Fullest Bodied of the 50 and over gauge brigade

[El Presidente]

"Fullest Bodied of the 50 and over gauge brigade"

That was the question put to me in an overnight email.  

Full bodied does not necessarily = strongest but for the purposes of the exercise .....whatever "full bodied" it means to you  will suffice. 

Many thanks 

[ayepatz]

Had a Boli Tesoro last week that would fit the bill.

[Corylax18]

Mag 56, easy.

Regular production? Thats more difficult, none of the larger ring cigars jump out at me as being real power houses, which makes sense. We know they aren't rolling these gobstoppers to get rid of extra ligero. With all that fancy Medio Tiempo in the Behike blend they Should be well into the full bodied range, but I haven't smoked enough of any of the sizes to determine that for myself.  BBF will get my vote. 

[havanaclub]

First thing that comes to mind is a BBF


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[Bartolomeo]

Off top of my head recently

Talisman, Quai 54

[rascalmonkey]

BBF can be pretty full 

[Lotusguy]

The Medio Siglo fit the bill for me. Not that I liked it much, mind you.

[BrightonCorgi]

Any of the EL's in that ring gauge.

[Piligrim]

First thought was BBF

[cigaraholic]

Of what I’ve tried my favorite is the Bolivar Libertador

[Hookmaker]

RA Adriatico (EL Bulgaria )

[cfc1016]

On 5/22/2018 at 12:59 PM, cigaraholic said:

Of what I’ve tried my favorite is the Bolivar Libertador

Just had my first yesterday. Seems like a big brother to the BRC, which in turn seems like a big brother to the BCJ. I was pleased 

[earthson]

Bolivar whatever. Get the darker (but still thin) wrappers.

[Lotusguy]

Just had my first yesterday. Seems like a big brother to the BRC, which in turn seems like a big brother to the BCJ. I was pleased 

In my opinion, the Libertador is the least full-bodied Bolivar out there.

[cfc1016]

43 minutes ago, Lotusguy said:

In my opinion, the Libertador is the least full-bodied Bolivar out there.

Huh! My experience is limited to only that one stick, so I can hardly speak authoritatively. That one i smoked was very full though. 

[Fugu]

6 hours ago, Lotusguy said:

In my opinion, the Libertador is the least full-bodied Bolivar out there.

Sharing this opinion. The most full-bodied current day Boli is the CJ, got nothing of a little brother to the BRC.

[Lotusguy]

Huh! My experience is limited to only that one stick, so I can hardly speak authoritatively. That one i smoked was very full though. 

I’ve been through 2.5 boxes so far and they all were rather mild for Bolivar - that’s probably why I like them so much lol

[cfc1016]

26 minutes ago, Lotusguy said:

I’ve been through 2.5 boxes so far and they all were rather mild for Bolivar - that’s probably why I like them so much lol

To be clear, by ‘big brother’ I don’t mean fuller in body. I mean more that it provides a more varied and lengthened experience of the same/similar overarching flavor profile. 

I actually consider the bcj much fuller bodied than the brc or [the one that I’ve had of the] Libertadore 

[KavalanWhisky]

23 hours ago, Lotusguy said:

In my opinion, the Libertador is the least full-bodied Bolivar out there.

I've only smoked one so far and I felt the same as well, I'm going to rest them for a few more months before I try another.

[NSXCIGAR]

8 hours ago, cfc1016 said:

To be clear, by ‘big brother’ I don’t mean fuller in body. I mean more that it provides a more varied and lengthened experience of the same/similar overarching flavor profile. 

Eh, I'd have to stick to the BCJ on this as well. Yes, I suppose a Robustos will evolve a bit more than a Minutos but I would have to say that a good BCJ is more complex and richer than any recent BRC. When they're good, I think the BCJ is the best Bolivar model, and is the best Cuban Minutos as well. The problem is they're not often good. I find the BRC to be a bit too subtle and meandering. 

Of course, just my opinion.

