Bolivar Belicoso Finos Xmas sampler 12DCRC

[ChangBang]

Smoked my first BBF from the Xmas sampler tonight.  Have heard a lot of hype and have thought about purchasing a box blindly, but have resisted!  Did pick up a single from the host around the same time frame, so hopefully they're comparable in age and I can revisit this again later.

Aroma at cold is leather and earthy with a sharper smell that almost made my eyes water.  Draw is fine, did pretty much have to give it a standard cut - still haven't found a huge reason for the torpedo head.  Beverage of choice today is a beer I haven't had for a while - Old Rasputin.  Was my favorite back in the day, but got away from both craft beers and cigars until quarantine hit.  I do have a 10yr old "aged" one too that I'll have to try another day and then compare. 

1/3 - Leather and earth with a touch of sweetness

2/3 - Woody plus that fresh young taste...maybe ammonia?  Was present for a couple puffs then died down

3/3 - Finished with a woody leather taste 

I'll give this cigar a 5.5/10 - pretty average.  Maybe I was expecting too much with all the hype it's gotten, but I'm curious to see what a year will do.  I already have a box of BRC's so I'm in no rush to buy a box of BBF's and can see how my single develops with more time.  Burn time was around 1hr 10min.  Got to work this weekend, but will pull out something for Monday!

[Chibearsv]

I agree with you.  I don't find anything very special about a BBF.  I find the BRC much tastier.  I know Libertadors are more expensive but I'd take one Libertador over 3 BBF.

[99call]

6 hours ago, ChangBang said:

Maybe I was expecting too much with all the hype it's gotten, but I'm curious to see what a year will do

Sadly I think the current reality with bolivar is that if you want that full body Boli experience, you really are hanging your hopes on finding PSP maduro box. 

I harp on about this all the time, but I just don't get why the likes of Mag46 and JL1's have remained powerhouses and full bodied,    but the likes of Partagas Presidente's, 898's and BBFs have turned into mid bodied sweet, slightly marshmallow tasting creamsicles?.        I can only imagine HSA feels like the first time buyer is going to get turned off to CC's,  if they have a cigar that may run the risk of being so full bodied, that a greenhorn might cough up his/her breakfast,   not a good look for a teenage instagramer,  although they would still post it in a video,  begging desperado's that they are. 

To me a BBF should taste richly or licourice, leather, earth, meat etc.... the reality is,   I'd have to go back to around 2008 when I experienced anything that would even vaguely resemble that. 

[Bijan]

I remember my first Bolivar was very full bodied, and was stronger than I was used to (same with Ramon Allones, stronger fuller bodied than Partagas). I still get leather and earth now but usually 3/5 in terms of strength or body, maybe 4/5 sometimes.

[Kaptain Karl]

Funny I had a fresh BBF that was just spectacular a few days ago. I do imagine that the BBF blend is much different than it used to be to have the capability of being a fantastic cigar with no age on it. 

IMO, Bolivar is at it's best for me when there is sweetness to the blend. For my tastes, it brings out so much more complexity and depth. The Bolivars I've had recently that didnt have sweetness were average, while the ones that did were amazing.