Sancho Panza Belicoso RUM MAR 19 (MPRW)

[Meklown]

I first got to know about the marca SP in Mar of 2018. It isn't a common marca by any means so when I was in a shop in Geneva, I asked the guy to recommend me something and he pulled out the SP Valientes ER Suiza 17. Smelt good, reasonable price so I bought a box. Smoked one and I was immediately impressed by the salty cocoa powder profile. Fast forward to joining and then finding SP on FOH, and I quickly got boxes of the NP and the Belicoso. I'm bummed that the NP is discontinued, as I'm sure if it's more readily available it would definitely be in my daily rotation. I still have an unopened box + 6 remaining of the opened box, so I'm loathe to dip into those. This Belicoso is apparently still in production but it isn't common and I haven't seen it on 24:24 often so it falls into my precious category.

Today I felt like one so I pulled out a Belicoso. Most from the box have been pretty decent - some good, some average. 

On the cold draw this had lots of saltiness and smells of old books. Salty old books, imagine that. 

Upon lighting it up, this was really good. The saltiness is complemented by umami and wood. There is also a chocolate vein running through and the cigar is very well balanced. Fantastic. 

Towards the second third the cigar gets more creamy. So so good. Chocolate cream aged in relatively inactive oak barrels next to the sea. Keeps delivering every puff. Medium to light body. The chocolate reminds me of the Valientes where the dusty cocoa powder really made me fall in love. 

I'm drinking a rioja tonight which is pretty full bodied and with enough tannins to stand up to most cigars (accompanying BOTL is smoking a BPC and he thinks the rioja has legs to stand up to even that). However, it's not taking away anything from my SP. 

Towards the end the strength increases just a tiny bit to just under medium. Taste profile remains similar to before. Smoked it absolutely down to the nub. 

What a good smoke this was. I hope that the SP marca will be revived, but maybe as a start, they need to produce more of these Belicosos! A brilliant 91/100 tonight. 

[cfc1016]

Delightful review, and makes me yearn for an SP!

[99call]

Yeah,  top review dude

[GolfT3]

This reminded me I need to ask about SP beli’s on the supply thread! Thanks and great review.

[Fugu]

On 10/29/2020 at 5:31 PM, Meklown said:

I hope that the SP marca will be revived, but maybe as a start, they need to produce more of these Belicosos!

Thanks for the nice review, and very well said!

So happy to see the Beli making a return recently. Not having checked current production yet, but if they succeeded to pin the blend l am likely to stock up massively (as far as funds allow it). My ‘06es are such a treat.

As for revival, couldn’t agree more. Let them bring back the Julie-two, the mighty Bachilleres and a Panetelas and I’d be a happy camper. A return of the Beli in SLB would be nice, too! But pleeeease, HSA, don’t follow the route of Quai d’Orsay!

[Kayslay]

Great review! Love SP Belicosos.