Bolivar Royal Corona

[ayedfy]

Bolívar Royal Corona. Box code unknown. Vitola size: 4.8x50. Paid $19/single.

Cold observations: Decent construction, big green spot on the wrapper. Cold aroma showing lots of wood and spice, cold draw is grassy with vegetal notes of capsicum and chili. Draw is a little too loose for preference but not annoyingly so.

First third: Full bodied from puff one. Heaps of spice and strong tobacco. Hints of sweet citrus in the background providing a bit of balance to slightly offset the intense spice. A savoury note, like salty beef jerky.

Second third: Mellowing out to a body further down towards medium. Less spice, a bit more vegetal, some worn leather and dry oak. Still quite savoury and salty.

Final third: Little development in the flavour profile, if a slight drop in body again. Mostly dry wood spice at this point, with the ever-lingering saltiness.

This was my first Bolívar, and I can't say I'm all that enamored with it. I commend it for its boldness, but the flavour profile didn't strike a chord with me. Perhaps a bit of age would smooth out some of those rough edges? I'll hopefully try the Belicosos Finos sometime, but I won't be rushing back for another of these anytime soon.

71/100

[nikesupremedunk]

Great review. I hope you didn't pay $19 USD for a BRC!!

Anyway, I still remember my first puff of Bolivar...it was a petit corona but man that full flavor first puff was unexpected. It's perfectly ok that it's not your cup of tea. Personally I loved it from the first puff and still consider it a very unique smoke but maybe the royal coronas are different from the petit coronas. Hopefully your next experiences will be better!

[sharks]

Great review, to the point and informative well done .

I have found that with most of the Bolivar Royal Coronas I have smoked they have needed a good 6 months to get going from when they hit my humidor. I had a 08 box initially that I smoked 3 within 3 months of getting the box and they were not good by any means.

Gave it another 3 months and they started to hit their stride. It a great cigar given time .

Sharks

[ayedfy]

Great review. I hope you didn't pay $19 USD for a BRC!!

That's what Australian taxes will do to you - I bought this from the FOH HQ here in Brisbane, so it's not like I was getting ripped off.

For comparison, I've seen it as high as $30 in other Australian cigar shops!

[nikesupremedunk]

Geez, sorry to hear that...I thought NY taxes were bad! Don't even want to know what a BHK costs!

[CaptainQuintero]

I remember I wasn't too keen on bolivar when I first started either, it's kind of like never having tried coffee before and jumping straight into an expresso! The petit corona is a great introduction to Bolivar, it took a few years for me to start to develop a taste for the brand though.

Great review!

[Schumi5]

Great review! Don't give up on Bolivar just yet. Give a BBF (great Daily Deal on now) or Gold Medal a shot. They might be better suited to your palate.

[La Suerte]

I know people will jump on this but every Boli I've had, espescially the larger RG, has been far better with some serious age on them..not a few months..a few years at least, not in my mind a marque to be smoked fresh...

[stargazer14]

Thanks for the review. I have found the BRC to be the least impressive of a brand I love.

[Charltonc]

One of my favorites.

[GammerSmokes]

Sorry to hear you didn't get on too well with the BRC. I should be smoking one with my bestie on Sat so I will have to see what I think! Me loves Bolivar anyways! 'Snot everyones cuppa though.

The BBF is a great smoke, hope you get on better with that beast!

Tapatalk'd from my Note II part Tres

[MrDowse]

I've had a similar experience with Bolivar. I'm working my way through an 04 box of CEs. It's one of the few aged boxes I have and I think I expected miracles but I find the flavour profile isn't for me. I've smoked about a third of the box and I really only enjoyed about 3 of them. I'm hope its because im relatively new to smoking Cigars and that my palate is still developing...Only one way to find out!

[tmac77]

bought this from the FOH HQ here in Brisbane, so it's not like I was getting ripped off.

A shame to end up with what sounds like a bit of a dud BRC. I have never been disappointed with this cigar.

Maybe get DIana to pick one out for you next time instead of Rob or Smithy.

[BatFastard]

Nice review. I always find these to be a solid smoke. Out of the dozen or so that I've had, have yet to be disappointed.

Cheers!

[Frofro]

I have a personal word of caution with the Bolis: I've liked all the ones I've tried (PC, German Esp. 2 RE, BBF) except for the Gold Medal. I found that very earthy, more so than the other vitolas, and I'm not very keen on earthiness in a cigar, but that's just me.

[sactochris]

Bolivar on one of my very favorite brands. The only one I've ever had that I didn't really enjoy was the Gold Medal.

[ayedfy]

A shame to end up with what sounds like a bit of a dud BRC. I have never been disappointed with this cigar.

Maybe get DIana to pick one out for you next time instead of Rob or Smithy.

She picked it! I'm not 100% confident calling it a dud cigar, maybe Bolivar just isn't my marque?

I hope I'm wrong though, otherwise I'm not going to enjoy this Inmensas I have sitting in the tuppador very much... will have to get my hands on a BBF soon.

[Habanos2000]

I've had OK BRC's and GREAT BRC's. The mix has probably been 50/50 at best, but when you do have the opportunity to have a great one, it can't be beat!

[paulF]

Had a very similar experience to you Ash just yesterday night. It was a bit weird as I had earthiness, tannins and cream from time to time but ditched the cigar in the middle of the last third as it just got too mineraly if that's the word for it! I think it tasted a lot like lead or just mineral and the tobacco taste was very average not floral or toasty which is fine. Another thing was the draw that started too loose at first and then really firmed up!

First bolivar cigar too, a bit disappointing but really happy still to taste earthiness and cream. Might post a review about it...

[Taps86]

Had a very similar experience to you Ash just yesterday night. It was a bit weird as I had earthiness, tannins and cream from time to time but ditched the cigar in the middle of the last third as it just got too mineraly if that's the word for it! I think it tasted a lot like lead or just mineral and the tobacco taste was very average not floral or toasty which is fine. Another thing was the draw that started too loose at first and then really firmed up!

First bolivar cigar too, a bit disappointing but really happy still to taste earthiness and cream. Might post a review about it...

If you can find a box from 06-07 get it. I was lucky to get a 5er of the RC from 06 and those are what really turned me onto Bolivar.

[TheFullMontecristo]

I rally want to like Bolivar but have not had success with them. I bought a box of the Coronas Extra a couple years ago and many had tight draw with little flavour. Last year I went through a box of Royal Coronas and again, tight draws on most of them and little flavour. Im really skeptical of buying any more Bolis. I might try one last time and grab a box of PC's or CJ's.

[paulF]

If you can find a box from 06-07 get it. I was lucky to get a 5er of the RC from 06 and those are what really turned me onto Bolivar.

Thanks for the advice

[ramon_cojones]

I rally want to like Bolivar but have not had success with them. I bought a box of the Coronas Extra a couple years ago and many had tight draw with little flavour. Last year I went through a box of Royal Coronas and again, tight draws on most of them and little flavour. Im really skeptical of buying any more Bolis. I might try one last time and grab a box of PC's or CJ's.

same, i've tried many bolivars and they just don't do anything for me so i don't stock any

[JayJay]

Nice review. Have a few coming my way.

[meatball41]

I'm a fan of the BRC, I bought some singles this year and they've all been good but I dont know the box code for them. I'm almost out, time get some more.