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Bolivar ? Especiales No 2 (2009 RE Germany)
Size: 192mm x 38 ? Delicados
Smoke time: 1 hour 47 mins
Box date: 2009 Source: Purchase from Simon Bolivar
Appearance: Firm and perfectly rolled, with a nicely sheened, honey brown Colorado wrapper with some raised veins and one or two slight blemishes. The lancero appeared to have a quad cap (although I may be wrong), and carried the now notorious Bolivar Type C ?error? band and the distinguishing Exclusivo Alemania RE band.
Construction: No real burn or draw problems whatsoever. The burn started straight and finished straight. The draw was just slightly resistive, which I prefer, and delivered precise amounts of smooth, velvety smoke. The mid-grey ash stayed compact and firm throughout the entire smoke, and needed only six tap-offs (see photos). No re-lights, no corrections. Thankfully the construction hoodoo which has blighted this series of reviews was gone.
Flavour: The pre-light aroma was earthy with the slightest hint of something slightly licorice. On light up the flavour was earth over (very) light citrus. The flavour combination was dry rather than sweet, yet very pleasant and not un-refreshing. A little further in and soft honeylike notes entered the mix, lending the citrus an almost marmalade quality. Progressing through the third and the flavours become woodier ? but still with an underlying subtle citric sweetness ? and pleasantly ?relaxed?. The smoke in retro-hale, and I admit to not being the most sensitive in this aspect, had an earthier quality and just the slightest hint of spiciness. In the second third the wood flavours became more dominant, but still married well with the light citrus which though still present became gradually fainter. I could also occasionally pick out some tea and nuttier flavours. In the final third the flavour mix became somber and much richer, with earth, tea, wood and rich tobacco as the base, which was then joined by tannin which suggests the stick was still a little ?green?. In any of the thirds the flavours were ?all there?, nothing harsh, over-sweet or bitter, but IMHO just seem to need that little bit of sharpening and crispning. One for the future I think!
Overall: A great and very relaxing afternoon?s smoke. The flavour strength I will catagorise as mild to medium. The tobacco strength surprised me a bit, being quite moderate, more akin to the Bonitas rather than the PC or RC. I realy enjoyed this cigar, but believe it still has a little further to travel to reach full potential, and whilst there?s hardly a NC wrapper width between them, on this review the Monte?s the lancero still standing.
Montecristo Especial v Boli Especiales.
Montecristo E No1 ? by a whisker.
Next man up. ERdM Grandes de Espana
Size: 192mm x 38 ? Delicados
Smoke time: 1 hour 47 mins
Box date: 2009 Source: Purchase from Simon Bolivar
Appearance: Firm and perfectly rolled, with a nicely sheened, honey brown Colorado wrapper with some raised veins and one or two slight blemishes. The lancero appeared to have a quad cap (although I may be wrong), and carried the now notorious Bolivar Type C ?error? band and the distinguishing Exclusivo Alemania RE band.
Construction: No real burn or draw problems whatsoever. The burn started straight and finished straight. The draw was just slightly resistive, which I prefer, and delivered precise amounts of smooth, velvety smoke. The mid-grey ash stayed compact and firm throughout the entire smoke, and needed only six tap-offs (see photos). No re-lights, no corrections. Thankfully the construction hoodoo which has blighted this series of reviews was gone.
Flavour: The pre-light aroma was earthy with the slightest hint of something slightly licorice. On light up the flavour was earth over (very) light citrus. The flavour combination was dry rather than sweet, yet very pleasant and not un-refreshing. A little further in and soft honeylike notes entered the mix, lending the citrus an almost marmalade quality. Progressing through the third and the flavours become woodier ? but still with an underlying subtle citric sweetness ? and pleasantly ?relaxed?. The smoke in retro-hale, and I admit to not being the most sensitive in this aspect, had an earthier quality and just the slightest hint of spiciness. In the second third the wood flavours became more dominant, but still married well with the light citrus which though still present became gradually fainter. I could also occasionally pick out some tea and nuttier flavours. In the final third the flavour mix became somber and much richer, with earth, tea, wood and rich tobacco as the base, which was then joined by tannin which suggests the stick was still a little ?green?. In any of the thirds the flavours were ?all there?, nothing harsh, over-sweet or bitter, but IMHO just seem to need that little bit of sharpening and crispning. One for the future I think!
Overall: A great and very relaxing afternoon?s smoke. The flavour strength I will catagorise as mild to medium. The tobacco strength surprised me a bit, being quite moderate, more akin to the Bonitas rather than the PC or RC. I realy enjoyed this cigar, but believe it still has a little further to travel to reach full potential, and whilst there?s hardly a NC wrapper width between them, on this review the Monte?s the lancero still standing.
Montecristo Especial v Boli Especiales.
Montecristo E No1 ? by a whisker.
Next man up. ERdM Grandes de Espana
I have had 3 of these now & they are slowily improving.
but I am afraid I am just not generous enough to send you my last one
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