**** Bolivar Petit Corona FOH PC Sampler ****

[Chef]

Box Code: Unknown - purchased from FOH store (Petit Corona Sampler)

Humidor rest time - 42 days

Humidor conditions - 65% RH, 68* F

Smoking conditions - Outdoors, 40* F, 30% humidity

 

 

Initial observations:  

     The color of the wrapper is what I would label as a darker hue of medium brown – the crust on a loaf of gingerbread – though the modeling shows off varying shades of it.  The picture may not represent it well, but there is, in fact, a light sheen on the wrapper, and it feels soft and silky to the touch.  The seams are visible, yet tight.  I don't know how BPCs are supposed to feel in-hand, as this is my first one, but this sample is relatively well packed.  Given its size, I am pleasantly surprised by its relative heft.

     The aroma on the wrapper comes off as a sweet cocoa and a faint barnyard.  Maybe a touch of wood?  Another whiff...nope, no wood.  The aroma from the foot confirms the cocoa note, as well as sweet tobacco.  But it's more than that.  The aromas are moist and rich.  The cold draw is much of the same, leaving a tinge of sweetness on my lips.

     For me, the draw is slightly on the firm side; about a 6.5/10, with "1" being completely open, and "10" being utterly plugged.  My personal preference is about a 3 or 4 in the ease of draw.  However, as I will come to learn today, the modest bit of resistance doesn't inhibit smoke output one bit.  

     

Smoking impressions: 

     The first few draws immediately produce plumes of dense smoke from both the foot and exhalation.  My baseball cap is trapping all that thick smoke, and it's very aromatic: chocolate and something earthy – not dirt, but something more green, like moss, or the roots of freshly pulled grass.  Eh, nevermind.  Moss is more like it.  The flavors from the draw are a solid medium-full.  Cocoa?  Yup.  Something really toasty, too, like...well, toast?  Actually, the flavor has more depth and specificity, like that of a toasted, unprocessed grain.  The retrohale is pretty smooth, but just getting over a cold, I'm sparing my sinuses from the usual assault.

 

 

     About 3/4 of an inch in, the cocoa flavor morphs into more of a sweet, toasted bean.  Black coffee also starts to flex its biceps. So maybe what I'm getting is roasted coffee beans?  Duh, that works.  I'm also detecting some odd floral note.  I mostly get it through the retrohale, and it's very hard to pinpoint.  I don't think I've ever detected this in any NC before.  I'm performing some google-fu to look up a flavor wheel.  It's not very helpful.  I don't know.  It's some sort of vegetal flavor, but slightly flowery.

     By the end of the first third, I can understand what Rob, in his reviews, refers to as a cigar's mongrel attribute.  I definitely feel a slight harshness at the back of my throat.  I feel it whether I take a light puff or a long draw.  A similar sensation is perceivable through the nose, whether a short snort or a something more dragonesque.  At this point, the burn is slightly wonky, but I’m going to give it a chance to correct itself, as it’s only about a half inch of unevenness. 

 

 

     As the BPC takes the turn into the second third, what was left of the cocoa note from the previous section can only be seen in the rear view mirror.  The black coffee is still in the driver seat, but in the name of equal opportunity, has invited a lighter bread note to sit up front with it.  All along this part of the stick, an earthiness and that flippin' mysterious floral note start jocking for that middle seat.  You know, the one in the back that gets all the A/C.  Oh, and by the way, the ash is holding on for about 3/4 of an inch at a time.  Sometimes a bit more, but my chinos have already paid the price for pushing my luck.

     By the end of the second third, the flavor profile is much the same.  However, the cigar's priorities have shifted a bit.  Earth is the core now, and there is still a toasty note. The coffee is still noticeable, but has less conviction.  Some draws seem to fight for it, and others don't.   As the coffee wanes, there is an emergence of a light leather.  It's strangely tied to that floral essence, like a leather tennis shoe that's been washed with some flowery, foaming hand soap.  I don't know.  Maybe it's just in my head.  No, it can't be.  I've noticed it several times now.  The faintest of the flavors, and a new one, is a nibble of mineral.  Also, a distinct mushroom aroma wafts from the foot, now and again.  I like it very much.  

     The start of the last third shows the BPC's frustration.  It demands an answer, "who's this newbie lighting me up?!"  All the flavors from the middle of the stick start to fall back.  Until now, the body and finish on the palate have both been a staunch medium, and the flavors a bit fuller than that.  However, despite the impressive smoke production, the finish is getting drier and shorter; the flavors less distinct and more succinct.  The mineral flavor now seems to have been derived from the floral note from before, and are now transitioning to a touch of ammonia.  Not on every puff.  Maybe every third or fourth light draw.  The smoke is also getting harsher, and bitterness is introduced to the palate for the first time.  Am I smoking too fast?  Is the cherry too hot?  Eh, whatever, we're almost done.  As the once five inch cigar turns into a nub, most of the flavors recede except for the toasty ones.  Oh, wait.  What's this?  Much to my surprise, we draw to a close with the mineral bitterness being teased by some sweet, toasty tobacco.  The sensations spar lightly on my palate before I put the cigar down for good.  

 

Closing thoughts:

     The whole cigar was a smoke bomb, and besides a very small hiccup at the start, the construction was excellent. The flavors in the first and second thirds were rich and full.  They were complex, as well, given the size of this vitola.  As stated above, the stick got exhausted and didn't have the legs to ride the flavors all the way out.  Looking back, I wonder if the cigar's flavors suffered a bit from the pace of my smoking.  I got it all the way down in about 35-40 min.  Maybe I was enjoying the flavors in the beginning a little much.  Maybe I was too excited to be smoking a CC.  But honestly, despite the stall in the last third, this was such an enjoyable smoke.  I don't know what a bit of age will do for a little cigar like this, but if it gets better, my smile will certainly get bigger.  And if you've made it through this lengthy review, God bless you.  

 

All my best,

Mike

 

 

[JohnS]

Excellent...and well done on your review!

[HopeUgood]

That was a great review ! If you have the proper marca on hand, you should take part in the review comps the have been hosting every weekend. Great excuse to smoke a specific brand, write a review, and have a chance at the grandest of prizes.....more CC's !

[aphexafx]

AWESOME REVIEW, MIKE!!   Brilliant cigar.

[Chef]

@JohnS, @HopeUgood, @aphexafx, thanks very much.  I hope to review each of the PCs from the sampler. 

[SwissPEP]

On 4/6/2019 at 2:55 AM, JohnS said:

Excellent...and well done on your review!

+1

[99call]

great review, hats off

[CaptainQuintero]

Great stuff, that toast is a real character for bpc for me, glad you enjoyed the foray!