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Stogie Reviews: Bravo Colombian Gold Toro

16 Feb 2009

With a winkled texture, a soft feel, and a few green splotches, I had every reason to be leery of this relatively unknown cigar when I removed it from a Bravo five-pack that was labeled “100% pure gold.” But this Colombian puro—that’s right, Colombian puro—made a real believer out of me.

Bravo Columbian Gold ToroBlended by Roberto Juarez and Antonio de Jesus, this series is one of five puro blends made by Bravo in the Andean mountain range of Colombia, “the same location as some of the world’s finest coffee beans.” It features an Ecuadoran-seed wrapper, a Connecticut-inspired binder, and a filler with Cuban ancestry.

Handmade by artisans at the Duran Factory in Santander, Colombia, the six inch by 50 ring gauge Toro has a flat, hastily applied cap and a shade-grown look. It sells for about $5 apiece when bought by the box from select retailers. I’ve wanted to try this particular vitola ever since our friends at Keepers of the Flame named it one of the best mild cigars of 2008.

Based on appearance, I was preparing myself for disappointment. This cigar, however, serves as a fine example of why you can’t judge a stogie by looks alone.

After touching flame to the tobacco, the prelight notes of delicate hay give way to a mild taste of cream, toast, and traces of spice. The flavor builds after the first inch to take on oak, vanilla, and honey characteristics.

Where many cigars are bold and boisterous, this Bravo is subtle and patiently delectable. The profile is particularly intriguing, allowing the smoker to discover the complexity on his own instead of hitting him over the head with it.

With an all-around fantastic burn, a well-behaved ash, and a good draw, the experience stays enjoyable to the nub. I noticed little increase in spice and no harshness in the two Toros I sampled.

It’s safe to say I am pleasantly surprised by this mild treat and its uncompromisingly gentle yet intricate aroma. Maybe there’s something about Colombian tobacco. Or maybe the folks over at Bravo really know how to develop excellent cigars. Either way, the Colombian Gold Toro is worthy of four and a half stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

5 Responses to “Stogie Reviews: Bravo Colombian Gold Toro”

  1. Matt Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at 7:27 am #

    I was similarly impressed by the Bravo Gold. It is a well made and flavorful mild cigar. I hope the brand continues to pickup steam and become more widely available. It is certainly a good cigar. Nice review.

    -Matt

  2. Padronnie Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at 11:13 am #

    never heard of it before… now I’ll have to pick up the next one I see

  3. Scratch Monday, July 19, 2010 at 1:50 pm #

    I agree this is a good smoke. I recommend looking for this cigar now. The bundles of these cigars are easy to find online at around $40 for 25 cigars. I noticed the construction is slightly worse than the boxed version, but nothing significant. The box price has also dropped significantly, I found a box of 24 robustos for $45, down from $120 from a year ago.

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