Bandolero Tremendos by Selected Tobacco – Cigar Review

Nelson Alfonso of Selected Tobacco might not be a household name yet, but I’m sure you’ve seen his work in the past. He is responsible for the branding of cigars such as the Cohiba Behike and other limited editions for Habanos S.A. a few years ago, Nelson started his own company out of Costa Rica called Selected Tobacco and created the brands Byron, Atabey, and Bandolero.

Since his breakthrough into the US market, I’ve admired his work. Nelson is well versed in the tobacco world, and by trade is a visual artist and designer. He creates beautiful packages for all of his brands that stand out amongst the rest, but that’s not the only thing that makes these cigars special. The one I’ll be looking at today is the Bandolero Tremendos.

What am I smoking?

• Cigar Review: Bandolero Tremendos
• Country of Origin: Costa Rica
• Factory: Selected Tobacco
• Wrapper: Not Disclosed
• Binder: Not Disclosed
• Filler: Not Disclosed
• Length: 5 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 50
• Vitola: Robusto
• Power: 7 / 10

Packaging & Design

Bandolero cigars come in a gorgeous looking (and functional) metal humidor jar inside. The artwork on the jars vary by vitola, but all depict detailed black and white images of the Bandolero story. On the mahogany colored upper lid, there is a humidification element that you can fill with a propylene glycol solution to keep your cigars fresh. I purchased one of these jars when they came out a few years back, and even though the cigars are gone, I still use it for other sticks.

I’d also like to mention that there are a total of eight sizes of Bandolero, which is great for picky cigar smokers such as myself. Due to the large range of sizes, the amount of cigars you get vary depending on how big of a cigar you choose. Smaller vitolas are packaged 30 sticks to a jar, and the larger ones come in 20 or 25 count packages as well. As I said, lots of options.

First Impressions

The one thing I first noticed about these cigars is the amount of natural oils on the wrapper. It has a sheen to it and feels almost slick to the touch, similar to the feel of an early Liga Privada T52. It has a thick and meaty chocolate colored wrapper over dark colored binder and filler tobaccos, which are evenly packed inside. This cigar has rich and deep aromas coming from the foot, with notes of molasses and soft raisin. The caps look meticulously placed as well.

The Smoke

I cut the cigar with a Lotus Jaws, which on the cold draw revealed flavors or sweet aged tobacco and leathery espresso. My Vertigo Cyclone II torched this cigar up quick and evenly. Right away the Bandolero Tremendos was giving off a huge amount of smoke that brought with it nuances of caramel, chocolate, figs and peppery spices up front. After an inch or so, the light gray ash is holding strong against a sharp burn line.

Getting into the halfway point, the body edges up from medium to a fuller flavored smoke. Complex notes of cedar and earth become present, but still maintain those deep and rich flavors that were there from the start. The oils on this wrapper coat the palate evenly and leave a pleasantly clean mouthfeel in its wake.

Now into the last couple inches, everything comes together in a bold bouquet of flavors. The profile of the smoke is still rich and sweet with a backbone of black pepper, but the nuances of dark fruit I’ve been getting have balanced out even more since the beginning.

Final Thoughts

I have zero complaints about the Bandolero line of cigars. I’ve smoked most of the sizes available, and I always walk away from the nub feeling satisfied. They have a unique and attention-keeping flavor that gets more impressive with every puff. The construction is consistently top notch, keeping a solid burn and draw from stick to stick. These can be enjoyed by anyone, but if you’re a fan of rich and bold cigars, these won’t let you down.

Rating: 95
Price: $11.99 / $359.99 (Jar of 30)