Bolivar Gold Medal | Cuban Cigar | La Casa del Habano

Bolivar Gold Medal

Some cigars carry a reputation. The Bolivar Gold Medal carries a legend. Named after Simón Bolívar the 19th-century Venezuelan revolutionary who liberated six South American countries from Spanish rule Bolivar is widely considered the fullest-flavoured of all Cuban cigar brands. The Gold Medal is its standard-bearer.

The original predated the Cuban Revolution of 1959 and has been in and out of production ever since. The current version maintains the same 6½ inch length as the classic but brings a broader 48 ring gaugegiving you a slower, deeper burn and the kind of complexity that comes from a denser tobacco column. This is a serious cigar for the experienced smoker. It rewards patience and a quiet hour.

The construction is exactly what you'd expect from a Habanos S.A. vitola made entirely by hand with long filler tripa larga, totalmente a mano. The Colorado wrapper is smooth and well-pressed, and the draw is open and even from the first light. Each cigar arrives individually dressed in a sheet of gold foil embossed with the Bolivar name.

Flavour-wise, the first third opens with rich earth and cedar, with a layer of dark cocoa and leather underneath. As the cigar warms, dried fruit and a touch of molasses emerge  complex without ever becoming sharp. The finish is long, with roasted nut and a gentle black pepper that lingers. Full-bodied throughout, but never one-dimensional. This is Cuban tobacco at its most confident.

Product Details

• Brand: Bolivar
• Origin: Cuba (Habanos S.A.)
• Vitola: Partagás 15 (Grand Corona)
• Length: 165mm (6½ inches)
• Ring Gauge: 48
• Wrapper: Cuban Colorado, Vuelta Abajo
• Strength: Full
• Smoking Time: ~60 minutes
• Availability: La Casa del Habano exclusive
• Price: £60.00
• Sold as: Single cigar [confirm box quantity before publishing]

Tasting Notes

• Rich earth and cedar on the first third
• Dark cocoa, leather and dried fruit through the body
• Molasses and roasted nut on the mid section
• Long finish of black pepper and sweet wood

Store at 65–70% relative humidity. Best enjoyed within 5 years, or aged for added complexity and smoothness.