Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés
Binder: Proprietary
Filler: Nicaraguan (Jalapa & Esteli)
Size: 5.625 x 46 “Corona Gorda”
Body: Medium
Price: $9.00 MSRP
I recently reviewed the Bodega Premium Blends Reunión Aperitivo. An excellent cigar.
From Atlantic Cigars web site:
“Bodega Premium Blends has release their first line of cigars, Reunion that features two blends, Aperitivo and Digestivo packaged in boxes of 10. The Aperitivo is Nicaraguan puro blend utilizing a Jalapa Habana wrapper, with an all Nicaragua core of fillers and binder. The blend is a medium strength and body while delivering flavors of black pepper, earth, and barnyard notes. The Digestivo cigar is a dark San Andres Negro wrapper with Nicaraguan binder and filler, giving it a more full bodied smoking experience. The wrapper has undergone a longer and more intense fermentation process resulting in the releasing of the natural sugars of the leaf giving the Digestivo its sweeter and bolder flavor compared to spiciness of the Digestivo. This blend doesn’t end with just a high quality wrapper, rather an array of rich fillers from Jalapa and Esteli were hand selected to round out this cigar and deliver additional complexity. As for the binder in this blend, well Bodega Premium Blends the maker won’t indulge us, it’s proprietary. Enjoy this ultra-boutique cigar line, we here at Atlantic pride ourselves on searching the globe to deliver the finest quality cigars.”
From Bodega Premium Blends web site:
“Like its cousin Aperitivo, the Reunión Digestivo’s genesis was inspired by the culinary arts. Spanish for digestif, Digestivo usually refers to: “a cocktail or other alcoholic beverage that is specifically served after a meal. The purpose of a digestif is to aid in the digestion following a meal
“When enjoyed around a gathering this cigar comes to life. A Maduro in the true sense of the word, Digestivo has undergone a longer and more intense fermentation process. This marked evolution brings out the natural sugars of leaf giving the Digestivo its trademark “sweeter” flavor. Bolder than its companion, Digestivo is designed to bring the whole experience to a satisfying conclusion.”
As you can tell in the photo below, the Digestivo is a much darker cigar.
The Digestivo has a very dark, oily, coffee bean color. Seams could be a little better as they are not very tight at all. There are lots of veins. And a perfectly executed triple cap. The shaft is very toothy. The stick is rock solid which is a concern for draw but let’s see.
The cigar bands are very hip in that they colors chosen are mostly pastels. The kind of colors your wife points at and says, “That’s the color I want for the patio curtains.” And the large tree in the background provides some sort of symbolism. Where is Tom Hanks when you need him?
I clip the cap and find aromas of milk chocolate, spice, and earthiness.
Time to light up.
The draw is a bit tight. So I gently roll the cigar in my open palm to loosen the tobacco. Makes a huge difference as the draw is now near perfect.
Two elements appear at the same time: Spice and cocoa. The spiciness comes from a black pepper component. Earthiness plays a big role in the flavor profile. I can also taste some dried fruit and sweetness. Along with lemon citrus.
The Reunión Aperitivo was a much more intense cigar by this point. It was also constructed better.
The char line is a bit wavy so I allow it one touch up in the hopes that this fixes it all.
The strength, at the 1” mark, is on the mild side of medium bodied. I’ve allowed this cigar 3-1/2 more weeks to humidor age than the Reunión Aperitivo. It should be screaming laughter by now.
At the moment, my reaction to this cigar is just so so. Flavors are muted. Construction is nothing to be proud of in a $9 stick. And yet, the Aperitivo was magnificent compared to this companion cigar blend. Flavors come slowly and with hesitation. While the Aperitivo flavors shot at me as if they were loaded in David’s slingshot.
I also noticed a lot of pin holes. Each puff finds smoke emitting from the cigar in about half a dozen locations. That can’t be good. Does it have the measles?
The char line continues on its journey of being wavy. But no big deal and I won’t correct it. It is what it is.
As I approach the second third, nothing has changed in the flavor profile other than the cocoa, spice, sweetness, citrus, and earthiness are a little stronger. But no additions to the flavor profile.
The strength does move to classic medium bodied.
The Aperitivo was an outstanding cigar and worth its $9 price tag. I cannot believe how different in quality the Digestivo is compared to the Aperitivo. This should not be a $9 stick. Maybe $5. Someone took a nap between blending the Aperitivo and the Digestivo.
The only outstanding flavor is the black pepper.
Gino Domanico, owner of Bodega, sent me an email 2-1/2 weeks ago thanking me for the review of the Aperitivo. And that he would be sending me out some cigars.
I am very glad that he either forgot about me or changed his mind because this review will not make him happy. Who needs the aggravation? You hear what I’m saying, Bubbelah?
The halfway point is upon me and thank you baby Jesus! The flavors begin to form in an orderly manner. First is creaminess. The black pepper becomes red pepper. The cocoa flourishes. There are earthy and leather elements.
Even with this last surge in a larger array of flavors, it seems a bit late. The Aperitivo was good to go from the start of the cigar. A $9 stick should not need half of it burned away before it hits the sweet spot.
I’m burning closer to the last third and the cigar’s flavors just poop out on me. This just isn’t a very good cigar. I hate telling you the truth, but if your Uncle Katman doesn’t, who will?
Even if this cigar turned out to be an old school blend needing many months of humidor time, I’ve had this stick for 6 weeks and I should at least taste some great potential.
There is this lingering “hay” flavor that won’t go away. It just craps out the rest of the flavors. And there aren’t many of those.
On the upside, the char line is behaving nicely.
This stick has gotten so boring that if it didn’t cost $9 and I wasn’t reviewing it, I’d dump it. After the wonderful Aperitivo, I was really looking forward to this cigar and the treats it would show me.
On another note, my brothers at Cigar Federation gave me a great idea yesterday. I have 50 cigars that just aren’t my style. It was suggested to me that I send them to Operation Cigars for Warriors. So I boxed them up and shipped them off. If you have cigars you’d like to donate, this is a fine way to do it.
The last third is better but underdeveloped. It should be singing an aria from Puccini for me. I don’t get it.
When a cigar doesn’t wow me, time slows down as I stare at the last third sitting in an ashtray. I don’t foresee this stick making a miraculous recovery so good night dear readers.
That’s all she wrote.
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Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
Thanks for the CFW link. I’m going to send a bunch of good cigars to them (good ones that turned out to be “just not my style”). Clears some space for the ones I appreciate. Keep up the good works!
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Thanks Charlie. Good work!
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