Bolivar Coronas Junior ULA FEB 14 review

[rmill3r]

Cigar: Bolivar Coronas Junior (42 x 4.33", minuto, ULA FEB 14)

Review date: 11/14/2014 (9 months)

These were cigars I also got in a 12:12 not too long ago. I'm already a big fan of Bolivar. I'm not quite sure why I was drawn to it from the beginning, but the marca as a whole just seemed so inviting. I remember the first Petit Corona I had was unlike any cigar I'd smoked before and really forced me to reevaluate the way I view cigars. Well, considering the agreeable price and the fact that I find I enjoy Cubans in their smaller packages, I figured a box of Coronas Juniors was just what I needed.

I was surprised to find that it is the youngest box I've gotten in CCs before though.

First third

The pre-light aroma is just sweet hay, chocolate and cedar--an absolute joy from the get go. After cutting the pre-draw is just perfect. It's not a pain to draw through but it gives a fair amount of resistance as well.

This little guy starts out strong and flavorful. This isn't strong in the sense of bitter, spice, or pure heat but in the sense of just fullness of flavor. I'm pretty floored right off the bat with wood notes, melting chocolate and rich dark coffee.

As with other small-format cigars the burn is even, steady and solid. I find minutos and perlas and the like usually never have construction errors, so it's something I rarely worry about.

Second third

The strength and intensity really starts to take a back seat in the second third while the flavors open up into a rich and creamy nutty tone. Also, while it doesn't last forever, there's a definite peanut butter note that pops in and out. This is something I've found in Belicosos Finos as well, so I wasn't too surprised to find it although it was a welcome change in the flavors. The coffee remains constant and I slip into some real Cuban bliss.

Final third

The strength does pick back up in the last third in a sort of bookend sense, but it's far from overwhelming. Altogether, the flavors remain the same--woody, coffee, chocolate--but this last third is a great mix of the first and second third, because there's a great balance between the strength of the beginning and the softer creaminess of the middle.

Conclusion

Welp . . . who doesn't love Bolivar? This marca never disappoints. Maybe it's not for everyone necessarily, but something about these flavors just work so well together. It's always so balanced, so creamy, and with just the right amount of strength and complexity. My biggest complaint with the Coronas Junior here, though, is that the complexity wasn't quite as compelling as it could have been. In my opinion, with Bolivar the best vitolas are Petit Corona and Belicosos Finos, but Coronas Junior is an excellent quick minuto at a killer price tag. And although the flavors could have (and I might say should have) taken me on more of a "journey," what it did offer was rich and wonderful nonetheless.

Score: 90

[...]

Nice review mate! Had my first one with similar code (ula ene 14) during the weekend and I can pretty much relate to your tasting notes. A new humidor staple for me

[torsion]

Nice review @rmill3r!

Boli CJs were my first try of this marca from a sampler from a fellow BOTL. I was amazed at the depth of flavour, richness of these little jems and out of the 2 sticks I had I was really impressed and enough to know that I'd buy a box. I read a few other reviews on here and other sources and decided on a box of Boli PCs from a recent 12:12 which have almost been resting 1 month since I received them. Look forward to firing one up maybe at the end of the week and will compare

Was tempted in a box of the Belicosos Finos aswell from the ever so tempting deals but I tend to prefer to at least try one before committing to a box.

[Optic101]

Nice review for a nice cigar. Thanks.

[Rye]

Nice review! Crisp pics!

[DWC]

Thanks for the review. Nice ashtray!

I had a box of these disappear on me! I could have sworn I had most of the box remaining but last time I looked there were only 3 lonely sticks left. Someone must have broken in and stole a handful or two of them. I couldn't have smoked them all this fast, could I?

[liger930]

Great review. These bcj from the 12:12 have have really come around since the first stick I sampled rott. Wonderful little smoke.

[cpmurrin]

thanks for the review. the box I of these I have sampled seems to need a bit more time

[rmill3r]

Thanks for the words everyone. One thing I forgot to mention in the conclusion of this review is that I'm shocked how good these are smoking young. Even the first one I had ROTT was a joy.

[anacostiakat]

Nice review!

The CJ and the PC are staples for me.

[leftimatic]

Nice review thanks. Need to let mine rest a bit more I guess. A little too harsh at the beginning for my liking.