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Belinda: A totally machine made Marca with originally 10 slightly differing Vitola sizes. These were deleted between 2002 & 2005, although deletion means they don't expect to make them again but they might not have made them for 10-20yrs before the actual announcement. e.g. the Demi Tasse was discontinued in 2005 but I have never seen them.
I managed to a box of Princess in 2010, from Jul '97, for only E30! Having enjoyed them as fishing smokes (Machine mades have thicker wrappers, due to the 1920's rolling machines couldn't manage wrappers as thin as the human hand could. MRN opined that the thicker wrapper gave a stronger flav & therefore better for outdoors).
I managed to buy 3 boxes in 2018, from a Belgian friend, Panatela 35 x 4 5/8 from '00, E90, Petit Princess 35x 4 3/8 '00 E100 & Superfinos 40 x 4 5/8 '99 E110.
These were popular in Russia & Eastern European countries but now the only vitola still in production is a Coronas, in a plastic tube. I actually tried this in Pinar Del Rio & it was disgusting &; I ditched it after 1/2". So I can't recommend trying it but if you can find any of the old sticks, you'll find it an interesting, simple smoke, all vitolas tasting very similar..
Saving & adding pics
Pic's of current stock: Petit Princess & Super Finos, the two separate are Princess, from another box.
Belvederes, whilst Pike fishing, on a very sunny March 2017 day in Belgium.
Belinda.Belv.2017.03.16_113511.jpg
AJanuary 2018, another Belvederes, strong enough to enjoy, on a cold day.
Belinda.Belv.2018.01.08_134004.jpg
Princess & my fav Belgian Beer.
Belinda.Princess.2011.09.24.IMG_1615.jpg
Smoking a Princess, during a shut down, on the Maersk Curlew FPSO, Sept 2014.
Bolivar:
Bolivar's are noted to be amongst the strongest Cuban' cigars & those who smoked them in the 70's or early, will tell you they used to be considerably stronger than today's tobacco. This is part due to changes in the tobacco used. Used to be 'Black tobacco' then they bred more disease & pest resistant varieties, which obvious favours the farmers & produces but not necesarily the consumer.
I once bought a cab of 1970's 50 Coronas Extras at auction & they really blew me away - MUCH stronger than any other Cuban I have tried & that was after 40yrs+ of aging!
So when to smoke such a full bodied cigar? I once smoked a rather fresh Party SHort for breakfast, one of the few times I turned green from the nicotine! Would have been far better after a full English.
I had a similar reaction after smoking a Boli PC before lunch, very strong on my stomach, even with a glass of wine.
So my advice would be, smoke the smaller ones after a good lunch & the larger ones after a full dinner, especially if you are sensitive to nicotine or the strong earthy flav. For me, red meat is the best starter, steak or venison demands a large Boli or Cohiba (but that's another story).
The 2007 Gold Medial's are lighter but might catch you if inexperienced.
Bolivar's match well with Red wine, Rum, whiskey or strong Belgian beers.
Belvederes 39 x 4 7/8" Pre Rev machine made, discontinued 2006.
Dress Box 25 in Cello.
Belvederes, smoked on the Isle of Bute ferry, leaving Rothsay after a successful fishing holiday 2017.
Boli.Belv.2017.05.21_151402.jpg
The BBF or the Bolivar Belicosos Finos 52 x 5 1/5 Campanas, basically a smaller version of a piramide. A Pre Rev cigar, still in current production. The is one of the stronger flav deliveries & always cut the minimum off the cap, you can always cut more but you can't cut less! I can't recall ever having a plugged one. Very reliable & ages fantastically.
Matches well with Red wine, Rum, whiskey or a strong Belgian beer.
Chocolate soilders, with my Belgian Herfing buddy Zowie.
Boli.BF.2015.06.14.SAM_7255.1.jpg
Current Stock Pic: The loose sticks are from APR '06, bought in 2008 for E108 & the Cab is Jul '06 bought in 2015 for E210.
Smoking my very first BBF, which was gifted to me by Series Steve, on our first meeting. He took the photo, at Aberdeen's Academy Square June 2006.
Boli.BF.2006.06.29.jpg
Coronas Gigantes: Julieta No2 47x7" 25 dress boxes or 50 Cab's. A pre-Rev cigar that was sadly deleted 2017. Not as strong as the BBF but a grand end to a meaty dinner, my Fav Julieta No2. Rewards aging.
My original purchase of CG's, 2002, unbanded, bought in 2006, from Mr Frank's in Antwerp. Still have 2 left!
