Cigar:            Bolivar Fuerte Sun Ripened Oscuro Size B

Size:             50 x 5.62

Country:          Hon

Wrapper:          CTBL, X

Binder:           CT

Filler:           Hon/Nic

Flavor Strength:  Med-Full

NicotineStength:  Med-Full

Date Received:    2005-07-24

Suspected Age:    4 years? (rcvd w/ box of Size C dated 4/2002)

Vendor/Price:     JR's / SRO Size C $2 each ($50/25) / Delmonico $3 each

Beverage(s):      Water

Smoke time:       2:00

Date:             2006-12-30

Posted to ASC:    2006-12-30

Overall score:    4.0 / 5.0

Overall:    A very good, slow smoking cigar with some structural issues near the nub.  First half is medium with coffee, cocoa, and a building leather.  Last half sees the coffee and cocoa wane with the introduction of a fruitiness I taste as black cherry wood.  Leather remains in the after and long finish.  Gave acceptable smoke volume building throughout the smoke.  Burn was acceptable.  White, flakey ash dropped short.  The final third saw a severe splitting and fraying of the tight wrapper as the stick swelled.  Would consider as a box purchase though it is likely these may be 4+ years old, and it appears the Size B did not make the transition from the old Bolivar Fuerte to the new Bolivar Cofradia.  I have been rather impressed with these old 2002 Bolivar Fuertes, having enjoyed the SRO Size C Oscuro, the SRO Size B Oscuro, and the Delmonico.  Perhaps the new Cofradias deserve a try.  

Ambience:   I should be flying, but instead, early afternoon in the sunroom working on year-end departmental reports.  High, light overcast yielding much filtered sunlight.  In a teeshirt.  More rain expected this evening.

Appearance: Dark chocolate colored, mottled and spotted, wrapper with medium veins and an oily sheen.  Very yellowed cello.  Very firm, and heavy.  This sucker may be a few years old as it was included as a gift with a box of SRO Size C dated 4/2002.  Could be from the same time period.

Cut & Prelight:   Wonderful coffee and cocoa aroma.  Cut straight and most of the rest of the cap fell off with no damage to the wrapper.  Restrictive draw, but okay, yielding a sweet hay draw flavor. 

First third:      Lit with the new ASC, black chrome, etched Zippo with blazer insert.  Very white, lined, flakey ash.  Initially, slightly sour black pepper.  The sourness quickly vanished, the pepper receded and coffee came to the forefront.  Aftertaste is still vaguely peppered.  Ashed at 1".  Leather and coffee/cocoa with a hint of molasses.  ("How can we have mo-lasses, when we ain't had no lasses yet?")

Second third:     Leather and coffee/cocoa.  Mostly leather in the after.  Smoke volume adequate and burn fairly even.  Nice leathery room note. 

Third third:      Wrapper severely split due to swelling.  Flavor is ramping up and getting a bit "fruity" (in the similar sense to a "fruity" beer).  "Fruity" has resolved to a woody black cherry.  Nub is getting ragged due to continued splitting.  Abandoned nearing an inch due to loss of structural integrity.