Pics of your sticks!!

[deluxestogie]

I always look forward to your impressions of cigars because you include the tobacco used in them but the gold medal is one I have smoked so it helps give your other comments scope for me.
Pete

You win. I'll fire it up this weekend--in synchrony with the warm weather, and then try to describe it. (Reviewing a cigar is much, much easier if no readers have actually tasted one. At least not many readers will have ticked this one off their list already, since it's sort of contraband-ish, and quite expensive.)

Bob

 

[DIY Pete]

No need to rush it on my account. I don't let anyone dictate my cigar choices and I surely shouldn't influence yours.
Pete

 

[MarcL]

 

[deluxestogie]

Bolivar Habano Gold Medal Lonsdale (6.4" x 42)

I taste a subtle, unidentifiable flavoring in the head. It's not "in your face" flavoring, but there is definitely some non-cigar flavor added at the head, and detectable as soon as I place the cigar in my mouth. I suspect that something was added to the glue. It's not sweet gum, and did not taste sweet. It's also possible that the foil-paper cap was flavored in some way, imparting its character to the head, while not technically adulterating the cigar. For me, this is a first with a true Habano.

On lighting, the initial hit is overpowering. It burns my nose, and gives a slight bitterness to the taste. I detect no sweetness. I have to note the uneven burn in the first 1/4, with a slight cavitation down one side. After the first 1/4 of the cigar, the strength settled down a bit, and the burn evened up, although an eccentric hole was still visible within the filler.

The second half of the stick was enjoyable and relatively smooth, providing a clean, woody taste, with a slight astringency. I detect no earthiness. The flavor and aroma are not particularly complex. In the last 1/4 of the cigar, a slight pepperiness emerged. The draw was excellent for the entire length--always an iffy proposition with a Lonsdale shape.

I'm guessing, from the taste and aroma that this is mostly or entirely Corojo leaf, and mostly viso/ligero. The wrapper is a medium blonde, very smooth, shade-grown Connecticut, probably grown in Ecuador. I can't say anything about the binder.

The excess of potency is not particularly surprising, since:

1. it's a Cuban cigar (usually potent)
2. it's a Bolivar (usually stronger than it should be)
3. it's a Lonsdale (burns hotter than a fatter cigar, and not as smokey as a robusto)

Overall, a fairly decent cigar. Nothing special. I initially expected to be unable to smoke the whole cigar, but instead ended up with a tiny butt. The construction was not ideal. The wrapper was beautiful and flawless. The packaging (two separate bands, plus a foil-paper wrap of about half its length at the head) is over the top, and annoying to remove.

By contrast, most of my cigars rolled from WLT leaf are more enjoyable. I would gladly smoke another Bolivar Habano Gold Medal, if given to me, but I would not purchase one. To love this Bolivar, I would have to love cigars that prioritize strength over complexity.

Bob

 

[Charly]

Thanks for your review Bob
I don't remember having smoked a Bolivar (or I have forgot ) So I can't add anything, but they are known to be strong (or more strong than aromatic I should say).

One thing I don't understand is you that you say that the wrapper is shade-grown connecticut from Ecuador... I thought cuban cigars were all full puros from only tobacco grown in Cuba ? Have I missed something ?

I am eager to achieve to make my own grown cigars I enjoy more than cuban cigars

P.S. I have never tasted flavoring on cuban cigars... surprising

 

[deluxestogie]

The wrapper on the Bolivar Habano may well be from Cuban shade-grown leaf. To my eye and taste, it resembles Ecuador CT Shade. In the distant past, I have smoked cigars from Cuba (Davidoff, back in the 1970s) that were clothed in beautiful, blonde wrappers even lighter in color than this one, but it's been ages since I've seen a similar Cuban wrapper. I plead ignorance.

About the flavoring, I can only report what my taste buds say. And taste buds are notoriously unreliable. Taste can be influenced by everything that has recently been tasted. But this seemed distinctive. I'd have to smoke a few more, at varying times, to be certain. The foil-paper wrapper, which I subsequently tasted, seemed to not be flavored, but it was attached using a long strip of cellophane tape. It might have been an unfamiliar gum used for cigar glue. Every one has some taste, though usually not obvious.

A member recently posted a video of a self-proclaimed "cigar factory" in the Vuelta Abajo that used sweet gum on their horrid-looking cigars.

Bob

 

[mwaller]

This would surprise me... I had always heard that Habanos were 100% Cuban tobaccco....

The wrapper is a medium blonde, very smooth, shade-grown Connecticut, probably grown in Ecuador.