Boli.CG.2006.09.03.png
Current stock Pic: From the Right: 2002 unbanded, as they came from a 50 cab, which were still unbanded back then. I bought the cab in 2006, from Mr Franks, in Antwerp. Just these two left now, after I smoked one 14th April, see 'What are you smoking today' thread for that entry. Middle segment 2008 & Left 2007.
In 2011, we were on our first visit to Havana. I was looking for a 50 cab but every LCDH said they hadn't seen one for yrs & basically I was wasting my time so I bought other cigars to my 100 limit. Then on our last evening we dined at the Nacional. When visiting their shop I found two cabs! With hindsight I could have bought both & paid the Customs duty, still way cheaper than they bacme but instead I hid them at the back of the shelf, amongst the usual R&J rubbish. I then told my mate Moondancer, where they were, as he was going 6/52 later. What's the odds they would still be there? Well he found one cab, brought it back & we split them
CG's 2015, Inmensas 2008 (ex Tippex) Dalias, 43 x 6 3/4". ER Espana 108 2010. x2, ER Alemania 109x2, ER Alemania Especiales No2 x2. THe x4 German ER's are two f the best ER ever produced IMHO & going for a bomb at auction these days.
Below: Current stock Pic: Bonitas Londres 40 x 5" MAY '08. Dress box, Deleted 2009.
ER Benelux 2009, perfect ER & delivery IMHO. Very satisfying smoke.
Above Pic, current stock: Gold Medal. 42x 6 1/2" Dress boxes x10. Original Gold Medal's were made pre Rev & continued until '92, although not available for sometime befor ethat. Released in 2004 & then again in 2007, discontinued again in 2011. Originally discontinued as they couldn't get the gold foil. Now released but in a different format of 48x 6 1/2", confusingly vitola named Partagas 15. I have yet to try these. Have seen them in Belgium but the larger format doesn't appeal as much & of course the price is far different, around e35. My boxes cost e100!
Also current stock: Immensias May '08 43 x 6 3/4, Dalias. Found these in Vigo, Spain for e242.
Gold Medal, smoked having removed the gold foil, noticed a trend to leave on, on the new version & tear the top of the foil off, just so people on Instagram can see it's a GM!
Boli.GM.2008.11.21_1132.jpg
Best Secret Santa ever! The member sending to me, didn't think he had anything worthy so he bought this box & sent it instead! Those were the days.
Boli.GM.SS.2009.12.20.061.jpg
Smoking an Immensias at Boisdales, 2011.
Boli.Inm.2011.02.03. 140.jpg
Below: Current Stock pic: Demi Tasse: 30 x 4" The smallest hand rolled format Cuba makes. Rather rare, even on auction sites, same size as the ERDM & R&J Julietas. Clearly the strongest of this vitola, even after many yrs of aging, matches with strong coffee & a side of rum or brandy. Bought in 2019 for e205, from a Belgian friend. I had some from Tippex but those are long gone.
Coronas 42 x 5 5/8* Pre Rev, SLB 25 discontinued 2003, Dress box 25 discontinued 2006
Smoking a Corona on Christmas Day 2013, onboard the Maersk Curlew.
Boli.Coronas.2013.12.25.SAM_4052a.jpg
Regentes Placeras 34 x 4 7/8" Pre Rev, discontinued 2002. Feb '00. e234 from my friend in Belgium. Great wee panatela, sadly sold a box to a friend, before moving to UK. but I had already smoked another box before that.
Royal Coronas 50 x 4 7/8 1969 Release Sold originally as Prince Charles, in 50 cabs, Royal Coronas as Dress box 25, Box of Ali Tubes x 10, released in 2009.
CigarCollection.2012.12.SAM_0018.jpg
ER2009 Benelux SLB x 25 x 2,600 boxes.
CigarCollection.2009.09.26.RE.BoliPunch_062.jpg
Demi Tasse
Boli.DT.2018.04.28.IMG_6546.jpg
Current Stock Pic: Petit Corona (one from Tippex Secret Santa exchange). 42 x 5" Powerful wee smoke. ER 2015 54 x 5 1/2" Robusto Extra, Corona Extra 2005 42 x 5 1/2" & Regentes. Royal Coronas Tubos Robusto 50 4 7/8", Oct '19 Royal Coronas 2007. Royal Coronas was originally known as Prince Charles but is believed to be the same blend, discontinued '72. Both were available at an over lapping time, PC in 50cabs & RC in 25 dress boxes. Having smoked one, I would agree. I'll try to add that pic later. Coronas Junior 43 x 4 3/8" One of 7 Bolivar Vitolas still in current production. Another strong wee stick.
