Review - Alec Bradley Tempus

• Quadrum Box-pressed
• Honduran & Nicaraguan 
• 5 1/2 x 55
• Maduro
• $8.95 (Virginia)

I picked a Tempus' based on two things: the box press and the leathery wrapper. I'm a big fan of the '64 Anniversary Padron Pyramide but they're not only difficult to find, they sell at between $14.50 and $21 / stick in Virginia. 

The draw from the Tempus is excellent: it's smooth and consistent throughout length but without the challenge accompanying some smaller gauge box-press cigars. After about one-half dozen I'd report tightly-packed filler/binder consistently and yet that same easy draw. 

Flavor reminds one of the pardon that helped pick it. Reviews state a clear "wood and nut". Let's be clear, this is a deep walnut or a chestnut, not the pistachio you get from sticks produced by Zino. There's undeniably wood out front before the nuttiness but both give way to a chocolatey chestnut before continuing to its other flavors. These cigars carry the "long finish" typical of high-scoring cigars but the chocolatey sweetness here is truly impressive. Whereas you pick up spice in the pardon you get a deeper less sharp spice in the Tempus. 

This cigar works magic with an old-vine Zin and other "big jammy" wines. The Apothic Red or Murphy's Law make great companions.  

I highly recommend this cigar. Avoid the natural wrapper. In terms of form-factor, avoid the torpedo. I haven't been able to get much more out of it and it costs more. Go with the box-press (reviewed) or the smaller gauge, smaller length. Yes, though I pick up my Padron's in longer form-factor, and prefer lanceros for my Opus X... I can't seem to find a longer Tempus that I enjoy as much as the smaller ones.