bolivar gold medals

[Ken Gargett]

Smoked one of these, my first, at home for the huge Lions win over the Pies. They really do have a terrific look with that gold sheath. Once unveiled, a nice milk chocolate brown. Quite an earthy tight smell when cold, construction looking fine. Right from the very first puff, it is obvious that this is a massively powerful smoke, with waves and waves of earth, dry earth, and strong tobacco notes.

This smoke is about as subtle as Dame Edna in an evening gown. If you are looking for power and a buzz, this is for you but if looking for complexity and subtlety, leave well alone. At least for a decade or so. The very strong earth character stayed right through. After about a 1/4, it did settle a bit but it was like hopping off a runaway train onto an out-of-control semi trailer. No problems with the draw or the burn. It was full flavoured right through. What to do? I really see so many other smokes as better options unless you want something to put in the humidor for the long term, and i do mean long term. If i had any of these, i wouldn’t thinking of touching them for five years and then only to check the progress before locking them away. One other issue, other than a slight settling down after a bit, there really wasn’t much of a change in the flavours throughout. Stayed static. Not the most interesting cigar I’ve tried. 88. If you can put them away for many years, they should be fascinating then.

Not sure of the price differential with the Cohiba Maduro 5 Genios but for me, the Cohiba would have to be much, much more expensive not to go with it.

Did smoke it with a superb 21 year old Appleton rum.

[Ken Gargett]

had not looked at rob's review before doing mine as i don't want to be influenced but have now. we have some similarities and some differences. mine seems much more powerful and earthy than his. we agree with locking them away for a while. also went and had a look at mkn ron nee's book and interesting that his was more along the stroing tobacco notes but his review from the ones that were released long ago. they have not been in production for 15 years so who knows how close these are to the original. reasonably close for mine.

[Colt45]

KG, thanks for the review. I guess the key would be to have an idea as to what these

will turn out to be with time.

If I recall correctly, the Genios is nearly twice the price.

[Ken Gargett]

i've come back to this because i am really surprised that rob didn't see this as anywhere near as powerful as i did. it is now quite a while since i finished it and it is still overwhelming. i will have trouble sleeping. will be really interested to see what others think. really wouldn't be expecting too much variation yet, one would hope.

[Ken Gargett]

» KG, thanks for the review. I guess the key would be to have an idea as to

» what these

» will turn out to be with time.

» If I recall correctly, the Genios is nearly twice the price.

colt, i think that is fair pricing for me. i so much prefer the genios.

as to what they will become, i'd be lying if i said i thought i could honestly and accurately predict it. i suspect they be seriously interesting smokes but i really do think we are talking a long time. hard to see them coming around for ages, and i can't speak from experience as to what they might become. but i would think for anyone that does have the patience to hold off, it would be more than worth the punt. if you don't have that patience, if rob is selling singles, i'd be inclined to try that way rather than go the whole hog.

[bassman]

Ken, I smoked one this morning from POS DIC 06. There's a definite earthiness to it, but I found it to be only medium stength for the first 1/3. The strength & earthiness then amplified continually to become a fairly syrong cigar. Very smooth & never became harsh even down to the nub. To put thing in perspective though, a MAR 06 MC#2 I smoked a few days ago was much stronger.

[Colt45]

» colt, i think that is fair pricing for me. i so much prefer the genios.

»

Purely for the sake of conversation - I know it may sound like I'm crying over prices

(again :-)) - do members have thoughts about the Genios vs. spending a bit more for a

cab of, lets say, the SLR DC, or Bolivar CG, or two boxes of Cohiba Robustos, or two

boxes of whatever your favorite might be?

I guess in my own mind I'm thinking as much or more of value versus actual cost,

outright.

[habanohal]

» » colt, i think that is fair pricing for me. i so much prefer the genios.

» »

» Purely for the sake of conversation - I know it may sound like I'm crying

» over prices

» (again :-)) - do members have thoughts about the Genios vs. spending a bit

» more for a

» cab of, lets say, the SLR DC, or Bolivar CG, or two boxes of Cohiba

» Robustos, or two

» boxes of whatever your favorite might be?

» I guess in my own mind I'm thinking as much or more of value versus actual

» cost,

» outright.

sort of feel the same.MY theory is if they keep production low they can keep the prices high, But then again it is Cohiba. I still cant bring myself to get another box of Esplendidos for the price is a factor. For me the Siglo 5s or Lanceros are just as good and cheaper

[El Presidente]

What is interesting Ken is that your BGM came out of my box from which I smoked two, one of which I reviewed (both consistent).

One of our strength meters is way off. The only way to calibrate is to do 3 half corona's in a couple of hours with a bottle of wine where we can compare notes.

[Ken Gargett]

» What is interesting Ken is that your BGM came out of my box from which I

» smoked two, one of which I reviewed (both consistent).

