Connoisseur’s Corner: Bolivar Belicoso Fino
The silky, dark wrapper on this old Bolivar captivated me, from its supple feel to the markings left by 26 years of being crammed in a dress box next to other Belicosos just like it. The cigar swallowed the flame from my wooden match, showing a mellow, earthy character that revealed nothing of what the cigar would become. Slowly, as the ash grew longer, layers of flavor emerged, first dark chocolate, then peanuts, then some orange marmalade. At about the halfway point, this delicious coconut note came on. A complex, rich smoke with a near-perfect draw.
—David Savona
What a revelation. This Monte had a bit of youthful harshness six years ago, but that has disappeared. The cigar is filled with spicy pepper and leather notes, an interesting mid-palate packed with Bordeaux wine notes—dark red fruits—and a long, spicy and earthy finish. The draw, while just a touch firm at the outset, opens up, and the burn is also perfect. This cigar has decades of life left. —Gordon Mott
This Churchill-sized cigar was aged in London by U.K. distributor Hunters and Frankau and later released as part of the company’s vintage program. Like many old smokes, it starts slowly with a bit of dusty white pepper, but after a few puffs, the flavors really come into clear focus. Saffron and black cherry are a playful prologue to the surprisingly intense notes of nutmeg, marzipan and toffee. —Gregory Mottola
An exquisite smaller cigar given to me ages ago by Ajay Patel. It has near perfect construction, and starts with a mocha quality, followed by a spiciness reminiscent of the Middle East. The sweetness ebbs as the cigar burns. It shows wisps of honey and a dry, floral note, with loads of almond and toasted bread. —David Savona
