Monday, January 21, 2008

Bolivar Inmensa (A Supplementary Review)

Manufactured: Totalamente a Mano (Made totally by hand; a description found on cigar boxes. Much better than Hecho a Mano [made by hand, which can sometimes mean it is filled with machine-bunched filler], or Envuelto a Mano [packed by hand].)
Length: 6 3/4"in. (170mm)
Diameter: 17.07 mm
Ring: 43
Format: Dalia (Dalia was the name of the galera, "factory", in which the cigars were produced. Its popular name 8-9-8 is derived from the original box in which they were packed forming 3 rows of 8, 9 and 8.)
Weight: 11.86 gr.
Tobacco Country: Cuba
Tobacco Procedence: Vuelta Abajo (a district in the Pinar del Río Province of Cuba. It lies in the west of the island, in the southern part of the Órganos Mountains. A great deal of tobacco is grown in the district, and "Vuelta Abajo" can also refer to the high-quality type of cigar tobacco from Pinar del Rio in general. The tobacco industry in this district dates from around 1830. The district itself is 90 miles long and 10 miles wide.)
Factory: Partagas
Presentation: 2 Layers in a Box of 25

Preface:
I have kind of designed this review to be supplementary to the great video review I posted by "The Kids" earlier in the week. I really suggest you check that out before coming to this review. I will give you my opinion on this stick, because I have also indulged in one this week. The idea of this review, though, is to give you some of the technical specs, and information that wasn't provided in the Kids broadcast, so you can have the whole picture (see all the info provided above). I plan this to augment their review, as opposed to eclipsing it.

Appearance: This cigar, while rather rustic looking in initial appearance (which seems to be a common trait amongst cigars from this region, and does not seem to affect the cigar in any way), was graced with a lovely cassia hued wrapper. This cigar was evenly filled and only gave just a little bit to a light squeeze. The wrapped had one minor vein, but otherwise looked beautiful.

Pre-Light: The clip was easy and the pre light draw was exactly how it should be, providing just a little bit of resistance. The pre light notes were distinctly Habano, with that horse barn earthiness we all love along with a light cedar note.


Burn/Draw: While not absolutely perfect, the burn on this cigar is above average, and not really much of an issue. When the burn line wandered it generally corrected it self, I think I only touched up once. The draw was a dream, providing just the slightest bit of resistance. The burn was nice and cool and slow, producing cool round, medium full bodies white smoke by the billows. This cigar burned forever, I got about two hours out of this smoke. The ash on this cigar was dark and mottled and held on as well as could be expected.

Flavors: I have to say, Sergio & Jeebus have this cigar pretty much pegged right on! This is a pretty straightforward, and tasty Cuban smoke. It starts with a nice little burst of black pepper and then soon afterward it settles in to a nice, rich, earthiness that lasts throughout the length of the cigar. Over the final third of the cigar, in a rather unusual move, the cigar mellows a bit and a woody cedar note creeps in, just to liven things up a bit. This is a pretty consistent cigar, which I don't mind at all. Not every cigar has to be a constantly developing masterpiece. Some cigars can just start off well and stay that way. This is one of those cigars. Recommended.

TomC