If you listen to the podcast or follow me (Barry) on social media you have probably seen me smoking today’s cigar review, Bandolero Serie A Sagaces. Sagaces is the Spanish word for Sagacious which means, having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment; shrewd.
The Serie A differs from other Bandolero lines with a darker wrapper than the Serie C which has a Rosado hue to it, and the Serie T which has the wrapper that falls between the two.
Cigar Review: Bandolero Serie A (Aventureros)
Wrapper: Ecuador Habano
Binder: Not Disclosed
Filler: Not Disclosed
Length: 5 3/8″
Ring Gauge: 46
Size: Sagaces
The Look: The Bandolero Sagaces has a dark Habano wrapper that is flawless in appearance and it’s roll. Featuring the regular Bandolero band that denotes the ring gauge of 46, the cigar is complimented with a secondary blue and gold band denoting Serie A. In the hand the cigar is firm to the touch, with no voids of tobacco and the wrapper is loaded with oils.
The Notes: The cold draw serves up sweet notes of cocoa along with what reminds me of oyster crackers, a New England staple. The foot serves up warm mocha and a subtle plum component. One the cigar is toasted and lit the initial notes are pumpernickel and a subtle brown sugar.
Moving into the first third the notes of pumpernickel remains but slightly pull back back some with notes of plum and oak. As the first third comes to a close, a bourbon like sweetness develops especially on the finish. The retrohale is extremely smooth with plums being the focal point.
In the second third, notes of plums become dominant. Around the halfway point cocoa joins the mix with the occasional wisp of earth. The retruohale serves up some sweetness and oak, making this the perfect cigar to compliment a nice glass of bourbon.
The final third sees the earthy notes ramp up in intensity with a continued underlying sweetness of cocoa and the addition of a strong espresso. The aroma off the burning cigar is heavenly with some plum sweetness and the retrohale serves up notes of graham.
The Finish: Over the 13 years I’ve been reviewing cigars I have given out 100 ratings for Padron 1964 Series Principe Natural & various sizes of Atabey. To the point where people have said I am too free with 100 ratings. But at the time of each review, these cigars embodied everything I wanted in a smoke. I still firmly believe those are 100 rated cigars.
I’ve joked around that at some point or another I would give out a 102 rating and I thought about it with this cigar. Many people expected it, but 100 is the benchmark for greatness.
If you look at sports, people said Jim Brown was the GOAT, then it became Joe Montana, then it became Tom Brady. Same thing can be said with Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.
The Bandolero Sagaces is perfect. It is of my opinon the new benchmark for the greatest cigar of all time. It is worthy of this 100 rating and it is starting forward for the dream team.
Score: 100
Price: $11.99 / $254.99
Bandolero Sagaces
Bandolero Sagaces Foot
Bandolero Sagaces Burn
