I’ve had a very busy week testing vintages of Bolivar Belicosos Finos which many will know is one of my all time favourite Havana cigars and has been in my rotation for the last decade or so.

So far I’ve gone through 2001/2004/2006/2007 and 2008 in a variety of cabinet selection and dress box presentations as well as the Belicosos Finos from the Centenary humidor

The 2007’s (particularly TEB June 2007) was outstanding and possibly the best blended Havana of that year, sadly very hard to find now

The 2004 cabinet selection,despite unfortunately being a banded cigar (why are cabinet selection cigars banded now ??!!) was a hell of a surprise. A kaleidoscope of sweet flavours, complex from the first to the last puff. Quite a perfect expression of the BBF. More or less impossible to find now as few seem to have been made

2008 examples are already showing well and I think blending consistency and general quality control is now so high that these will be a sure winner and one to lay down for 2 years (for smoking) – 10 years for aging.

I spent some time in my Turmeaus cigars shops last week and realised how much I enjoy being a cigar retailer, our customers love to come to the shops to sample new cigars all the time as there are precious few specialist cigar merchants left in the UK whereas if you go back 30 years I think every major city would have 2 or 3 specialist tobacconists shops.

I think I’ll open a load more specialist cigars shops in the UK over the next few years. We are already looking for some new great locations to add to our existing network. That should keep me busy for a while 🙂

Have a great weekend

Peaceful puffing

Mitchell