This past week on The Cigar Authority we ran through the cigars that we personally thought should have made the Contenders Pack. During the course of the show, David mentioned he felt La Boheme should have been a contender. Realizing I have yet to review the cigar I mentioned on the show that we would take a look at the cigar released at the 2014 IPCPR in Las Vegas.
The cigar which is named after an opera by Puccini is a small production but a continuous production for Boutique Blends .
Cigar: La Boheme
Size: 5 1/8 x 52 (Pittore)
Wrapper: Ecuador Habano
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Strength: Medium
Source: 2GuysCigars.com
The Look: The La Boheme features a cigar band that has a classy look to it that could have been from the turn of the century, but you can’t smoke the band. The cigar itself is flawless rolled with a medium brown color similar to that of hot cocoa mix. The cigar features a double cap that is perfectly placed on a cigar the feels a little light in the hand with no soft sports and firm foot.
The Notes: The cold draw of the La Boheme is definitively Dominican. For me that is the smell of the cigar factory which to me always smelled differently than its counterparts in Nicaragua. There is a barnyard note with hay and earth. The foot of the cigar has a warm aroma of subtle spices and caramel.
On the first light there is some subtle spices but the focal point is a sweetness that reminds me of 10 Cane Rum and makes me wish I had a mojito to pair with this cigar. There was the sweetness of rum, the addition of sugar and a slightly mint taste. The taste is clean, but sweet with hints of natural tobacco.
In the second third of the La Boheme from Rafael Nodal and Boutique Blends the cigar begins to transition as notes of nuts develop that are smooth and creamy. There is some notes of oak that become dominant as the sweetness leaves the cigar and some pepper notes develop on the back-end of the smoke.
The last third of La Boheme reclaims some of the sweetness that was found in the first third with similar notes to that of a Mojito. I hate to sound like a broken record but I like that the cigar went back to its roots. There is some pepper through the nose but the flavors of the cigar are definitely summer like in my mind.
The Burn: The La Boheme like all cigars from Rafael Nodal’s Boutique Blends burned like you would expect from a cigar with superior construction. From the razor-sharp burn with a solid ash and perfect draw. The cigar was the true definition of a perfectly constructed stick.
Overall: In retrospect the La Boheme was worthy to be in consideration for Cigar of the Year in the Contenders Pack that The Cigar Authority has put together through 2 Guys Cigars. A delicious flavor profile with a short finish, the La Boheme is a masterpiece that deserves a standing ovation.
Score: 93
Price: $11.99
La Boheme
La Boheme Foot
La Boheme Burn
