Bolívar Belicoso Fino 2001

Measures: 136 mm x 20 mm

Age: The cigar came from a cabinet dating from 2001. Sorry, I don't have access to the exact box code.

Setting: It appears that the cool weather of the last couple of weeks is finally giving way to what Finns call early summer. It is still cloudy and windy, but clearly warmer than yesterday. I felt refreshed after having visited the gym in the morning, so everything was in place for a good after-lunch cigar moment. Thus the circumstances for cigar smoking, while not perfect, are reasonably good. There also was a cause for small celebration after witnessing the unlikely victory of the Finnish entry in the notorious Eurovision Song Contest last night - a somewhat watered-down monster metal piece called Hard Rock Hallelujah! So, our of the humidor came a Bolívar Belicoso Fino, one of the ten that I had bought from a 2001 cabinet last September. I had smoked one soon after that, but then left the others in peace. Time to try another. So I took the cigar and come coffee to the balcony.

I find the Campana shape very appealing. It is somehow much less formidable and more "user-friendly" than the full Piramide format. The Bolívar version of this vitola was clad in beautiful colorado wrapper with minimal veins. Close inspection revealed tiniest specs of crystallised oils on it; yet it still felt oily and smooth to my fingers. The construction appeared to be as perfect as one might have it; I almost (but not quite) felt sorry to take a small cut off the nicely finished cap. The predraw promised sweetish cedar over toasted tobacco, and the volume of airflow was close to perfect, perhaps a bit to the light side. Halfway through the cigar I had to take a deeper cut because some tar was seeping through the cap; this however did not affect the taste of the cigar.

This is an aroma cigar: while it has a recognisable Bolívar style, it does not have the peppery kick of the Coronas Junior or even Petit Corona. Rather I found the initial stages of the cigar exhibiting an extremely well balanced blend of cedar, earth and milder spices (citrus pepper?) over well matured tobacco. By the midway point, the spiciness increased gradually, but never got out of the balance. As I reached the final third, the so far veiled strength of the cigar kicked in, and fully occupied my attention. I purged the cigar at this stage, with the result that it never became harsh or hot. Throughout, the cigar burned perfectly, never requiring any care from my part.

During the entire smoking session, a nightingale was giving an afternoon concert on the opposite side of the yard. This blended nicely with the tour offered by the Campana. Overall, it was a good experience - much better than what I have received from younger Belicosos Finos that sometimes suffer from an uneven combustion. Still, I expect that further sleep will improve these cigars by integrating the elements it provides even better.