Bolivar Gold Medal '08 + Little Book Chapter 3 bourbon (BGRW)

[Notsocleaver]

The Big Gun review

I don't have many 'big gun' cigars. I prefer my cigars at the premium price point rather than 'super-premium', whatever that actually means. Same goes for my other vices. But in this case I feel into a couple bargains. The bottle of Little Book was in the back of a dusty liquor store. For whatever reason, they had decided to keep the pricing on the Chapter 3 the same as Chapter 1. I asked the clerk if it was a mistake and she just shrugged. $80 is still a bit for a bottle of bourbon in my book, but it sure beats $125, or whatever the flippers are trying to get for it now. The Boli Gold came from a fellow brother who was generously selling off a chunk of his collection at more or less what he paid for it. I was puzzled by the lack of an LCDH band but he told me he just didn't like the look. Ascetically I see his point. The first of these Bolis I smoked was a gem, 95+. As I pick this one up I'm worried however. Its solid and feel heavy for its size. You can smell the barnyard in it, this is good tobacco. The draw has some floral notes but is way too firm. Another bad sign. Nothing left to do but light up and figure it out.

Bourbon Review sidebar: I'm generally more of a scotch guy, but as I've learned to let bourbon be its own thing and not compare it to scotch, I have started to enjoy it more. The LBC3 has a nice rye spice on the nose and an also butterscotch finish. Its over 120 proof but easy to drink straight. For the price I paid its great, but the secondary market is insane. B+/A-

The opening of this cigar is more floral than any bolivar I have experienced. I think its partially a sign of age. There is a bit of bolivar sweet earth in there as well. This cigar is just rolled too tight. Its hard to draw enough to enjoy without having it smoke too hot. I'll power through this for the sake of the review, but this is why I don't buy big guns.

There is a bit of chocolate shortbread in there. It is peppery, perhaps because I'm letting it get too hot. As it progresses a little more it settles down and opens up a little. Its not open by any means, just barely tolerable. As I let it cool now and nurse it vigilantly is smooths out. The flavor isn't creamy so much as buttery if that makes sense. I get to the end and I'm glad that its over. This was great tobacco rolled poorly, the classic Cuban heart-breaker. If this were an ordinary cigar I was pan it with a 76 or so. That a special cigar failed me so cuts deeper. I give it a 55. Better that I had not smoked it at all and left it in its pretty gold wrapper to decorate my humidor. bleg!