The Alec Bradley Tempus was the cigar that opened the gates of success for Alan Rubin & Co. Crafted in 2001, though not released until 2008, the Tempus would go on to receive a spot in Cigar Aficionado's Top 25 of 2008. It also garnered a whopping 94 rating from the magazine the following year, and was a prelude to the success of the 94-rated Alec Bradley Family Blend. Made at Raíces Cubanas, the Honduran factory responsible for Illusione, Padilla, Viaje and others, the Tempus is now offered in nine sizes: Genesis (5 1/2 x 42), Terra Novo (5 x 50), Inceptio (5 5/8 x 46), Medius 6 (6 x 52), Creo (7 1/2 x 41), Centuria (7 x 49), Imperator (6 1/8 x 52), Magnus (6 x 58) and Magistri (6 3/4 x 54). Offered in boxes of 20, the Alec Bradley Tempus takes a Honduran wrapper over Honduran binders and Honduran and Nicaraguan fillers.

Up front expect oak, cedar, a touch of cocoa and a developed pepper. Throughout the cigar, the Alec Bradley Tempus adds dark chocolate, a touch of nuttiness, but the pepper really steals the show. It's medium-full (and not much more) in body, strength and flavor, and amazingly consistent throughout the nine different vitolas. While it may be overshadowed by some of Alec Bradley's newer releases and newer ratings, Tempus earned a 94 rating and there's a reason for that.