Bahia Gold Churchill

Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Churchill
Size : 175 x 19 mm (6 7/8 x 48)
Ring : 48
Wrapper : Ecuador
Filler : Dominican Republic
Binder : Dominican Republic
Hand-Made
Price : ~$9-10 each
More info about purchasing Bahia Gold cigars...

Bahia Gold cigars are made in Nicaragua by Tony Borhani using an aged (4 years) Ecuadorian sumatra wrapper as well as a filler/binder from Dominican Republic. After being rolled, they undergo additional twelve months of aging. Don't expect to find more information on their website which is very incomplete.
I purchased a box of Bahia Gold Churchills a few years ago and have been smoking one every 2-3 months. I decided it was time to post a review when I reached for the last one.

Appearance :
A quite dark wrapper, oily and flawless. I found this churchill to be well packed, the box-pressed vitola is very pleasant to the touch. Unlit, it has a mild floral aroma.
 
Construction :
Consistent construction from one cigar to another - as far as I remember, I was able to get effortless draw and regular burn on each and every stick. The ash is moderately stable. Good job by Tony.

Flavor :
I appreciate the almost-Cuban spice in the beginning, the smoke is ample thanks to the easy draw. In the second third, the flavors are mostly nutty with a hint of chocolate. It is rather medium-bodied and not aggressive at all. I like pairing it up with a single malt. As it's a Churchill, expect to spend at least 75 minutes. I noticed some bitterness in the last third which randomly appeared on some specimens, regardless of the smoking rhythm.

Value :
I'm not really comfortable with the $8-9 price range - I'd buy those again though if I manage to find a good deal online.

Overall Rating :
It was always with pleasure that I took a Bahia Gold Churchill from my humidor. Perfect to sit outside with a book, when the weather allows it, sipping some whisky. However, for those who expect a lot of complexity, this stick might lack evolution, especially in the second half.