Cigars.ie

In Our Memory Of: Bolivar Corona Extra

The biggest shock of all the cigars in the deletion list is the presence of one of the best Bolivars available on the market today, the Corona Extra. Since Rob and Smithy from Friends of Habanos posted their video expressing their feelings about the future if this cigar, the interest on them has sparked again. I was told by retailers that boxes were flying off their shelves as suddenly everyone remembered what a great cigar the Corona Extra is and what they had been missing on - and that includes me too…

The Bolivar Corona Extra is a “Fransisco”, a slightly bigger Corona, measuring 5.6″ in length by 44 ring gauge. It has been around for quite a while, in many different packaging options. During the 80’s it was known as “Amado Seleccion C” in the UK and Ireland, and was available in dress boxes of 25. From the middle 90’s it became available in cabinets of 50 and 25, as well as boxes of 10 and 25. Gradually, the different packaging options started to fade, with the classic cabinet of 50 being discontinued in 2009. The last remaining box of 25 will not be with us any more from 2012.

The Corona Extra always had the reputation of being a gutsy Bolivar, with great aging potential. A couple of years ago I had the chance to smoke one from a 1990 cabinet in London, and thats when I fell in love with them… Strong and complex, in a comfortable size, the Corona Extra is a great cigar. So, for this review I will be smoking one of my last sticks from 2005. With 6 years of age, they should be smoking really well.

Appearance & Construction: 13 / 15
Most Bolivars tend to have a more rustic look, rather than smooth and perfect wrappers, and that is exactly what this Corona Extra look like. Coffee brown in colour, the wrappes has plenty veins and a few wrinkles, without any imperfections. The bunch is firm all the way through and the triple cap is flat and well applied. The prelight draw is good, more towards the looser side, and some aromas of earth are present on the foot of the cigar.

Flavour & Body: 23 / 25
It only takes a puff to realize why this cigar is considered the fuller of all Bolivars. Strong flavours of tobacco and earth hit you from the beginning, with some spices and coffee on the background. The body is medium on the first third, with the flavours being rich and balanced. In the second third the cigar body turns medium to full and more flavours appear. Coffee, spices, earth, wood, nuts and tobacco, all in perfect balance with good depth. Not only this cigar is strong, it is very tasty too!  In the last third the cigar turns into a full bodied powerhouse. Flavours of tobacco now dominate, with earth and wood on the background. The finish is long and lingering, with some ginger and coffee tingling your tongue. Surprisingly, it does not get hot or harsh in any way and I am smoking it until holding it becomes uncomfortable. Very nice indeed, a little dynamite!

Draw & Burn 23 / 25
The loose draw on the Corona Extra helps the cigar deliver clouds of thick white smoke. The burn is good, a little too quick. However, the Corona Extra does not get hot or harsh, even when you smoke in the last inch. The ash is thick and flaky and it stays stuck on the cigar through the first third. The burn is a little uneven, nothing that would cause too much trouble, and the coal has a nice conical shape. My only complaint is that it burns way too fast. I finished it in 50 minutes, the time it normally takes me to smoke a tres petit corona!

Overall 33 / 35
There is no doubt that the Corona Extra is the strongest Bolivar available. But as I said before, it is not just another heavy cigar, it has very good complexity and balance and all  the traditional Bolivar flavours, but on steroids! It is enjoyable from the beginning to the end and its size is just perfect for a strong cigar. Any thinner and it would be very hot, any larger and it would be just too much. it is a strong cigar anyone can enjoy, a cigar that wont turn a novice smoker green. I am not going to complain about it being discontinued, enough has been said about it already. But what I will say is that deserves a place in the “hall of fame” of classic cigars that are no longer in production.

TOTAL 92 / 100

Verdict: If you can find them, get them! Although there is shortage in the major retailers, a good look around will get you some, even with some age on them as an added extra. If they are aged, smoke them now; if they are fresh age them for at least 6 to 8 years, and them sit back and enjoy!