I managed to a box of Princess in 2010, from Jul '97, for only E30! Having enjoyed them as fishing smokes (Machine mades have thicker wrappers, due to the 1920's rolling machines couldn't manage wrappers as thin as the human hand could. MRN opined that the thicker wrapper gave a stronger flav & therefore better for outdoors).
I managed to buy 3 boxes in 2018, from a Belgian friend, Panatela 35 x 4 5/8 from '00, E90, Petit Princess 35x 4 3/8 '00 E100 & Superfinos 40 x 4 5/8 '99 E110.
These were popular in Russia & Eastern European countries but now the only vitola still in production is a Coronas, in a plastic tube. I actually tried this in Pinar Del Rio & it was disgusting &; I ditched it after 1/2". So I can't recommend trying it but if you can find any of the old sticks, you'll find it an interesting, simple smoke, all vitolas tasting very similar..
Saving & adding pics
Pic's of current stock: Petit Princess & Super Finos, the two separate are Princess, from another box.
Belvederes, whilst Pike fishing, on a very sunny March 2017 day in Belgium.
Belinda.Belv.2017.03.16_113511.jpg
AJanuary 2018, another Belvederes, strong enough to enjoy, on a cold day.
Belinda.Belv.2018.01.08_134004.jpg
Princess & my fav Belgian Beer.
Belinda.Princess.2011.09.24.IMG_1615.jpg
Smoking a Princess, during a shut down, on the Maersk Curlew FPSO, Sept 2014.
Bolivar:
Bolivar's are noted to be amongst the strongest Cuban' cigars & those who smoked them in the 70's or early, will tell you they used to be considerably stronger than today's tobacco. This is part due to changes in the tobacco used. Used to be 'Black tobacco' then they bred more disease & pest resistant varieties, which obvious favours the farmers & produces but not necesarily the consumer.
I once bought a cab of 1970's 50 Coronas Extras at auction & they really blew me away - MUCH stronger than any other Cuban I have tried & that was after 40yrs+ of aging!
So when to smoke such a full bodied cigar? I once smoked a rather fresh Party SHort for breakfast, one of the few times I turned green from the nicotine! Would have been far better after a full English.
I had a similar reaction after smoking a Boli PC before lunch, very strong on my stomach, even with a glass of wine.
So my advice would be, smoke the smaller ones after a good lunch & the larger ones after a full dinner, especially if you are sensitive to nicotine or the strong earthy flav. For me, red meat is the best starter, steak or venison demands a large Boli or Cohiba (but that's another story).
The 2007 Gold Medial's are lighter but might catch you if inexperienced.
Bolivar's match well with Red wine, Rum, whiskey or strong Belgian beers.
Belvederes 39 x 4 7/8" Pre Rev machine made, discontinued 2006.
Dress Box 25 in Cello.
Belvederes, smoked on the Isle of Bute ferry, leaving Rothsay after a successful fishing holiday 2017.
Boli.Belv.2017.05.21_151402.jpg
The BBF or the Bolivar Belicosos Finos 52 x 5 1/5 Campanas, basically a smaller version of a piramide. A Pre Rev cigar, still in current production. The is one of the stronger flav deliveries & always cut the minimum off the cap, you can always cut more but you can't cut less! I can't recall ever having a plugged one. Very reliable & ages fantastically.
Matches well with Red wine, Rum, whiskey or a strong Belgian beer.
Chocolate soilders, with my Belgian Herfing buddy Zowie.
Boli.BF.2015.06.14.SAM_7255.1.jpg
Current Stock Pic: The loose sticks are from APR '06, bought in 2008 for E108 & the Cab is Jul '06 bought in 2015 for E210.
Smoking my very first BBF, which was gifted to me by Series Steve, on our first meeting. He took the photo, at Aberdeen's Academy Square June 2006.
Boli.BF.2006.06.29.jpg
Coronas Gigantes: Julieta No2 47x7" 25 dress boxes or 50 Cab's. A pre-Rev cigar that was sadly deleted 2017. Not as strong as the BBF but a grand end to a meaty dinner, my Fav Julieta No2. Rewards aging.
My original purchase of CG's, 2002, unbanded, bought in 2006, from Mr Frank's in Antwerp. Still have 2 left!
