The Alec Bradley Prensado Gran Toro stands as a 6x54 parejo-shaped powerhouse wrapped in Honduran Corojo magic. This box-pressed beauty comes 24 sticks to a box, packing Nicaraguan and Honduran fillers beneath its oily maduro wrapper. When Cigar Aficionado crowned it 2011's #1 cigar, they weren't kidding about that perfect draw and slow burn.
First Third: Immediate espresso kick with dark chocolate undertones. The Honduran wrapper delivers that signature peppery zing on retrohale while maintaining smooth smoke output.
Midway Point: Transitions into nutty territory - think roasted almonds and Brazil nuts. Cedar notes emerge alongside faint caramel sweetness that tempers the initial intensity.
Final Stretch: Earthiness takes over with leather and damp soil tones. Watch for mineral accents in the last inch, though most smokers ditch it before tar buildup kicks in.
The box-pressed format ("prensado" meaning "pressed") ensures consistent airflow. Most samples burn razor-straight with ash holding 1.5-2 inches. Minor touch-ups needed near the final third when the thick wrapper really starts pumping out oils.
