Cigar:            Bolivar Fuerte No. 1

Size:             42 x 7"

Country:          Hon

Wrapper:          ECSU, E

Binder:           CT

Filler:           Hon/Nic

Flavor Strength:  Medium-Full

NicotineStength:  Mild

Date Received:    2005-07-24

Suspected Age:    3 years, yellow cello, Box of BF SROC was 3+ years old.

Vendor/Price:     Bonus with aforementioned box.

Beverage(s):      Water, Hale's Mongoose IPA

Smoke time:       1:30

Date:             2005-10-02

Posted to ASC:    2005-10-03

Overall score:    4.0/5.0

Overall:    I am impressed with the Bolivar Fuerte marque, and have been exploring its various vitolas.  The No. 1 is a good cigar.  Leather and cedar dominate with a dry finish and little to no sweetness.  Cocoa was transitory over the middle third.  The last third eventually became solventy, but the stick was quite good over the first 5".  Good smoke volume, good burn, good construction.  Personally, I liked the Delmonico and SRO-C better, but my tastes run to a sweeter smoke. 

Ambience:   Sitting in the sunroom after dark.  Lights are out and a few stars peek out between the scudding clouds.  The little woman is in the living room watching TV.  Spent the day unpacking, hooking up washer, dryer, assembling storage racks, etc.  Taking some well-deserved downtime before the insanity of the workweek begins. 

Appearance: A long stick.  Dark mottled wrapper with small veins.  Not a hard roll, yielding in spots. 

Cut & Prelight:   Sweet leather aroma with pepper on the lips.  Cut well with a nice draw despite the length. 

First third:      Initially rather peppery, then cedar and leather.  Dry finish.  Not sweet.  Good smoke volume.  Firm, white, compact ash, holding beyond an inch.  Cocoa in the long aftertaste.

Second third:     Cocoa asserts itself.  Still not sweet.  Leather and cedar with a cocoa back.  Dry aftertaste in which the cocoa comes to the fore. 

Third third:      More leather and cedar, less cocoa.  Becoming very aromatic with something of an organic solvent taste.  At about the 2" point the solvent taste became annoying and the stick was abandoned.