Origin : Cuba
Format : Short Robusto
Size : 102 x 19.84 mm
Ring : 50
Intruduced in : 2008
Hand-Made
Price : 9.50 € / piece
Bolivar Petit Libertador is the first regional edition to be reviewed on this site. To be honest, I am quite sceptical about the regional editions concept – 2 years of marketing courses make me think that we pay extra dough for a feeling of uniqueness. Let’s see whether this is true.
Appearance : Rating: 
Looks quite rustic, one major vein is running through a colorado claro wrapper. Then of course, there is this double band which indicates that you’re holding a limited edition. It sure looks good.
Construction : Rating:
It is a bit loose near the foot, but otherwise well-packed. The sour pre-light smell is divine – this is what surges in my mind when I think back about this cigar. I had no problems at all with cutting and lighting this short robusto, the draw was on the tighter side but comfortable. It burned well.
Flavor : Rating:
I am always expecting a spectacular performance from a short and expensive cigar. Isn’t it supposed to concentrate as much flavor as possible in a smaller format? It definitely was not the case here. Upon lighting, I was pleasantly punched in the nose by a hurl of red and black pepper. From the very beginning, the Petit Libertador is powerful, full-bodied and excessively peppery. Woody flavors make their way in the second third, they are quite similar to what I am used to detect in Bolivar Royal Coronas. This is where I can also feel that the cigar is too young (introduced in 2008) to be fully enjoyed right now – a lot of leather and hints of ammonia which can be avoided if you take your time (which is a good strategy, by the way). The last third is quite heavy and needs to be paired with a drink (cognac or whisky).
Value : Rating: 
Definitely overpriced. You pay at least 2 euros for the regional edition band.
Overall Rating : Overall Rating:
Bolivar Petit Libertador is not a bad cigar, but it didn’t meet my high expectations. I am now even more suspicious about regional editions. I really don’t see why I should pay more for a cigar that is far inferior to, say, Montecristo Petit Edmundo or even Hoyo de Monterrey Petit Robusto. Don’t you think?
This post was written by Denis aka Inspector, who founded CigarInspector.com back in 2007. Click here for his latest articles and more information.
