Sometimes coming up with a cigar to review can be challenging when you review cigars as one person five days a week for a period of time that is now close to 17 months. So today I asked my co-worker Ed to go out and pick a cigar for me to review.
His mission was to go into Two Guys Smoke Shop Nashua and pick a cigar off the shelf. He removed the band, and placed it in his pocket and it was only given to me once the review was completed. He stood by as I edited the photos to be placed at the end of the review.
[filled in after the review]
Cigar Review: Bandolero
Size: 5.5 x 50 (Soberbios)
Wrapper: Not Disclosed
Binder: Not Disclosed
Filler: Not Disclosed
Strength: Medium-Full
The Look: This unknown at the time of review cigar features a chestnut color brown wrapper that has some creases and folds on the wrapper especially near the roll lines. There are some thin veins present and some tooth present as well. In the hand the cigar is firm with no soft spots. The foot of the cigar reveals some darker tobacco in the center.
The Notes: Once the cap is clipped with a 64 Ring Gauge Double Blade Cutter the initial notes are sweet and are reminiscent of tiny marshmallows and a touch of spice on the lips. The aroma off the foot has a mix of cayenne pepper and subtle baking spices.
After the cigar is lit the initial notes are that of black pepper especially through the nose that tingles the nostrils. There is also a floral like sweetness present as well and it has me thinking I wish I had some sugar cookies whiles smoking this cigar. Perhaps I have the holiday bug. As the first third comes to close the sweetness has begun to fade away and notes of nuts, coffee and black licorice come into play providing a nice balanced complexity.
In the second third of the cigar some cayenne pepper returns from the cold draw that is noticeable on the lips and through the nose. As you get past the spice there are notes of cedar with continued coffee and nuts on the long spicy finish.
The final third of the cigar continues with notes of wood and earth. The spice remains on the lips through the noses and onto the long finish where it is also joined by the aforementioned earth.
The Burn: The cigar starts out with a dark and fairly thick combustion line before thinning out considerably and although the burn is slightly uneven it never gives the impression of needing to be touched up. The draw is impeccable and it remained lit from first light to last puff.
The Finish: I have to give kudos to Ed for picking out a cigar that is right in my wheelhouse in terms of strength and taste. There are a few different flavor changes as the cigar progresses to keep one interested, and I feel a familiarity about the cigar and can’t help but wonder if I have reviewed it before. The cigar transitions between medium and full and would definitely be enjoyed best after a top-notch meal.
Score: 92
Price: $13.99
Bandolero Soberbios
Bandolero Soberbios Foot
Bandolero Soberbios Burn
Bandolero Soberbios Reveal
The Notes
- We like to play a game at work where we remove the band of the cigar and try to have our fellow co-workers try to figure out the cigar. I like to think I am operating at about a 50% clip.
- Smoking the first third of the cigar there is something familiar about the cigar but I don’t dare venture a guess as to what the cigar is at this point but I begin wonder if
- Uncle Nic is definitely present by the time we reach the midway point but his visit was short because by the time the final third rolled around he was nowhere to be found.
- I paired the cigar with water
- Smoking time was 1 hour 35 minutes
