Bolivar Corona POS JUL 06

[stever]

This corona (unfortunately discontinued) has a light tan, milk coffee colored wrapper and a nice box press. The wrapper is silky smooth with a light sheen. It has a nice firm resiliency, but I detect a bit of hardness near the band. Pre-light nose is of light barnyard, wood and cedar, and I detect fermented and toasted tobacco aromas at the foot. The draw at cold is firm with sweet rich toasted tobacco and white pepper flavors.

Upon lighting, the first draw reveals tobacco and white pepper flavors. Smoke volume is at first on the light side, as is the body, due to the rather firm draw. By the third draw, sweet earthy notes surface and mix with the predominantly pepper and tobacco flavors. The aroma is strong and spicy. There’s a good balance of sweet wood and light pepper mid-palate, and a definite nasal clearing aspect to the cigar that I love. Toasted tobacco --at times charred-- dominate on the aftertaste.

The draw improves by the first inch and the body changes to medium. Soon some fleeting fruit and citrus notes shroud the wood flavors, and sweeten and make the smoke rounder and softer. I detect more toasted nut and tobacco flavors mingling with a peppery zestiness. Definitely a cigar that grabs you by the taste buds and makes the palate come alive! Before long, I taste a creamy burnt sugar sweetness at the start of the draw. Mid-palate wood and white pepper flavors come through. The finish reveals chewy tangy leather and toasted tobacco.

By the two-inch mark, there’s an astringency around the corners of my mouth, and I find myself smacking my lips quite regularly. This is definitely a mouth-watering smoke. An occasional hit of sweet licorice improves the toasted tobacco and leather aftertaste. Underlying it all is a spicy, zesty zing. The second stage is what makes this cigar great, with rich flavors and a lush mouth feel. Sweet wood and leather notes predominate in nose exhalations.

The last inch and a half of the cigar is dominated by strong tobacco, at times charred, and spicy leather flavors. More age will definitely improve the final stage.

An excellent one-hour smoke that will improve with time. Tomorrow I intend to smoke and review another, slightly older, ’06 Boli Corona.

[El Presidente]

Loving your work Steve!

Imagine dicontinuing the Boli Corona/Partagas Corona/Diplomatico No 3.

Some of the best corona's in the world.

We are into our last months supply of Partagas Corona's and Dip 3's. We will not see the Bolivar Corona again. If anyone is interested in the last of the Partagas Corona and Dip 3....e-mail [email protected]

[shrink]

You're at the top of your game, Steve. And I don't doubt for a minute just how good this corona is.

BTW, the '06 Dip No. 3 is also a real winner. It's medium to full bodied, and full flavored, opening with loads of semi-sweet dry cocoa, and rich paprika spiciness. A real mocha spice bomb. This one is going out with a bang, and ranks as my favorite corona of 2006. If you like the Dip profile, don't miss this one. (How much you gettin' for these puppies, Rob?)

[stever]

I've only smoked Dip 1s & 2s. Sounds like I've got to try the 3s. Thanks for the heads-up. Any codes I should be on the look-out for?

[shrink]

» I've only smoked Dip 1s & 2s. Sounds like I've got to try the 3s. Thanks

» for the heads-up. Any codes I should be on the look-out for?

Any early '06 should do the trick.

[Cubatabaco]

I've always enjoyed any Dip. Of course I prefer the #2's, but a Dip has such a distinct taste. I prefer the Dip #2 over the Monte #2....don't lynch me for saying that...lol