Alec Bradley has not been around as many years as the bigger brands. However, their Tempus Quadrum rose quickly to the top, getting rated a 94 and being named of the top 25 Cigars of the Year list by Cigars International. Alec Bradley began growing in 1996, but it was not until 2002 that the Tempus was introduced. The Tempus is their pride and joy, and is obvious in its robust body and many flavor notes. The Tempus Quadrum is aged well, and is a cigar that is definitely worth the money,

The wrapper is a Honduran Criollo ‘98 from the Trojes region near Nicaragua. It’s a darker leaf with a leathery feel. The Tempus Quadrum is a partial box-press, so it has a different feel from the other cigars of the Tempus line. Rounded edges and a flatter top and bottom give a unique look to the Quadrum compared with other cigars in the line. The Quadrum is a thicker toro grande shaped cigar, making it a little tough to cut, but started easily it does have a nice easy draw. It’s not too loose, and gives a nice amount of smoke.

The cigar starts out a little sweet. The smoke has flavors of chocolate and coffee early, and it also leaves a sweet flavor on the lips. As it progresses though, you may find yourself needing to do some touch ups, so keep your lighter handy. The flavors begin to shift to an earthy palette as you smoke it, however, so it is not all sweet. Toasted wood, nuts, and a light taste of minerals build up as the cigar burns. Towards the middle, the flavors become much more robust. The Quadrum has a long finish, with a full bodied, peppery flavor and a very subtle sweetness.

Alec Bradley earned a well deserved 94 rating from Cigar International for their Tempus Quadrum. It’s obvious from the quality of this cigar that Alec Bradley thought deliberately about what was needed when putting it together. The many flavor notes, from semi-sweet chocolate and coffee, through the earthy wood and nut of the middle, and the full-bodied peppery finish, make this a truly satisfying cigar to smoke. It doesn’t start out too strong, and eases you into the richness of the cigar’s long, flavorful finish.

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