TX Duo Review - BBF OPG May 2015

[Çnote]

There's a couple of marcas I just don't get, Bolivar being one of them. That being said, I saw some value in picking up a box in a trade when they wanted more of my stash and I had taken the cherries I knew I'd like that they had to offer. I was exceptionally pleased to find the hallowed 'dot' sticker implying this may have come from our Host.

The 1st puff is great. Toasted tobacco, hint of creme, Guinness foam. It's straight downhill from there. Hot leather predominates, but I can taste traces of gingerbread, sweet coffee, Guniness, cacao. I purposefully set it down between puffs to ensure I'm not just burning too hot. It doesn't help, the leather is powerful and unrelenting.

I struggle thru til about the band and am rewarded with savory richness, toasted marshmellows, light roast coffee. I get about an inch of satisfaction before the nub is too hot to physically deal with and bitterness sets in.

I'm sure people love this. I do not.

I'll give this a 4/10. A great cigar that I just don't care for.

@Capn_Jackson

[Bords]

In the same boat with Bolivar, tried periodically over 20 years, just can’t connect with the blends (RC, BBF, even CG). All taste dirty to me.


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[Capn_Jackson]

BBF OPG MAY ‘15

Humid and buggy outside. Might rain, and once again I feel so blessed to have a covered porch.

Today I’m reviewing a stick that I have reviewed many times. The beauty of reviewing a cigar, though, is that it can certainly be a different experience each time… especially when it comes to Habanos. Depending on the age of the cigar, of course, but also other factors such as food, drink pairing, stress level, hell… percentage of sinus congestion, you name it. Excited to sit down with an old friend, Mr BBF.

This stick is bumpy, per usual, with some significant veins… little tunnels of flavor … and a slightly uneven pack, softer near the middle. Might be a relight in my future. Nice shade of medium brown, and a great barnyard aroma. After a Dickemann cut (ouch!) this has a cold draw of hay and just some fine, sweet tobacco. I dry-boxed this and the draw is nice. Almost too open, but not quite.

The light-up brings me, in addition to many memories of BBF’s long ago, some toasted sourdough with almond paste, and a little funky damp earth. It’s always at this moment that I say to myself, often out loud, “There is nothing like a Bolivar.”

As the first part gets rolling, almond and stout are prevalent, as if one mixed a milk stout with some almond butter. Delightful. There’s a faint hint of heated raisins, and that remarkable Habanos “twang” that cannot be labeled. Some mineral, too, playing on the wide sides of my tongue. Not harsh, just a nice presence in the mix.

The smoke output is mostly good, but starts to get a little wispy before I realize that the burn line is already wonky. Just a quick touch up and we’re back in action, with plumes of smoke. Very creamy mouthfeel, and I’m starting to get the faint sense of apricot brandy. Strength is a touch over medium, body is full.

A lot of cigars taste good. Others go beyond that, doing a tango across the different regions of the tongue. I’m experiencing the latter right about now.  

Second third is a remarkable blend of woodsy aroma and leather, taking over for the mineral quality from before. Stout is still powerful on the front half of the tongue. The apricot brandy has been turned up to 11, and some more toast comes into the mix. Not sourdough, probably more of a rye bread. Dark and nutty, heavy and hearty. Medium espresso poured all over everything. Bread pudding or panettone affogato, with a shot of Disarrono on top… served with a Guinness in a leather-walled room. Yes, please!

Near the middle I have to relight… right at the soft patch that I felt earlier. No detriment to the flavor whatsoever.

Going into the final act, the coffee and leather become dominant. Faint traces of citrus here and there, as well as some dark but floral honey. Almost seems to be some extremely dark chocolate, nearly 100% cocoa, but very far away.

Getting near the end, some heated clove, not enough to be offensive, and the citrus turns into stone fruit. Again, some apricot but without the brandy. As I get to the band, there is no fruit left, and honey morphs into a dark, almost burnt caramel, but not at all unpleasant. A little red pepper, too, but not overpowering. Coffee and leather still dominate, all the way to the nub, which turns just minimally bitter. 

An hour and twenty minute smoke, and I’m still convinced… There is nothing like a Bolivar. 

Gets a 94 from me.

[Çnote]

Everything you say sounds delightful.

Too bad I didn't taste anything but burning hot leather.

[Chibearsv]

I’ve had both these versions but I thought time down favored Capn’s version. Also, I’m a Boli fan, so there’s that 😁. Nice reviews gents, all of them. 

[Rushman]

Hey. Another Texas Duo review. Hope you guys are doing well. I was in Austin this week and Houston in two weeks - need to find my way back to the metroplex. Be well guys. Good reviews. 

[Li Bai]

On 4/26/2024 at 8:01 AM, Çnote said:

Everything you say sounds delightful.

Too bad I didn't taste anything but burning hot leather.

 

On 4/26/2024 at 7:12 AM, Bords said:

In the same boat with Bolivar, tried periodically over 20 years, just can’t connect with the blends (RC, BBF, even CG). All taste dirty to me.


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That's interesting (I love Bolivar myself) but it seems we all have at least one cigar we just don't get...

A good friend of mine never enjoyed a single Mag 46 over 20+ years of smoking and I personally don't get neither the Rio Seco nor the Connie A, despite those cigars being very popular! 🤔