[cfc1016]

1 hour ago, NSXCIGAR said:

Eh, I'd have to stick to the BCJ on this as well. Yes, I suppose a Robustos will evolve a bit more than a Minutos but I would have to say that a good BCJ is more complex and richer than any recent BRC. When they're good, I think the BCJ is the best Bolivar model, and is the best Cuban Minutos as well. The problem is they're not often good. I find the BRC to be a bit too subtle and meandering. 

Of course, just my opinion.

I guess I've lucked out (vs your experience) with recent BRC. I have a 2424 clearance ETP JUN 16 box that have been consistently excellent.

BCJs rock though. Closest to 'old' bolis of any that i've had in post-2000 stock. They are intense, well developed... just awesome. Again I've lucked out so far and only had good boxes. A few tight rolls here and there but none that were *bad* by any stretch. As far as 'best minuto' though... I can't call a CLEAR winner, but the principe is really excellent. I couldn't choose between the 2 in terms of intrinsic value. I love them both, and for different reasons. My only gripe with any great minuto is that I often still want more when it's done.

Biggest post-2000 boli disappointment for me has been the BBF. I have not had a single one that even remotely resembled the pre-2000 BBFs that used to floor me. I'm really brutally disappointed with the vitola on the whole, so far, in my recent experience. Not likely to buy many more. Come to think of it, I haven't had a single campanas/torpedo of recent production that consistently wowed me. I had *some* psp2s that were really good, but the others were disappointing and dull. None of them were 'proper partagas', to be certain.

As I mentioned in the C&C topic where I recently quoted you (would still like your opinion on that, btw) the cigar of late that MOST brought me back to the partagas days of old was the 2013 PCE that @awkwardPause shared with me. Super intense and pure partagas. I need more of that in my life.

[NSXCIGAR]

13 hours ago, cfc1016 said:

Biggest post-2000 boli disappointment for me has been the BBF.

I have also not really been a BBF fan since pre-2000. Best one I've had in over a decade was a TEB 07 gifted from a generous BOTL. Of course, I am in the vast minority here as BBF is a big crowd favorite but I find there's just better cigars for my coin, at least for me (and you apparently also).

13 hours ago, cfc1016 said:

As I mentioned in the C&C topic where I recently quoted you (would still like your opinion on that, btw) the cigar of late that MOST brought me back to the partagas days of old was the 2013 PCE that @awkwardPause shared with me. Super intense and pure partagas. I need more of that in my life.

I have no doubt the PCE could deliver that. I haven't had one in many years but it's certainly time--I just don't feel like springing for a 25 box. The cans of 10 were kind of cool.

I've heard that the Mille Fleurs are the best of the small Partagas offerings in the last few years. I recently had a box of Aristocrats that were so-so. 

And as I advise anyone looking for old-school Partagas flavors, try the Chicos. 

[NSXCIGAR]

13 hours ago, cfc1016 said:

As far as 'best minuto' though... I can't call a CLEAR winner, but the principe is really excellent. I couldn't choose between the 2 in terms of intrinsic value. I love them both, and for different reasons. My only gripe with any great minuto is that I often still want more when it's done.

On an average day, yes, I'd give the title to the El Principe. RASCC a close second. But when all are at their best, the BCJ is a very special cigar that is a cut above, at least if you like the Boli profile. 

And like you I also get frustrated with the small size of a good Minutos. I think there are more than a few of us (@JohnS) that would sell our souls for a Marevas or Coronas with the El Principe blend.

[Danimalia]

Bolivar Royal Corona 

Juan Lopez Seleccion No. 2

Upmann No. 2 (the MEG May17 box I have anyway)

I'm struggling to come up with many.

[JohnS]

1 hour ago, NSXCIGAR said:

On an average day, yes, I'd give the title to the El Principe. RASCC a close second. But when all are at their best, the BCJ is a very special cigar that is a cut above, at least if you like the Boli profile. 

And like you I also get frustrated with the small size of a good Minutos. I think there are more than a few of us (@JohnS) that would sell our souls for a Marevas or Coronas with the El Principe blend.

Definitely, this is true. And I wait, with interest, the San Cristobal Prado (a petit piramides 50 ring gauge x 127 mm or 5 inches) Habanos Specialist Exclusive release sometime in 2018.