Bolivar Belicosos Finos Cigar - Cabinet Selection - 25 Cigars

Date Added: Friday 03 June, 2016 by Staff

Reviewed by Robert Reitzfeld (September 2000)

The package arrived on a wet Wednesday morning. The New York Yankees had just lost to the Boston Red Sox and I needed something to cheer me up. I knew who the package was from, but not what it contained. To my delight, upon opening, I found 3 gorgeous Bolivar Belicosos Finos. I immediately placed them in my humidor and began to anticipate enjoying them and writing about the experience. Before starting, I thought to look at what other reviewers had to say about this particular cigar. What I found was confusing and contradictory. Cigar Aficionado had rated the 5 1/2 x 52 Figurado an 89. Not bad, but not great for a Cuban.

None of the reviewers I read could make up their minds, and comments were all over the place.

For instance:
*Earth & leather notes.
*Creamy. Peppery bite.
*Strong but temperate.
*Spicy but not harsh.
*Light to medium body with little depth, body or spice.
*More strength than flavor.
*Very nice coffee richness.
*Dark leather & spice. etc. etc.

I could tell I had my work cut out for me. In all my years enjoying fine cigars, I believed something was wrong with my palette. I had trouble finding the notes and flavors that others described in their smoking enjoyment. Where were the hints of chocolate, blueberries, pepper? Where was the leather? The coffee? The earth? Without finding those hidden wonders, could I still enjoy a cigar? Would other cigar smokers look down their Robustos at me? Should I cancel my Cigar Aficionado subscription? Judging from the many and varied opinions gleaned from different reviews, it appears that each ones experience bears little resemblance to the next. Many things can influence the smoking experience, from the meal you've just eaten, to the drink you've consumed, to the time of day. The same holds true for the cigar. It would be difficult if not impossible for every single box to be the duplicate of itself. There are far too many variables involved within the process of growing and manufacturing to expect that. I have had wonderful and disastrous experiences within the same brand. Sometimes within the same box. I'm not sure I'm up to the task of delivering rosy prose about flavors, smells and notes, but I am sure I'll enjoy myself trying.

Since I am an artist, I might as well begin with aesthetics. After all, we do look at what we smoke before we smoke it. The shape of these figurados is indeed beautiful. Tapered at the tip and gently widening towards the end, with a slightly box pressed look . The wrappers are dark, somewhat oily and not too heavily veined. A truly lovely looking cigar. The construction of each of the three felt uniform, except for one which upon feel, seemed more densely wrapped at the tip.

After 4 days in the humidor, I thought it time to begin. On the rooftop garden of my building, mid day, I clipped the end of the first cigar and lit it with the beautiful new Dunhill lighter my wife had given me that morning for Fathers Day. My very first impression upon lighting was that this cigar was milder than I had expected. From the initial puff, it was very smooth with an easy draw. I guess that's what people mean when they say a cigar is "creamy"? At 1/3rd the extremely dark ash falls off.

Up to this point the cigar feels full bodied and there are different flavor notes that are tasty, but I cant identify as anything specific. This particular Bolivar seems to have gotten stronger and slightly harsher as it burns down. At the halfway point, the harshness fades and smoothness returns. The cigars aroma turns sweet. The last third, which is usually my favorite part of the smoking experience, continues to smoke smoothly and cooley. But a hard vein in the wrapper leaf caused it to burn a little unevenly. Undeterred, I continued to smoke it down 'till it burns my lip! After extinguishing, what remains on my palette is a slightly dry taste. Perhaps this is the "leather"or "earth" referred to by others? All in all, a wonderful hour on a beautiful day, spent with a good book and a fine Cuban cigar.

Cigar #2, two days later, early evening, a slightly tighter draw and a stronger and harsher beginning than the previous. The harshness fades after about 2 inches, but not the strength! The aroma was light and somewhat sweet, concealing the strength of the figurado. This was a fantastic smoke that lasted an hour and twenty minutes and left me feeling the way Cannabis might have at an earlier time in my life. For the following few hours, I felt I had the wonderful taste of Cuba's soil on my palette.

I hope you'll forgive, but cigar #3 is being saved for my 20th anniversary in August. A worthy smoke for a very special occasion.

Thank you to C.GARS Ltd for allowing me to take part in the test. I was flabbergasted, yet delighted that I was selected.