Arturo Fuente

Alec Bradley Prensado Grand Toro Prensado means a lot to me and the Alec Bradley story. Rolled at Raices Cubanas (‘Cuban Roots’) factory, the Prensado was first created to pay homage to the Cuban traditions of cigar making- rolling the filler ‘entubado,’ triple capping the head and box pressing the finished cigar. Blended with proprietary estate grown corojo from the Trojes region of Honduras, Prensado would eventually be named Cigar Aficionado “Cigar of the Year,” propelling Alec Bradley’s trajectory into cigar culture much quicker than I anticipated.-Alan Rubin Wrapper: Honduras Binder: Nicaragua Filler: Honduras/Nicaragua

Alec BradleyPrensado Lost Art Gran Toro Nowadays, it seems production trumps artistry. In premium cigars, though, artisans still produce everything by hand- a process that hasn’t changed in hundreds of years. I get nostalgic about the days when a large majority of products were made with care, by hand. Prensado Lost Art pays homage to those times. Every Prensado Lost Art is traditionally rolled “entubado”- with each filler leaf rolled for perfect air flow. The cigars are semi-pressed and finished with a traditional triple cap.-Alan Rubin. Wrapper: Honduras Binder: Honduras Filler: Honduras, Nicaragua

Alec Bradley Prensado Robusto Prensado means a lot to me and the Alec Bradley story. Rolled at Raices Cubanas (‘Cuban Roots’) factory, the Prensado was first created to pay homage to the Cuban traditions of cigar making- rolling the filler ‘entubado,’ triple capping the head and box pressing the finished cigar. Blended with proprietary estate grown corojo from the Trojes region of Honduras, Prensado would eventually be named Cigar Aficionado “Cigar of the Year,” propelling Alec Bradley’s trajectory into cigar culture much quicker than I anticipated.-Alan Rubin Wrapper: Honduras Binder: Nicaragua Filler: Honduras/Nicaragua

Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Belicoso The renowned Fuente family lives by the motto “we will never rush the hands of time.” It is this commitment to quality that makes Fuente cigars some of the most sought after by enthusiasts around the world. The artisans’ high standards are reflected with the highly esteemed Arturo Fuente Don Carlos. This special blend was crafted by Carlos Fuente Jr. to honor his father, the patriarch of the Arturo Fuente brand and the namesake of this medium-bodied masterpiece. The Dominican aged long fillers and binder are held together by a lusciously dark African Cameroon wrapper. While cocoa and nuts resonate as the most dominant flavors, they’re complemented by a sweet cedar and a subtle spice. Simply put, this Arturo Fuente cigar delivers a nuanced complexity that only grows in richness with each faultless draw of these medium-full smokes. The Fuente family’s commitment to quality is evident in the Don Carlos’s impeccable burn and utter craftsmanship. The Arturo Fuente Don Carlos has earned a coveted 94 rating on Cigar Aficionado. Country: Dominican Republic Binder/Filler: Dominican Republic Wrapper: Cameroon Strength: Medium