Bolivar Belicosos Finos Gran Reserva 2016 Thanksgiving Comp

[jakebarnes]

My wife had a dinner with friends scheduled and everyone else seemed to be out of town so I took myself out for dinner and a cigar. After finishing a beautiful mushroom risotto, I had a nightcap espresso martini before heading to the cigar lounge next door for "dessert." I'd brought a few cigars with me to choose from depending on how the mood struck me at that time. Given this was a dealer's choice weekend, I figured I should have some fun with the review and go a bit bigger than usual.  Life is too short to wait for an occasion to smoke something special--a reality a lot of us are too familiar with lately, it seems. So I decided that it was finally the right time to have the Bolivar Belicosos Fino Gran Reserva that @Ford2112 so graciously gifted me as part of a "pay it forward." 

Appearance: Flawless. This campana is absolutely gorgeous, smooth, and deep brown in appearance--almost as if had been plucked out of a chocolate box.  The aroma is equally beautiful. As an aside--I am not a 2 band person generally, but HSA did nail the luxury feeling with the second GR band here. It creates an expectation of a truly special experience. I can only hope that the smoking experience matches the window dressing.

Cold Draw. Straight cut. Slight resistance on the draw--but that's generally my preference. Might be a bit influenced by the nightcap choice I had before heading to the lounge, but the draw reminds me of cold coffee grounds. 

Pairing. Ice water

Initial thoughts. I used a soft flame to light the cigar. The aroma while lighting is intoxicating and portends the amazing experience that awaits me. I've previously had an unsteady alliance with the BBF--with some cigars that have been brilliant and others that befuddle me, leaving me asking what happened. After the first few puffs, it is clear to me that this will be the former, bringing a thick-coating smoke with rich cream and stout lashing the tastebuds. 
 

First Third. This cigar has been an absolute treat so far. The laser straight burn eases my mind and gives me the opportunity to sit back and truly take in the experience. The stout and cream are the backbone flavor profile, with hints of leather interspersed. What amazes me the most is the interplay between the strength of the cigar and how smooth it is. This is definitely a full-bodied with some strength, but the creamy and voluminous smoke hide that edge--like a perfect cortado. Towards the end of this third, hints of woodiness start to appear. 

Second Third. The stout and cream notes persist, but on top of the beautiful sweetness of those notes comes a roasted nut and almost a dark cherry cola. This cigar is not short on body. With the rush of flavor and intensity you'd expect something to feel out of place or need refinement, but like the finale of Mahler #2, the intensity is only exceeded by the beauty of the cigar. I've always found younger BBF (and Bolivar in general) to have a strong earthiness to them, and while this has that note, the roasted nuts really deepens an already intense flavor profile. 

Final Third. The intensity continues to build (although has not rushed to get here). The earth, sweet cream and stout are now undertones to the roasted nuts, cherry, and now a pinch of a spice. Notwithstanding the build in intensity, the flavors continue to stay balanced--the edges just aren't here. Even as I put down the cigar with a little under an inch left. Even after finishing,  The long, luxurious finish lingers on my palate like a fond memory. 

Conclusion. This was a truly special cigar and I am in debt to @Ford2112 for his role in curating this experience.  If I were to one ascribe numbers to cigars (I generally don't), it's a 96 at least. I've never had an experience with a BBF that has made me want to move it into a regular rotation. After this, it makes me want to hide as many boxes/SLBs of BBFs from myself for a minimum five years. Perhaps I will. 

[Ford2112]

I have smoked 1 cigar from this batch I managed to score last year. I felt it needed time. I have 3 of these left. They are for special occasions for sure. Great review and I'm really glad you had that experience! That's what paying it forward is all about.

[jakebarnes]

1 hour ago, Ford2112 said:

I have smoked 1 cigar from this batch I managed to score last year. I felt it needed time. I have 3 of these left. They are for special occasions for sure. Great review and I'm really glad you had that experience! That's what paying it forward is all about.

Interesting on the time part. It definitely has the legs to age for quite some time. If I was to venture a guess, I'd  imagine it will showcase more of that cherry/fruit as time goes on. I came away super impressed compared to most of the recent BBFs (and for that matter, cuban cigars) I have had. It sort of surprised me just how well it smoked--I expected good, ended up finding it to be great. I think you're in for a treat when you decide to celebrate with one. Definitely need to hide a box or two of the standard BBFs from myself and re-sdiscover them after 5+ years.

I really do appreciate the opportunity to enjoy the cigar. Thanks again!

[Ford2112]

I am a huge fan of Bolivar Petit Corona .