Stogie Reviews: Bolivar Royal Corona (Cuban)
29 Sep 2008
Call it quality or call it hype, but I’m never surprised when I see Cubans rated highly in mainstream cigar publications. I think the greater stogie community, however, was caught off guard when a Bolivar—not considered one of Habanos SA’s flagship brands—was named Cigar of the Year by Cigar Aficionado in 2006.
The four and 7/8 inch by 50 ring gauge Royal Corona earned that title, along with a rating of 94, for its “sophisticated flavor bomb of smoke with an array of rich character, including touches of chocolate, coffee, and leather.†You can watch Gordon Mott and James Suckling of CA profess their admiration in this video.
Produced at the H. Upmann factory in relatively limited quantities (only 300,000 were made in 2006), this cigar has been hailed as symbolic of Cuba’s return to glory and reminiscent of Habanos from the golden ’80s and ’90s. Textured, clean, and firm, a slight box press and a beautifully adhered flat cap add to its character and mystique.
I’ve had the good fortune to smoke six Royal Coronas over the past few months, and I’m happy to report all the accolades and rave reviews are well deserved. This is simply one of the most satisfying cigars around, and the price—about $10 for a single or $215 for a box of 25—is very fair for the tremendous, full-bodied experience.
If the radiant prelight aromas of nuts and milk chocolate don’t make you salivate, toasting the foot certainly will. From there, you’ll find a dry, woody spice with hints of cocoa sweetness. Other tastes also pop in and out, including leather, coffee, and plenty of floral notes.
Aside from being extremely well-balanced and complex, this exquisite smoke doesn’t fall into the same construction traps with which many of its Cuban cousins grapple. The ash holds well, the draw is clear and deliberate, and the burn, albeit imperfect, self-corrects its own missteps. Expect the slow smoke time to be closer to a toro than a robusto.
Awards and ratings aside, this is the sort of creation that makes me proud to be a cigar enthusiast. I’m simply infatuated with the Bolivar Royal Corona, and I have no qualms about adding a rating of five out of five stogies to its growing trophy case.
[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]
photo credit: Stogie Guys
Patrick Ashby
Co-Founder & Editor in Chief
Patrick Semmens
Co-Founder & Publisher
George Edmonson
Tampa Bureau Chief
I wholeheartedly agree with you Patrick, I have 3 boxes of these beauties in my cooler-dor, bought after finishing a box.
It's simply wonderful, the exquisite balance coupled with the full-bodied heartiness that does not overwhelm but serves as a fantastic backdrop to this symbol of the very best Cuba has to offer. And it's a heck of a value-buy especially when compared to Cohibas or the relatively overpriced Limitadas.
This is the cigar I would choose if I could only have one vitola for the rest of my life(or if my country decided to have a Cuban embargo and I am the current President 🙂 )
While I have the ultimate respect for habanos, I find that Bolivar sticks generally are too strong for my taste. Even after a heavy meal with wine and digestives, I find that most Cuban Bolivars (including the RC and Petit) put me way over the edge–and not in a pleasant way. As a rule, I usually stick to Hoyo or Upmann if I am going Cuban.
At least in the photo, it doesn't look as oily as I remember. Still I agree completely… a fantastic stogie.
My god, how pretentious are mott and suckling? It's A holes like that than give cigar smokers a reputation as silver spoon fed bluebloods.
Thank goodness for stogieguys.com!
Thanks for the great review of a fantastic smoke!!!
~Bill
The smaller sizes of the Bolis are even better, in my opinion.
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