Bolivar Libertador MSU OCT 19 (XNYRW6)

[saltbox]

Worked on some house projects over the weekend so wanted a longer smoke to relax afterwards. Realized I had a box of Libertadors I'd been sitting on for over a year and hadn't touched yet.

First third: opens with earth, cedar, coffee grounds, and a touch of hay. The smoke is velvety and creamy in texture if not flavor. It settles into a nice creamy coffee grounds and earth, cedar and some peppery spice, with a touch of almond nuttiness.

Middle third: the creamy coffee grounds pick up a bit of chocolate and more of that almond or hazelnut nuttiness. As the third continues, some rye bread appears as well.

Last third: the cigar had started off maybe a bit under medium bodied but it's slowly crept up in strength and I'm feeling it now in a way I don't often. Creamy earth, cocoa powder, almonds, and rye bread through to the end.

Overall: the flavor notes read just like almost every other Bolivar, but the profile of the Libertador was much smoother and more refined than the other vitolas I've tried. Not necessarily better, because I'm a big fan of the punchiness some of the smaller vitolas have, but classier some might say. 88/100