1 review for Alec Bradley Tempus Terra Novo
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Alec Bradley Tempus Terra Novo
Overall Score
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Jason
Origin : Honduras
Format : Robusto
Size : 5 x 50
Ring : 50
Wrapper : Honduras Criollo 98
Filler : Honduras, Nicaragua
Binder : Honduras Criollo 98, Indonesian Embetunada
Hand-Made
Price : ~$7 each
This is my 1st tasting of an Alec Bradley Tempus. I have read some pretty good things, particularly that this cigar scored a 94 in Cigar Aficionado. So, I was definitely looking forward to trying this stick. I don’t smoke Alec Bradley cigars too often, and the couple that I’ve had I wasn’t too impressed with. Maybe, this will be the cigar that makes me think of this company in a different light…
Appearance : [rating:3.5/5]
This robusto had a dark, toothy wrapper and a sloppily applied triple cap. It sported big gaudy labels, which were nice, but a little over the top. Other than the slopy cap, the wrapper was well applied and didn’t really have any blemishes.
Construction : [rating:3.5/5]
Overall, this was a pretty well made cigar. It had a perfect draw, but suffered from minor burn problems, requiring one touch up. It didn’t overheat, swell, or go out on me, so the crooked burn wasn’t really a big deal.
Flavor : [rating:3/5]
This was a medium-full bodied cigar that was pretty smooth. I didn’t detect any bitterness during the smoke. The 1st half tasted of leather, earthyness and black licorice. This would be ok, except that I found the licorice taste very unpleasant. It is a taste that I try to avoid in cigars and it was a little too prevalent in the Tempus for me to really enjoy it. A dry cedar taste developed through the midpoint of the cigar, then some sweetness crept in during the second half, which definitely improved the cigar’s overall flavor. I was suprised to learn that the Tempus had a Criollo wrapper, because it tasted more like a maduro.
Value : [rating:3.5/5]
From what I can gather MSRP on the Terra Novo is around $7.00, but can be found for much less online. This seems to be pretty in line for what you get in terms of quality. It just depends on what you like.
Overall Rating : [rating:3/5]
This review may seem unfairly harsh to those that like this cigar (there must be some of you if this cigar scored a 94), but it is my honest opinion. It just wasn’t my cup o’tea. f you like your cigars to taste like anise, you will probably like it and rate it higher. I personally would not smoke another one. Regardless, it is well made and seems to be well aged, for that I can respect it.
[sz]alec bradley tempus[/sz]
Dbell
Definately one of my favorites
jeetman
I am smoking one of these right now, I got a 5 pack sampler as a gift and I must say these things are terrible. I have had 2 and they bothe have smoked bad and it leaves the worst after taste in my mouth. Pretty disappointing.
tobacmon
i’ve had about every size and enjoyed them all–very much!
Jason
Thanks Cohiba-Guy. I should have been more specific in the CA reference. I am guilty of a bit of laziness in that respect. I am typically a robusto and petit corona smoker, but I have been gravitating to the lonsdale size range recently as well. I haven’t explored the lonsdales enough to have any favorites yet, but I did smoke a Punch SS #1 recently that was great…..shame they are going to be discontinued.
F1-Cohiba-Guy
Inspector, thank you for pointing that out. My bad. Jason, sorry for not giving you proper credit for the review. In any event, just to be sure and to lend credence to your very fair and honest review, I went back and smoked the Tempus Creo and the Temous Magistri.
The Creo was a wonderfully smooth and tasty cigar. And the Lonsdale shape is one that I am beginning to gravitate to more and more. (I’ve always been a 54+ ring gauge type but I’ve smoked some pretty good Lonsdales recently. Do you have any favorites in this size category?).
The Magistri however definitely could benefit from some additonal humidor ageing. A bit too peppery and leathery for my tastes. Needs a little bit more balance which I am sure the dark (and very beautiful)wrapper will yield once it sits for awhile.
Jason
I was never trying to imply that it should not be tried. If it sounds like a taste profile that you enjoy, I don’t know why you wouldn’t try.
Saint Jimbob
Jason, Aside from the subjective taste issue, there’s no reason not to smoke one. They’re decently made, and flavor/boldness is a definite cut above previous AB offerings. I’ve smoked the Genesis vitola, and enjoyed it, and bout a couple of these robustos to sit a while.
The Tempus’ flavor profile is a huge change from AB Maxx and other AB cigars. It’s either something you’ll like, or not. But the only way to find out is to smoke one.
JasonT
Thanks for the honest review. I’ve read mixed reviews on the cigar in other places. That’s the main reason I haven’t smoked it.
Inspector
F1-Cohiba-Guy, the reviewer’s name can be found right under the title 🙂
Thank you for pointing this out, we will make sure to review the Alec Bradley Tempus Centuria (the one that scored 94) in future.
F1-Cohiba-Guy
Denis my comment is mostly a compliment in that I really appreciated the blunt honesty of your review (if it was you who did the review)in that you did not sugarcoat your impressions of this particular cigar. Indeed, the Tempus has received some pretty high praise in the press, etc. so its easy for someone to “think” themselves into agreeing that a cigar IS as good as CA said it is.
In fact, the actual specific Tempus they rated is very good and very much deserves its rating. The other Tempus sizes/shapes have not been nearly as good and which brings up an interesting Catch-22 in that people will buy the other cigars in a line for which a single specific cigar in that line scored well; but then find out that the other sizes/shapes are not as good.
An expample of an exception to the rule (in my opinion) is the Padron 1964’s or the Ashton VSG’s. Every one of the size/shapes within those two are excellent. As such, I would love to know your impressions of the specific AB Tempus that CA smoked and rated. Try that one and let your readers know what you think.
Thank you.