I was fortunate enough to have a sampler pack of the newly launched Bodega cigars from the fantastic Cigar_G. Besides being a super classy Canadian from Ottawa, hes an all around great BoTL. I went through the cigars he sent and decided the Reunión Aperitivo Double Robusto was going to be the way to go.
Im always apprehensive when I smoke a new brand because Im potentially faced with writing a review that isnt favorable. Fortunately for me the cigar did all the work.
[h=1]Nose:[/h] The nose is what swayed my decision. I picked up sweet fermented tobacco with some aged barnyard notes.
[h=1]Construction:[/h] This Bodega Reunión Aperitivo comes in a double robusto vitola measuring 5 by 54 ring gauge. From the Bodega website: Aperitivo is Spanish for Apéritif. Typically it refers to either a cocktail or other alcoholic beverage that is specifically served before a meal, or with a small appetizer. In the culinary arts, the purpose of an apéritif is to stimulate or arouse the appetite. The intention behind the Apertivo line was to enjoy it before a meal, paired with a coffee or spirit. First announced at the 2013 IPCPR show in Las Vegas, it was launched in January 2014 with an exclusve December 2013 launch party in New York City. The Bodega brand was over 2 years of tasting and blending to arrive at a final product.
Bodega Premium Blends are distributed by Gary Griffiths House of Emilio.
[h=1]Flavor:[/h] [h=2]First Third[/h] My first few draws and Im getting some nice nuttiness with light hay coming through at the end. A few draws in and Im able to detect a hint of potting soil.
At about the 15 minute mark the sweet tobacco notes I was picking up on the nose start to come through the flavor profile at approximately a medium intensity.
[h=2]Middle Third[/h] Similar tasting profile to the first third but with a transition on the earth and sweetness that combines the two flavors together. That flavor transitions at about the halfway point of the second third to a heavy mineral earth. The sweetness picks up strength here as well to over power the earth as the strongest flavor.
The earthiness starts to fall away as the middle third winds down and is replaced with a woody and metallic flavor of light intensity.
[h=2]Last Third[/h] The earth notes continue to fall off in intensity as the Reunión Aperitivo progresses, down to a light level. The woody and metallic combination evolves into dried wood and mixes in with the sweet tobacco. The light hay present in the first third is more detectable here but hasnt picked up in intensity at all.
The last third really hits the high point for me with all of the flavors being quite defined and clean.
[h=1]Burn/Draw:[/h] The Reunión Aperitivo held an extremely tight ash with an excellent even burn throughout the entire smoke. I made an X cut with a v-cutter and the draw was good leaning slightly towards the closed end. I dont think youd want to use a punch here. Total smoking time was 2 hours and 12 minutes.
[h=1]Value:[/h] The Reunión Aperitivo double robusto is available as a 5-pack for $55, 10 count boxes around $110. 20 count boxes are available, containing 10 each of the Apertitivo and Digestivo lines for $220.
[h=1]Final Word:[/h] Bodega has hit the ground running with their first cigar release. After smoking the Aperitivo Im really looking forward to comparing the Digestivo. I also have the toro vitola Aperitivo and its interesting to see if a change in vitola results in significant differences to the core flavors. The Reunión Aperitivo will absolutely find a home as a part of my regular smoking rotation.
Link to post with gallery: http://cigarfederation.com/profiles/blogs/review-bodega-reuni-n-aperitivo-double-robusto
Im always apprehensive when I smoke a new brand because Im potentially faced with writing a review that isnt favorable. Fortunately for me the cigar did all the work.
[h=1]Nose:[/h] The nose is what swayed my decision. I picked up sweet fermented tobacco with some aged barnyard notes.
[h=1]Construction:[/h] This Bodega Reunión Aperitivo comes in a double robusto vitola measuring 5 by 54 ring gauge. From the Bodega website: Aperitivo is Spanish for Apéritif. Typically it refers to either a cocktail or other alcoholic beverage that is specifically served before a meal, or with a small appetizer. In the culinary arts, the purpose of an apéritif is to stimulate or arouse the appetite. The intention behind the Apertivo line was to enjoy it before a meal, paired with a coffee or spirit. First announced at the 2013 IPCPR show in Las Vegas, it was launched in January 2014 with an exclusve December 2013 launch party in New York City. The Bodega brand was over 2 years of tasting and blending to arrive at a final product.
Bodega Premium Blends are distributed by Gary Griffiths House of Emilio.
[h=1]Flavor:[/h] [h=2]First Third[/h] My first few draws and Im getting some nice nuttiness with light hay coming through at the end. A few draws in and Im able to detect a hint of potting soil.
At about the 15 minute mark the sweet tobacco notes I was picking up on the nose start to come through the flavor profile at approximately a medium intensity.
[h=2]Middle Third[/h] Similar tasting profile to the first third but with a transition on the earth and sweetness that combines the two flavors together. That flavor transitions at about the halfway point of the second third to a heavy mineral earth. The sweetness picks up strength here as well to over power the earth as the strongest flavor.
The earthiness starts to fall away as the middle third winds down and is replaced with a woody and metallic flavor of light intensity.
[h=2]Last Third[/h] The earth notes continue to fall off in intensity as the Reunión Aperitivo progresses, down to a light level. The woody and metallic combination evolves into dried wood and mixes in with the sweet tobacco. The light hay present in the first third is more detectable here but hasnt picked up in intensity at all.
The last third really hits the high point for me with all of the flavors being quite defined and clean.
[h=1]Burn/Draw:[/h] The Reunión Aperitivo held an extremely tight ash with an excellent even burn throughout the entire smoke. I made an X cut with a v-cutter and the draw was good leaning slightly towards the closed end. I dont think youd want to use a punch here. Total smoking time was 2 hours and 12 minutes.
[h=1]Value:[/h] The Reunión Aperitivo double robusto is available as a 5-pack for $55, 10 count boxes around $110. 20 count boxes are available, containing 10 each of the Apertitivo and Digestivo lines for $220.
[h=1]Final Word:[/h] Bodega has hit the ground running with their first cigar release. After smoking the Aperitivo Im really looking forward to comparing the Digestivo. I also have the toro vitola Aperitivo and its interesting to see if a change in vitola results in significant differences to the core flavors. The Reunión Aperitivo will absolutely find a home as a part of my regular smoking rotation.
Link to post with gallery: http://cigarfederation.com/profiles/blogs/review-bodega-reuni-n-aperitivo-double-robusto
