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Stogie Reviews: EO Murcielago Belicoso

28 Dec 2009

EO Murcielago BelicosoBack in November, I wrote a Quick Smoke of Murcielago, one of this summer’s most anticipated releases. Now, after burning through about a quarter box of this new line from Eddie Ortega, Erik Espinosa, and Don Pepin Garcia, I am pleased to present a more thorough review.

Murcielago was one of two new blends introduced by United Tobacco at the IPCPR Trade Show in New Orleans (the other being the Cubao Maduro). According to the text printed on the tissue paper inside my box, its name—“bat” in Spanish—honors the often misunderstood creature that fertilizes tequila-producing agave plants in Mexico. “No bats, no tequila,” it reads.

Why link this cigar to Mexico and tequila? Well, the five-vitola Murcielago blend is predominantly Mexican in makeup with a San Andreas maduro wrapper and a Mexican binder. The filler tobaccos are Nicaraguan.

When the production of this blend was announced in July, Espinosa said in a press release that “the cigars were better than Eddie and I hoped for.” That struck a chord with many cigar enthusiasts who have grown to love the handful of blends United Tobacco has created since the company was founded in 2003.

Murcielago stands out among them in both name and appearance. The Belicoso (5.5 x 52) is slightly box-pressed with a smooth, dark, and rich-looking exterior leaf, accented by a red and black band. Moderately firm from head to foot, it exudes pungent pre-light notes of powdered cocoa and compost.

This cigar’s makers say Murcielago is supposed to be “medium- to full-bodied.” I think that’s about right, though fans of bold sticks should note that its thick smoke has more smoothness than strength. The chalky profile tastes of nuts, espresso, and leather with little variation throughout.

While this flavor is interesting, it isn’t as captivating as I hope it will become with some age. Otherwise, the young EO Murcielago Belicoso is an excellent smoke with above average physical properties. It’s a good value at $9-10 apiece and worthy of four stogies out of five.

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

Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

7 Responses to “Stogie Reviews: EO Murcielago Belicoso”

  1. Tim Monday, December 28, 2009 at 8:57 pm #

    Haven't gotten my hands on one of these yet, but that's one good looking maduro wrapper!

  2. cj Tuesday, December 29, 2009 at 2:47 am #

    While I am very interested in these, $9-$10 for mostly mexican presents an oxymoron for me. Plus, no b&m around me carries it…..sigh.

  3. JL in SA Tuesday, December 29, 2009 at 4:49 pm #

    I have really enjoyed this cigar, great smoke … took it down to the nub … theres a website online that sellls them in 5 packs

  4. George E. Wednesday, December 30, 2009 at 6:20 am #

    CJ – I wouldn't be surprised if you run across them in a while. They seem — at least from shops I've been in — to be rolling out sort of slowly.

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