Bolivar Royal Coronas TEB MAR 08 (JMRW)

Chef · November 22, 2019

BRC TEB MAR 08

I came about this stick courtesy of @Bucky McSwensen via the most recent Newbie/Vet Box Pass. Thanks, Bucky!

I was in such a rush to get this smoke going, I neglected nosing the wrapper and foot, as well as drawing the stick cold. Oh, well...

1/3: At first light, wowsers! This thing is intense. Mostly a full-bodied espresso over the palate and a good bit of spice through the nose. I'm surprised, as this thing is eleven and half years old. It's the oldest cigar that has touched my lips so far, and I thought it would be much more mellow than this. However, it might be starting off this strong b/c it's been in my desktop/drybox humidor for way over a month and it's running around 56-58%. Maybe it's too dry? The draw is also very open, and I'm smoking in my 39*F garage right now wishing I had @SigmundChurchill's heater set up. But that's fine, as I can take small pulls and still get copious amounts of smoke and flavor, as well as extend the smoking time (hopefully). At around the half-inch mark, the intensity does dial back slightly, making way for some chocolate and that Cuban twang. The initial spice through the nose is down, too, but it's still there for sure. The foot smoke is quite delectable as well: black coffee and nuts.

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2/3: As I smoke this little delight into the middle third, there is a distinct shift. The nuttiness really ramps up – hazelnut. The espresso/black coffee fades a good bit as the chocolate increases and brings along a familiar friend of the BRC: cream. I also get a blast of leather for the first few puffs to open up this third, and the foot smoke smells of a rich earth. Approaching the half way point, the body is way down from its full-bodied introduction as the complex interplay of cocoa, cream, nuts, citrus, and leather really grip my palate's attention. At this point, I'm noticing how much of the cigar has already been smoked, and I'm sad. No, upset. I'll stop typing here for a bit just to enjoy this thing...

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3/3: There's isn't too much to report in the start of this last third except the utter enjoyment of the shifting of balance in the flavors already mentioned. The flavors are just playing games with me at this point. If anything, I'm getting just a touch of kitchen spice added to the cream here, almost like an eggnog, which would be completely apropos for the season. Well into the last third, the predominant flavors are hazelnut, cream, and big, big leather. Oh, and the twang persists. The foot smoke is chocolate and earth. So....darned....good. I have a little over an inch now, and the burn has slowed down a bit. Yup, I'm smiling. However, the body has picked back up a bit, and the smoke is a little gravelly at the back of my throat, and I detect a minerality. Could it be that this box has quite some time left on it? Man, oh, man. I can only imagine what these might be in the years to come.

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Final Thoughts: Firstly, the burn was perfect throughout. Also, having come inside from the cold to finish up this review, I didn't notice the nicotine kick until I hit the warmer air. It's still pretty strong. Lastly, having just watched @El Presidente and @Ken Gargett's review of the Bolivar Jubilee PCC regional, I learned that the BRC divides the opinions of the cigar smoking public. Well, I know which side of the line I fall on. I'm a huge fan of BRC and the Bolivar marca as a whole, but this stick was next level. All I can say is ..... AMAZING! Rating? 97/100. Got any more, @Bucky McSwensen??