Aged Bolivar No.2 Tubo

[finecigar]

Bolivar is one of my favorite marcas for many reasons, and the Tubo No.2 is a petit corona I am smoking all the time. It is a cheap, usually consistent quality, and enjoyable. It was also one of the first Cubans I ever smoked many moons ago.

I've smoked quite a few boxes of this vitola, many of which I purchased in South Korea about 5-6 years ago when I was on a Bolivar craze- buying everything Bolivar!

The weather is starting to clear up a little here so I thought I would do a review of one of my favorites. I am not sure the exact box code on this one but I know that it is from either 08 or 07, either way it has a decent amount of age on it. & I honestly haven't had one in a few months so I wanted a change of pace.

As I lit it up, right away within a few puffs I realized that this is a much different smoke than fresh ones. I could tell that over these years of sitting in my humidor it has developed well. It was a full cigar that produced tons of smoke without any harshness which sometimes I get when they are fresh.

Thru the first and second third, the most noticeable characteristic was refined chocolate and caramel! It had a bit of sweetness to it but mostly was straight forward with the chocolaty taste. It was truly a blissful smoke throughout, no need to relight, great draw, consistent burn, etc. It proved to me that putting these down for rest truly sets them apart from fresh ones. I am bummed that I only have about 10 left from the original boxes I purchased.

Towards and through the final third, the cigar changed quite a bit. The chocolate and flavor was all gone. It didn't go bad- it just turned into a different smoke. Which I kind of enjoyed there. It was more of a grassy, earth taste that was medium-full bodied, but still no harshness was coming in. Throughout the whole cigar I would call it a smooth, consistent, and yummy smoke.

Most fresh No.2 I would rate around 87-88, but with the additional 5-6 years of age this cigar proved to be quite sublime in its performance and I would say it deserves a 91 at least. I am determined now to hopefully buy a few more boxes and lay these down for 2018-2019 smoking!

Thanks for reading, hope you enjoy

[Hohenthal]

Thanks for the review!

[stargazer14]

Thanks for this, was just thinking of grabbing some yesterday.

[JPS72]

Thanks for the review!

[Ssmith114]

Bolivar is also one of my favorites! Very nice review! Thanks for it

[Rye]

Great! I want more!

[ksblazer]

Thanks for the review and pic's

While I enjoy the Bolivars I've never smoked any of the Tubos. Sounds like I need to fix that.

[Habanos2000]

Nice review. I too am a Bolivar fan. Question, so you age those in or out of the tubes?

[finecigar]

Nice review. I too am a Bolivar fan. Question, so you age those in or out of the tubes?

I have aged some in the tubes, some out, just to experiment- but I found that I like them more when they are in the tube and not opened. I guess it's just a matter of personal preference. Thanks

[mk05]

I have aged some in the tubes, some out, just to experiment- but I found that I like them more when they are in the tube and not opened. I guess it's just a matter of personal preference. Thanks

Thanks, I was wondering the same. The ones out the tubes would be gentler for smoking now, but the tubed ones will be glorious later. The '70s RyJ Churchill tubos are excellent now.

[finecigar]

Thanks, I was wondering the same. The ones out the tubes would be gentler for smoking now, but the tubed ones will be glorious later. The '70s RyJ Churchill tubos are excellent now.

Oh ya! I have had some 70s/80s tubed Churchills, those are incredible. The tube provides this perfect little house for the aging process, and if you keep sealed- the smell WOWs ya many years later