said about the construction - I bite down on the end of this slight, but solid box press and it end holds firm, feels great and doesn't alter my draw. I take a big wiff though my nose from the burning end, and the bluish smoke has a smell of coffee. I'm excited to see where this cigar takes me over the next hour.

Smoking it- I must say, this cigar is built like a brick house. Solid up and down. Smooth draw, even burn. All that said the flavors and aromas stay the same throughout. Never really evolve into anything more or less. Straight up a consistent tasty smoke. I'm not knocking it. But at $10-$12 a stick, I tend to look for complexity to go with flavor. This cigar is impressive, but I've got some other faves in this price range. Not that you can compare the two, but I like the Alec Bradley Tempus a little more.

Overall- C+