Boli.CG.2006.09.03.png
Current stock Pic: From the Right: 2002 unbanded, as they came from a 50 cab, which were still unbanded back then. I bought the cab in 2006, from Mr Franks, in Antwerp. Just these two left now, after I smoked one 14th April, see 'What are you smoking today' thread for that entry. Middle segment 2008 & Left 2007.
In 2011, we were on our first visit to Havana. I was looking for a 50 cab but every LCDH said they hadn't seen one for yrs & basically I was wasting my time so I bought other cigars to my 100 limit. Then on our last evening we dined at the Nacional. When visiting their shop I found two cabs! With hindsight I could have bought both & paid the Customs duty, still way cheaper than they bacme but instead I hid them at the back of the shelf, amongst the usual R&J rubbish. I then told my mate Moondancer, where they were, as he was going 6/52 later. What's the odds they would still be there? Well he found one cab, brought it back & we split them
CG's 2015, Inmensas 2008 (ex Tippex) Dalias, 43 x 6 3/4". ER Espana 108 2010. x2, ER Alemania 109x2, ER Alemania Especiales No2 x2. THe x4 German ER's are two f the best ER ever produced IMHO & going for a bomb at auction these days.
Below: Current stock Pic: Bonitas Londres 40 x 5" MAY '08. Dress box, Deleted 2009.
ER Benelux 2009, perfect ER & delivery IMHO. Very satisfying smoke.
Above Pic, current stock: Gold Medal. 42x 6 1/2" Dress boxes x10. Original Gold Medal's were made pre Rev & continued until '92, although not available for sometime befor ethat. Released in 2004 & then again in 2007, discontinued again in 2011. Originally discontinued as they couldn't get the gold foil. Now released but in a different format of 48x 6 1/2", confusingly vitola named Partagas 15. I have yet to try these. Have seen them in Belgium but the larger format doesn't appeal as much & of course the price is far different, around e35. My boxes cost e100!
Also current stock: Immensias May '08 43 x 6 3/4, Dalias. Found these in Vigo, Spain for e242.
Gold Medal, smoked having removed the gold foil, noticed a trend to leave on, on the new version & tear the top of the foil off, just so people on Instagram can see it's a GM!
Boli.GM.2008.11.21_1132.jpg
Best Secret Santa ever! The member sending to me, didn't think he had anything worthy so he bought this box & sent it instead! Those were the days.
Boli.GM.SS.2009.12.20.061.jpg
Smoking an Immensias at Boisdales, 2011.
Boli.Inm.2011.02.03. 140.jpg
Below: Current Stock pic: Demi Tasse: 30 x 4" The smallest hand rolled format Cuba makes. Rather rare, even on auction sites, same size as the ERDM & R&J Julietas. Clearly the strongest of this vitola, even after many yrs of aging, matches with strong coffee & a side of rum or brandy. Bought in 2019 for e205, from a Belgian friend. I had some from Tippex but those are long gone.
Coronas 42 x 5 5/8* Pre Rev, SLB 25 discontinued 2003, Dress box 25 discontinued 2006
Smoking a Corona on Christmas Day 2013, onboard the Maersk Curlew.
Boli.Coronas.2013.12.25.SAM_4052a.jpg
Regentes Placeras 34 x 4 7/8" Pre Rev, discontinued 2002. Feb '00. e234 from my friend in Belgium. Great wee panatela, sadly sold a box to a friend, before moving to UK. but I had already smoked another box before that.
Royal Coronas 50 x 4 7/8 1969 Release Sold originally as Prince Charles, in 50 cabs, Royal Coronas as Dress box 25, Box of Ali Tubes x 10, released in 2009.
CigarCollection.2012.12.SAM_0018.jpg
ER2009 Benelux SLB x 25 x 2,600 boxes.
CigarCollection.2009.09.26.RE.BoliPunch_062.jpg
Demi Tasse
Boli.DT.2018.04.28.IMG_6546.jpg
Current Stock Pic: Petit Corona (one from Tippex Secret Santa exchange). 42 x 5" Powerful wee smoke. ER 2015 54 x 5 1/2" Robusto Extra, Corona Extra 2005 42 x 5 1/2" & Regentes. Royal Coronas Tubos Robusto 50 4 7/8", Oct '19 Royal Coronas 2007. Royal Coronas was originally known as Prince Charles but is believed to be the same blend, discontinued '72. Both were available at an over lapping time, PC in 50cabs & RC in 25 dress boxes. Having smoked one, I would agree. I'll try to add that pic later. Coronas Junior 43 x 4 3/8" One of 7 Bolivar Vitolas still in current production. Another strong wee stick.
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