Bolivar Gold Medal Cuban Cigar Review

Posted in Bolivar, Cigar Reviews, Cuban | 2 comments

This week, we have a guest review from our friend Ryan Collman, or @ryancollman on Twitter. He is reviewing the Bolivar Gold Medal, a Cuban cigar from January of 2008.

Vitola: 6.44″ (165mm) x 42
Cut: Guillotine
Construction: Superb. Two noticeable veins on the wrapper, but nothing major.
Box Code: PBS ENE 08

Pre-light Draw: Perfect draw with hints of honey and vitamin c/mineral-like taste on the tongue. Slight spice on the lips.

Pre-light Aroma: Sweet cedar

1st Third: First puff is straight sweet woodiness with a lingering spice. Phenomenal. The smoke from this cigar is thick and creamy and coats the palate nicely. A few puffs in and this cigar is creamy as all get out with a nice, sweet almond flavor accompanied by rich campfire wood. There is a slight harshness to this smoke when blown through the sinuses, but it is still very enjoyable. The first ash fell on my lap only about 3/4 of an inch. Not a problem, the flavor makes up for this. The burn is a little jagged, but nothing a torch can’t fix. Mmm… just got a whiff of sweet cinnamon. Truly delightful. As the first third is coming to a close, the strength is increasing as is a heavy dose of pepper.

2nd Third: About an inch or so into the second third and this thing is being dominated by rich cedar flavors with an underlying sweetness and creamy thickness. Just got a quick dose of chalkiness that was actually quite enjoyable. It feels as though it almost cleansed my palate a little. This smoke is so complex and enjoyable… so far it’s ranking as one of my favorite Bolivar Gold Medals to date. That classic citrus flavor is now making its way into the mix.

Final Third: As the last third begins, the sweet creamy cedar flavor is still dominant with hints of sweet spice and citrus. The strength is still on the rise and the smoke isn’t harsh. Did I mention that this thing is excellent? The ash has been falling off in 3/4 inch increments, but that’s fine in my book for a 42 ring gauge cigar. Hints of vanilla are now complementing the subtle spice nicely. This cigar finished beautifully. I have zero complaints.

Final Rating: 92, with more potential for future aging.
Will I buy more?: Yes (once they are on sale again)
Should you buy some?: Yes. Go buy a box. Now.

My first Bolivar Gold Medal was a gift from a good cigar buddy of mine. I had been having tough luck with Habanos and he decided to provide me with some to try out, this being one of them. I was pretty excited because, from what I knew, Bolivars had a flavor profile I would like: full bodied, earthy, spicy, with hints of citrus and so much more. This was going to be a match made in heaven. After smoking one for the first time, I immediately bought a box of 10 (on sale for $70). These are great cigars and the 2008s are smoking beautifully right now.