Alec Bradley · Prensado
New WorldExperiencedAlec Bradley Prensado Gran Toro
Alec Bradley's Cigar of the Year winner in Gran Toro — a Honduran Corojo wrapper over Nicaraguan binder, rich, box-pressed and full-flavored.
The short answer
The Alec Bradley Prensado Gran Toro is a richer, medium-to-full smoke — a Honduras gran toro with a Honduran Corojo (Trojes) wrapper. Expect cedar, cocoa, and black pepper. Critics rate it 96/100.
Flavor profile
Earthy · Sweet · Spice · Roast
Critic ratings
Cigar Aficionado
2011
96/100
Scores as published by each reviewer. Casa DNC aggregates third-party ratings; we don't score cigars ourselves.
The verdict
The Alec Bradley Prensado Gran Toro is a richer, medium-to-full smoke from Alec Bradley's Prensado line. It's a Honduras (New World) gran toro wrapped in Honduran Corojo (Trojes) at 6 in × 54.
On the palate, expect cedar, cocoa, and black pepper, leaning earthy. Plan on roughly 70 minutes from light to nub.
It's well regarded: Cigar Aficionado rated it 96/100 in 2011. It pairs naturally with espresso, aged rum, and bourbon. If you're newer to cigars, work up to this one rather than starting here.
The Alec Bradley Prensado is the cigar that put the brand on the map, taking Cigar Aficionado's #1 Cigar of the Year in 2011. "Prensado" means pressed, and the gentle box-press shape is part of its identity. The Gran Toro is a generous 6 x 54, hand-rolled at the Raices Cubanas factory in Honduras.
What it tastes like
The star is the Honduran Corojo wrapper grown in the high-altitude Trojes region, which gives the cigar a deep, oily richness. Expect cedar, cocoa, and toasted nut up front, with leather and a confident black-pepper spice underneath. It smokes medium-full: plenty of flavor and body without crossing into harsh territory, and the construction is famously consistent.
Who it's for
This is a cigar for someone who already enjoys a flavorful, fuller smoke and wants to taste why Corojo gets so much praise. If you're still calibrating your palate, the cigar strength guide is worth a read first. Coming from milder sticks, our Maduro vs Connecticut comparison helps frame how much more intensity the Prensado delivers.
Log it and rate it in your humidor with the Casa DNC app. If you prefer a shorter smoke with the same blend, the Alec Bradley Prensado Robusto is the obvious next step.
Curious how it stacks up? See Cuban vs Nicaraguan cigars.
Alec Bradley Prensado Gran Toro — frequently asked
- Is the Alec Bradley Prensado Gran Toro a good cigar for beginners?
- Ease into it. The fuller body can be a lot for a first-timer, so it's better once you've built up a little tolerance.
- How strong is the Alec Bradley Prensado Gran Toro?
- The Alec Bradley Prensado Gran Toro is Medium-Full-bodied. Strength is about body and nicotine rather than flavor, so eat something first and take it slow if you're sensitive.
- What does the Alec Bradley Prensado Gran Toro taste like?
- Expect cedar, cocoa, and black pepper, leaning earthy. Tasting notes are a guide — your palate may pick up more or less.
- What is the Alec Bradley Prensado Gran Toro's rating?
- Published critic scores: Cigar Aficionado 96/100 (2011). Casa DNC aggregates third-party ratings and doesn't score cigars itself.
- What pairs well with the Alec Bradley Prensado Gran Toro?
- It pairs well with espresso, aged rum, and bourbon. As a rule, match the drink's intensity to the cigar's medium-full body.
- How long does it take to smoke the Alec Bradley Prensado Gran Toro?
- Plan on about 70 minutes for the gran toro — longer if you smoke slowly, which keeps it cool and tasting its best.
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Alec Bradley Prensado Gran Toro head-to-head
See how Alec Bradley Prensado Gran Toro stacks up against similar cigars — strength, flavor, and ratings.