Bolivar Simones Exclusivo Canada

Back in 2005, Habanos S.A. began making limited production Cuban cigars for various markets around the world. These Regional Editions (RE) are made using different vitolas or blends from the regular Habanos lines, and are sold exclusively in the market they are made for.

The cigar I’m reviewing for you today is the Bolivar Simones which is a Canadian RE first introduced in 2007. It received a 90-rating from Cigar Insider and was so popular that Habanos S.A. decided to re-launch it in 2008. Does the Bolivar Simones live up to all that hype? Read on to find out:

CIGAR INFORMATION
Vitola/Size: Robusto (5″ x 48)
Wrapper: Cuban
Binder: Cuban
Filler: Cuban
Price: This one cost me $17.00 but I’ve seen them going as high as $24.00.

PRE-SMOKE
Appearance: The Bolivar Simones sports two cigar bands. The primary band is the classic Bolivar band, and the secondary band is an attractive silver and red band with the words “Exclusivo Canada” printed on it.
Wrapper Colour: It has a medium brown wrapper with an almost reddish hue.
Feel: The cigar is quite firm but does have a little give to it when gently squeezed. There is one soft spot near the head of the cigar.
Scent of wrapper: Sweet with a little bit of a clove scent to it.
Scent of foot: Barnyard.
Flavour on Draw: Mossy/Earthy.

SMOKE
Resting Smoke: The smoke has a lovely cedar aroma mixed with a sweetness that sometimes reminded me of chocolate and other times caramel.
Taste – initial 3rd: Right off the bat you’re greeted with nice leather and nutty flavours, with a bit of coffee and a touch of citrus on the finish. The retro-hale had a light spice to it.
Taste – middle 3rd: The nutty, leathery flavours remain in the middle third and the light coffee flavour from the initial third has become more pronounced. The citrus remains on the finish. The retro-hale spice has become a bit more noticeable and there’s a very nice orange peel flavour to go along with it.
Taste – final 3rd: In the final third the flavours pick up nicely, with coffee, nuts, and cedar becoming the most dominant. Occasionally the leathery taste shows up again, but it’s barely noticeable. The retro-hale produced a lot more spice in the final-third, and the orange peel flavour from the middle third disappeared.
Strength: I’d say that the Bolivar Simones is in the medium-full bodied range.
Feeling: The smoke feels quite thick and, with each draw, fills your mouth with flavourful smoke.
Heat on Fingers and in Mouth: None until the very end (last inch or so).
Draw: A little on the tight side, although it still produced lots of smoke.
Finish: Medium in length.
Construction: I had no complaints with the construction of this cigar. The veins were quite small and had a slight puckering to it that is characteristic many Habanos. The burn was incredibly straight and the ash, although a little flaky, was quite solid and held for nearly the whole first third of the cigar.
Other aspects: I used my Star soft-flame butane lighter and my Xikar guillotine cutter.
Libation: None.

FINAL VERDICT
Like It: Very much! In my opinion, the Bolivar Simones Exclusivo Canada definitely lives up to the hype.
Buy It Again: Definitely!
Recommend It: Because of it’s high price point, I can’t recommend this as an everyday smoke. But, I would definitely recommend this as a “special occasion” cigar. Pick up a few and let me know what you think in the comments below.

Some pics of the experience: