What is the lightest Bolivar?

[HenryMartin]

I tried a Bolivar many years ago and ended up with a slap in the face and a mild headache. I feel like its the Lagavulin of Habanos, not for the faint-hearted. But is there such a thing as a lighter Bolivar? Both in strength and intensity but perhaps more focused on lesser strength than the latter because I don't usually mind full flavour. Its the only marca that I really struggle with, one that I always avoid when choosing. I think the strongest cigar I have ever had was a Padron 1926, one that I enjoyed throughout although it was overwhelming. I remember having a Cohiba Maduro 5 that also had me light-headed but it was a marvellous cigar that I was able to finish.

What was the strongest cigar you have had? How does it compare to a Bolivar? 

Maybe there is a lighter Bolivar that exists in RE or LCDH?

[sbsbsb1]

I've always enjoyed the BRC. I notice no uptick in strength vs other CC Robustos.

[Islandboy]

Not light in size, but I find Libertador has a very creamy profile compared to other Bolivars.

[Lucas Buck]

I will echo the BRC as a milder Boli. The Tubos from "09 I’ve been smoking are stunning and I am not a Bolivar fan in general. 

[SCgarman]

Bolivar Royal Coronas, and Bolivar Petit Coronas are mild/medium with several years of age on them. Apparently the Bolivar of old "powerhouse" is a thing of the past. None have the strength compared to a 1926 Padron.

[BlueWS]

I have a 2023 box of BBFs, not strong at all. I dislike powerhouse cigars and can't ever smoke a full maduro. BBFs are lovely. I like the format and I like how simple they are. Maybe they get more complex as they age? As others have said in prior posts, Bolivar changed the blend pre-Covid or thereabouts. The only Cuban to give me a buzz was a 6 month old Monte Petit Edmundo. I'm not overly sensitive, but that sucker was strong for Cubans out of the 40 different blends I've recently tried. I can't even get 5min in on a My Father 1922 Le Bijou by comparison. That cigar put me on my ass and gave me the sweats 😰

[Darco]

Bolivar is not meant to be smoked fresh, it evolves to something else after few years. Some people like the roughness of a young Bolivar (or any other marca for that matter).

Of the regular production, I think Royal Corona is the lightest. I have tried the new EL 2021 and found it the lightest Bolivar I have ever tried. 

[batwick]

In the whole line up, Royal Coronas seems the mildest to me but still strong enough. 

[El Presidente]

Charles? 

 

Chas_Alpha is the expert in this realm. 

 

BRC for me. Light-medium but rich. 

[tbabes]

I’ll echo the BRC…when I first began dabbling in Cuban cigars, I expected it to be more along the lines of the BBF, and was quite surprised!

[Luca]

The "lightest" Bolivar I have every had was a Bolivar Tubos No.1 if I remember correctly. @JohnS kindly gave me this cigar. 

To best honest I had to do a double take when I smoked it. It was beautiful. Light and complex. Lovely floral notes and rosewater. It was fantastic. Thanks again @JohnS 

[gormag38]

6 hours ago, Luca said:

Bolivar Tubos no.1

Certainly a vitola that jumped to my mind. Albeit the examples I've had were all about 10 years old, so they could have been a bit muted in their strength but certainly not a 'powerhouse' in anyway. 

Of Boli that is still current, BRC and Libertators would be the choice.

[BrightonCorgi]

Bolivar Lonsdales are light, but not so easy to find today.  

None of the current Bolivars have the power known to make a Bolivar a Bolivar.  That ship sailed at least decade ago.

[SCgarman]

39 minutes ago, BrightonCorgi said:

Bolivar Lonsdales are light, but not so easy to find today.  

None of the current Bolivars have the power known to make a Bolivar a Bolivar.  That ship sailed at least decade ago.

Even longer. When I started dipping into Cuban cigars the first box I ordered was a TEB08 box of Royal Coronas. CA magazine had just recently rated the Royal Corona the cigar of the year. While the cigar was flavorful, it was in no means a "powerhouse" at all. And this was 2008.

[Gnosis13]

I'm currently working through a cab of '21 BBF's and they just started to hit their stride in the last month. Took a big step back in strength from last year (when I smoked my first from the cab) with an amplified creaminess. I'll only smoke a couple this year because they are just starting to get good and I know they will be great as time passes. People have told me that they mellowed the blend in recent years but I'm no expert.

[BrightonCorgi]

2 hours ago, SCgarman said:

Even longer. When I started dipping into Cuban cigars the first box I ordered was a TEB08 box of Royal Coronas. CA magazine had just recently rated the Royal Corona the cigar of the year. While the cigar was flavorful, it was in no means a "powerhouse" at all. And this was 2008.

I bought a box of Royal Corona's from Hajenius around '95 that were brutes. Powerful cigars.

[JohnS]

6 hours ago, Luca said:

The "lightest" Bolivar I have every had was a Bolivar Tubos No.1 if I remember correctly. @JohnS kindly gave me this cigar. 

To best honest I had to do a double take when I smoked it. It was beautiful. Light and complex. Lovely floral notes and rosewater. It was fantastic. Thanks again @JohnS 

 

6 hours ago, gormag38 said:

Certainly a vitola that jumped to my mind. Albeit the examples I've had were all about 10 years old, so they could have been a bit muted in their strength but certainly not a 'powerhouse' in anyway. 

Of Boli that is still current, BRC and Libertators would be the choice.

Indeed. This example of a Bolivar Tubos No.1 was from around mid-2015, so it was aged a good 7 to 8 years by this point and I didn't "crack" open the box for some time.

[Havanaaddict]

Another BRC vote! For me one of the strongest cigars I have smoked were some custom rolled 6X60 with extra Ligero I had rolled back in 2012. After smoking a few min, you would break out into a cold sweat!😂

Another that is burned into my memory was a 80's BBF at 8am whole body sweats 😂 I have always called this as 'Havana day dreaming" 😓