robertvgupta
New Member
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2008
- Messages
- 11
This was an absolutely gorgeous smoke: Bolivar's dark-natural wrapper is a sight to behold - oily brown/red sable wrapper that reminded me of a ripe red-purple plum held up against brilliant sunlight. The construction was flawless - tight but with a give, a little bumpy but no large veins, slightly box-pressed. The bunching at the foot was perfect, and a pre-cut, pre-lit whiff of the foot gave me the impression of an immensely full-bodied, wholesome cedar.
Pre-lit draw: I tasted a fruity aromatic woodsiness and already an incredibly complex array of tobaccos - perfect draw.
Smoking, 1st/3: Initial draw was the most incredible experience I've yet had with a cigar; this is a really meaty cigar and at the onset, not punishing when exhaled through the nose. In that more sensitive palate I tasted: plum, toast and a juicy, meaty texture laced with pepper. Tons of smoke emitted from both ends, and I didn't want to put this baby down! I remember that I retained no discernible aftertaste during the first third: that's how clean the finish of this cigar is.
2nd/3: During this portion, the smoke left a coolness along the lining of my cheeks, like the type of cool, sweet finish you experience after a very tart citrus fruit, but far milder. This cigar also had a smooth finish, like Patron Silver. A sweetness emerged from the cigar, and I was reminded of sweet sea breeze at the forefront, accompanied by mulchy body, musk, and heavy incense.
I enjoyed the sweetness, especially because it emerged after the first third. So often a cigar starts off sweetly and is later overpowered by spicier tobaccos, but to experience a burgeoning soft sweetness close to the halfway point that is distinct and yet never overpowered by a ligero leaf, speaks volumes to the experience and genius of the blenders at Bolivar. I have never tasted a Dominican/Connecticut/Nicaraguan blend like this one: I feel that every flavor was distinct, expressive, and carefully composed/assembled in the leaf blend; this is a work of art.
I noticed that the tobaccos in the cigar were clearly burning at different rates, causing some burn problems. But who cares about the burn when you have such a masterpiece in your hands?!
The cigar started going downhill for me after the halfway point. A savory hint emerged, but I felt all the flavors and sensations I enjoyed so far became muted, overcast by the woodsiness and the now fully emerging spice from the Honduran ligero. I started feeling a little tingle, but nothing more powerful than that. The so-far well paced progression of flavors halted, and I feel had I kept at it, I would have just tasted ligero. I put her down in the last 3rd.
Overall, I found this to be a mild smoke, and almost a master class in leaf blending. I titillate at the idea of trying Bolivar Habanas when I go abroad in a few weeks. Until then!
Pre-lit draw: I tasted a fruity aromatic woodsiness and already an incredibly complex array of tobaccos - perfect draw.
Smoking, 1st/3: Initial draw was the most incredible experience I've yet had with a cigar; this is a really meaty cigar and at the onset, not punishing when exhaled through the nose. In that more sensitive palate I tasted: plum, toast and a juicy, meaty texture laced with pepper. Tons of smoke emitted from both ends, and I didn't want to put this baby down! I remember that I retained no discernible aftertaste during the first third: that's how clean the finish of this cigar is.
2nd/3: During this portion, the smoke left a coolness along the lining of my cheeks, like the type of cool, sweet finish you experience after a very tart citrus fruit, but far milder. This cigar also had a smooth finish, like Patron Silver. A sweetness emerged from the cigar, and I was reminded of sweet sea breeze at the forefront, accompanied by mulchy body, musk, and heavy incense.
I enjoyed the sweetness, especially because it emerged after the first third. So often a cigar starts off sweetly and is later overpowered by spicier tobaccos, but to experience a burgeoning soft sweetness close to the halfway point that is distinct and yet never overpowered by a ligero leaf, speaks volumes to the experience and genius of the blenders at Bolivar. I have never tasted a Dominican/Connecticut/Nicaraguan blend like this one: I feel that every flavor was distinct, expressive, and carefully composed/assembled in the leaf blend; this is a work of art.
I noticed that the tobaccos in the cigar were clearly burning at different rates, causing some burn problems. But who cares about the burn when you have such a masterpiece in your hands?!
The cigar started going downhill for me after the halfway point. A savory hint emerged, but I felt all the flavors and sensations I enjoyed so far became muted, overcast by the woodsiness and the now fully emerging spice from the Honduran ligero. I started feeling a little tingle, but nothing more powerful than that. The so-far well paced progression of flavors halted, and I feel had I kept at it, I would have just tasted ligero. I put her down in the last 3rd.
Overall, I found this to be a mild smoke, and almost a master class in leaf blending. I titillate at the idea of trying Bolivar Habanas when I go abroad in a few weeks. Until then!
