Bolivar No.3 Tubos - TUA MAY 20 (BCCRW)

[Enduin]

I got a couple of boxes of Bolivar No.3 right before they became impossible to find and I’m SO glad that I did!

The cigar looks a little rustic, with a chocolate wrapper and a few veins. I have to say that while I enjoy the aesthetics of a cigar with a beautiful wrapper, I’ve come to dislike some of the NC wrappers that look TOO perfect, veinless and flawless. They kind of remind me of the super commercial produce at the supermarket vs organic or farmers market produce. The commercial produce is huge, shiny, flawless… and tastes of nothing! The organic/farmers stuff often has flaws and blemishes but tastes much better. So, this is to say that I sort of like a wrapper that looks a bit rustic, as long as it's not damaged or too uneven.

Aroma at cold is promisin: raisins, leather and lots of barnyard.

1/3 starts off with a blast of flavor, I’m in love! There’s espresso coffee, leather and earth but it’s the intensity of flavors that blows me away and sends me down a trip on memory lane.

In 2016 I decided to treat myself for my birthday to a pre-embargo cigar. I managed to acquire for a very reasonable price a 1950 Punch Rayados from a reputable source. I was expecting it to be fairly bland after 66 years of aging and I was more interested in the experience of smoking piece of history rather than an especially satisfying smoking session. So imagine my surprise when that tiny cigar blasted me with an intensity of flavors I’ve never experienced in a cigar. I was absolutely impressed and disappointed at the same time that such wonderful cigars were a thing of the past.

Now I’m not going to say the the Bolivar No.3 tasted like that Punch Rayados, but the experience of getting so much flavor from such a small cigar I couldn’t help but thinking back to that wonderful experience!

Back to the Bolivar, the smoke production is quite impressive for the size, the smoke is thick and the draw is perfect. There are some edges, which is to be expected with a powerful cigar with just one 1 year of age. I’m going to TRY to age these for a few years to see how they can be when the edges smooth out.

2/3 I’m getting some dark chocolate, a bit of dried fruit and more coffee. Flavors are very dynamic and change often from puff to puff. Burn is pretty good so I’m savoring this cigar slowly, which is my preference. I hate when I have to keep puffing faster than I’d like to keep the cigar alive due to poor combustion.

3/3 The previous notes are still present but I’m also getting some floral notes and some nuts here and there. As I approach the nub I get some almond and feel the body kicking it up a notch but, unlike with most NCs, I’m not getting punched in the face by nicotine. 

Total smoke time is 55 minutes, score is a solid 93/100. With a few years of age and the edges gone this might become one of my all time favorites!

[Bijan]

Great review! I love this cigar.

[Goodfortune]

Nice review. Thanks!

[Enduin]

Thanks guys! 

[DeskSmkr]

Glad you enjoyed this. I like them too!

[Enduin]

Just wish they didn't discontinue the Boli 3 in their relentless war on small RG cigars... It's actually interesting how often these small cigars seem to have some of the most flavorful leaf compared to the big ones. I wonder if not being bound by the length and size, it's easier to source flavorful tobacco leaves.