»

» One of our strength meters is way off. The only way to calibrate is to do

» 3 half corona's in a couple of hours with a bottle of wine where we can

» compare notes.

more than happy to do that.

went to bed wondering if i had got it all wrong. the house i'm in is a couple of levels and i smoke on a different one to where i sleep. almost no soft furnishings or curtains etc and good ventilation so have never even n oticed any lingering cigar smells the next day.

woke up this morning and the place reeked from this cigar and that bwas from the downstairs level. so much stronger than any other smoke i've had in months.

[Ken Gargett]

» » colt, i think that is fair pricing for me. i so much prefer the genios.

» »

» Purely for the sake of conversation - I know it may sound like I'm crying

» over prices

» (again :-)) - do members have thoughts about the Genios vs. spending a bit

» more for a

» cab of, lets say, the SLR DC, or Bolivar CG, or two boxes of Cohiba

» Robustos, or two

» boxes of whatever your favorite might be?

» I guess in my own mind I'm thinking as much or more of value versus actual

» cost,

» outright.

i think that unless you have major deep pockets, it must be a factor for everyone. i tend to go for the smokes i think are fabulous and then grin and bear the prices as i suspect i actually smoke far fewer than many members and so i try and smoke the goodies. if i was smoking every day then i would have to change my habits. i guess it means that in the mind, the cigar budget is spread over fewer but better smokes.

i do have a few boxes on rotation that are more every day stuff as sometimes you just want a simple smoke for 40 minutes or whatever but i try and make most of the smokes an event. love the coros and would think of them as an event, so to speak, but know what you mean.

[shrink]

Thanks for the tasting notes, gentlemen.

It is not surprising that two smokers would rate the same cigar differently, at least in terms of strength. Even cigars from the same box. After all, you both agreed that they will need some serious time to show their best.

I have read perhaps a half-dozen reviews of the new BGM, and they are hardly uniform in their impressions, regarding not only strength, but flavors and approachability as well. (See Bass man's notes, above)

A case in point: I bought a box of MAR 06 Boli Royal Coronas early last year, and smoked half the box in the first couple of months. I found them to be very approachable, and quite flavorful for a young cigar, but they were medium-bodied, and moderately strong, at best. I would not have described them as 'peppery'. More out of curiosity than anything else, I put them away.

Now, a year later, I brought them out of hiberation to see how time has massaged their spirits. The one I smoked the other night was incredibly strong, and seemed as if someone had rolled a spoonful of ground black pepper into the mix. It was tasty, but almost too strong to enjoy. So, I put 'em away again.

I'm not sure what to make of this. Have they gotten stronger? Was the cigar I picked out an anomaly? Was it my palate that evening? I don't know, but it reminds me that (1) cigars are a variable, hand-made vegetable product, and (2) the subjective 'set' of the smoker plays a significant role in the smoking experience.

[jqmunro]

The question from those who haven't had one yet is, should one even bother trying to smoke one for the sake of comparison, or just stash them for 3-5 years before even waking them up?

[Tampa1257]

I plan on sampling one after the appropriate time period after receiving a box, then every 6 months do a comparison, so after about 3 years or so, I will have a historical base line to comment on the development.

Thank goodness that these are going to be regular production again, we can stock up as well as smoke a few as they develop.:-D

[bassman]

» The question from those who haven't had one yet is, should one even bother

» trying to smoke one for the sake of comparison, or just stash them for 3-5

» years before even waking them up?

You really should try one a couple weeks after yours arrives to give a basis for future comparison. Also, to see if it fits your flavor profile. You might want to get more, or you might not. Best to know before stocking up.

[Van55]

Ken and Rob --

Do you have any experience with the German relase BGM's of DIC 04 and FEB 05?

I smoked one from DIC 04 in Vegas in August of that 2005. It was fabulous. Started out medium with cherry notes. Capacious volume of smoke. Quite complex, as every toke seemed to have different undertones.

By the halfway point the Bolivar earth and strength became apparent and it got earthier and stronger the closer to the nub.

It's a bit odd that I can hardly remember one cigar from the next unless I am taking notes for a review, but I remember the experience of smoking that BGM as if it were an hour ago.

If the 06/07 versions are as good as the German release one that I enjoyed, they will be well worth the price. But I am gathering from Rob and Ken's reviews that they are not nearly as approachable now as the German was at 8 months of box date.

(Rumor had it that the German BGM had been rolled and sitting awaiting packaging material for quite some time before being finally released in February of '05.)

[Ken Gargett]

sadly i don't. rob might.

[El Presidente]

Van, I was fortunate enough to have been gifted a W German release BGM from a generous member. The Cherry note was rife. Superb cigar. Medium bodied, richly flavoured. I only smoked mine a couple of months ago so there was the better part of 3 years age on it.

It is nigh impossible to compare the current BGM due to youth. Not on the same page in terms of flavour profile at this time.