Bolivar Royal Corona Cigar - Box of 25

Date Added: Friday 03 June, 2016 by Staff

Reviewed by Phil Beecroft in January 2001

Cigar One

This cigar was marvelous to behold. It was exactly 4 7/8 x 50. Its wrapper was a rich colorado-colorado maduro or the color of raw sienna. There was only one large vein present and very few smaller ones - they in no way interfered with the burn. The cigar was almost square, a very box-pressed cigar, not that I mind. The cap was a perfect triple cap that was flat across the top. The foot was evenly cut. This cigar was firm to the touch with no soft spots evident. The unlit aroma was that of earth, leather and had hints of coffee. Upon clipping - a full shoulder cut just across the first layer of the cap - the pre-light draw was absolutely perfect. No need to fight this one, I could tell that generous amounts of smoke would follow. The taste on the unlit cigar was quite enjoyable with flavours of leather and spice. The cigar lit easily and produced a fine and intoxicating aroma - wood and spice were ever present. The ash on this cigar was comprised of two colours. The first - the wrapper - produced a very light grey ash that tended to flake the whole way through the cigar. The second colour - that of the binder and filler - was a very dark grey that help its shape throughout and needed only a little coxing to fall off after about an inch to an inch-and-a-half in length. The flavors in this cigar were very consistent and didn't really change and no on taste became dominate. The was an overriding flavor of gum/sourness that tended to mask the other flavors - I believe that this cigar would benefit from some time in the humidor, say about six months or so - but the other flavors were present and were delightful. These flavors included spice (cinnamon), leather and a strong cedery or woody flavor. However, a nice hint of dark chocolate and/or coffee was also present and made this cigar enjoyable even though there was the gummy/sour flavor.

Cigar Two

This cigar was almost a twin to the first but it differed in wrapper color - a true colorado-maduro - and dimension, measuring 4 15/16 x 50. The construction was just as good and the wrappers were identical in terms of veins. The ash on this cigar was not as flaky but still enough to annoy at times. However, the major difference in this cigar was the taste! This cigar was PERFECT! No gummy/sour flavors here and the progression was very nice. This one started out woody - cedar again - and about 1/3 into it the spices came out big time. Flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg and pepper (cayenne) were making my taste buds dance. The power started to pick up here too. This cigar can at times be a little less powerful - more towards medium bodied - than the others vitolas in the Bolivar line. This cigar was between the medium and full range and was slightly heady. During the last third of this cigar the flavors of dark, semi-sweet chocolate come out in full and the woodiness takes a back seat. This cigar was so enjoyable that if I had a box of these it would be smoking nirvana. I would rate this cigar around a 9.5 towards a 10 on a 10 scale. This cigar was the best of the three.

Cigar Three

This cigar was the exact match of number two in terms of dimensions, looks and construction. Absolutely flawless. The draw was slightly easier but this did not make the cigar smoke hot as can happen. The ash was not flaky and tended to hang on to the very end, I only lost the ash twice before I was finished. The flavors were almost the same as number two but not quite as complex. The woody flavors were dominate but the spice and leather were there. The only flavor missing was the chocolate which was too bad as this was very, very nice. The flavors were very consistent throughout indicating to me some age. On the point scale I gave this one a 9.0 - it was missing the dark chocolate. As a final note, this cigar - and all of them - were what is to be expected from this vitola. This is not like the rest of its brothers in the Bolivar line in that it has a pronounced woody flavour and not the trademark earthiness that the rest of the line had. I still love having this cigar around and it is worthy of the name Bolivar.