Bob[/QUOTE]

 

[deluxestogie]

I never knew this, but apparently CT Shade is being grown in Cuba. https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/a-connecticut-leaf-in-cuba-7666

Bob

 

[MarcL]

 

[waikikigun]

I never knew this, but apparently CT Shade is being grown in Cuba. https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/a-connecticut-leaf-in-cuba-7666

Bob

Lot of water under the bridge since 1995....

 

[Charly]

I never knew this, but apparently CT Shade is being grown in Cuba. https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/a-connecticut-leaf-in-cuba-7666

Bob

Thanks for this link !
It seems that Cuba is evolving, growing CT Shade in Cuba only to export it in whole leaf form...
It's strange that the guy claims that they won't use this CT Shade on their own Cuban Cigars... Aren't they proud enough of it ? It's a strange comment (commercially wise)...

 

[DIY Pete]

Bob,
Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts on that Bolivar. I didn't get the "flavor" on the head of the cigar that you refer to but the rest of your perceptions are fairly close to mine. It is definitely a strong cigar and I found that to be it's defining characteristic. It was strong in the same way that I find many Nicaraguan puros, think Tatuaje. The last time the gold medal was produced and released it sold for about 10 dollars a stick, more than I would pay for one after trying them. They go for 30 to 35 per stick now and are highly sought after. IMHO not worth it by any stretch.


I have heard unverified rumors that Habanos SA has been very quietly importing leaf from other countries to help meet demand.

Pete

A little history on the gold medal taken from https://thecigarnut.com/cigar-review-cuban-bolivar-gold-medal/ Don't read the review unless you enjoy hype.

[FONT=&quot]Many of the die hard Cuban Cigar fans may recognize the Bolivar Gold Medal as a 2004 Habanos release exclusive to Germany but some may have forgotten ( or were not aware ) that the line actually started prior to 1960 but was discontinued in 1992. Twelve years later Habanos S.A. decided to re-release the Gold Medal but was limited to retailers in Germany, followed by another cease of production after only one year. 2007 brought the line back into action, but this time being limited to the La Casa Del Habanos chain. From what I understand, production again ended in 2011 and as of this time they are not slated to be another production item.[/FONT]

 

[deluxestogie]

Interesting details. Here's what I smoked:

Bob

 

[DIY Pete]

Bob,
That would make it from the 2007-2011 release.
Scroll down the the gold medal and the two bands is from the last release.
https://www.cubancigarwebsite.com/brand/bolivar


Cigars:Handmade

Bands:Original cigar - standard band A.
Reinstated cigar - standard band B & C with a La Casa del Habano band.

Packagingress Box of 10 cigars in gold foil

Status:A pre-1960 release. Discontinued 2011.

History:Standard cigar discontinued in 1992. Reinstated in 2007 as a LCDH cigar but discontinued in 2011.
There was also a special release in 2004.

 

[MarcL]

 

[KiwiGrown]

MarcL the cigars you roll have inspired me to grow cigar varieties next season, Cigars in New Zealand are taxed heavierly, I've rarely had the privilege to smoke them.

Thank you for reminding me I enjoy cigars.

 

[MarcL]

MarcL the cigars you roll have inspired me to grow cigar varieties next season, Cigars in New Zealand are taxed heavierly, I've rarely had the privilege to smoke them.

Thank you for reminding me I enjoy cigars.

That is great news! The best to you and your endeavors my friend.

 

[MarcL]

 

[deluxestogie]

My embarrassingly ugly pigtails.

This post is actually a follow-up to Waikikigun's excellent video on pigtail caps. I use a pigtail as a quick and dirty way to finish rolling a cigar. Its purpose is to keep the wrapper from becoming an unwrapper. Once the pigtail has dried, it stays put, even without glue.

I have a philosophical issue with allocating much time to finishing the head of a cigar. The head is, after all, destined to be chopped off, as the first act of smoking a cigar. So, aside from boasting rights on the most factory-looking head, the only function of the wrapper at the head is to anchor itself, and prevent the cigar from unraveling. Sometimes I glue the pigtail (when the stick is destined for use as a gift), and sometimes I don't (most of the time).

I do admire the artistry of a beautiful head, a finished pigtail "fuse", a quad toe-loop double lift cap, etc. But I can't motivate myself to get very good at it. Most of the cigars I roll are for yours truly. If I'm expecting to smoke a stick immediately after rolling it (a nasty habit I'm prone to), then the pigtail is required to remain in place only long enough for me to reach for the cigar cutter.

Bob

 

[Vanerpaddel]

Had some fun with a photo shoots today and a couple of friends helped me :