Agile Cigar Reviews replace what we termed “Assessment Updates”. The concept is the same, but the name is different. Agile Cigar Reviews use a lightweight, shorter format. These will never take the place of our comprehensive reviews. They are only used on blends we have previously assessed. This might be a blend we are re-scoring or providing a score for a first time. It might be a blend we are looking at in a different size. Today we look at the La Bohéme Pittore by Boutique Blends Cigars. This is a cigar we assessed in the Poeta (Toro) size back in September, 2014.
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic (Tabacalera Palma)
At the 2014 IPCPR Trade Show, Boutique Blends La Bohéme. La Bohéme is not just a new cigar, but it is the first cigar of what was introduced as a all-new brand Boutique Blends portfolio. The inspiration for this entire brand is simple – it brings together three passions of company President Rafael Nodel: music, Cuban Culture, and cigars. The musical inspiration stems from the fact that La Bohéme is the name of an opera by Giacamo Puccini that happens to be one of Nodal’s favorites. The packaging and the cigars itself also have a very Cubanesque feel to it. Today we take a look at the La Bohéme Pittore.
La Bohéme consists of an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper over Dominican binder and filler. Like its Aging Room and Swag sibling brands, La Bohéme is made at Jochi Blanco’s Tabacalera Palma. La Bohéme was launched in four sizes – with each of the four sizes inspired from a character in the La Bohéme opera. Pittore means “painter” and refers to the character of Marcello.
The flavor profile of the La Bohéme is as unique as anything I’ve had from Boutique Cigars. This cigar deliverd notes of sweet natural tobacco, vanilla, red and white pepper, and cream. Early on I detected more notes of sweet natural tobacco and vanilla. Later, the natural tobacco takes control. When I smoked the Poeta, I detected a “Cuban Twang” (which I describe as a combination of natural tobacco, pepper, and citrus). I found the Pittore had much less of this Cuban Twang and it resulted in increased complexity and really allowed the other flavors to shine.
Like the Poeta, I found the Pittore to be a medium strength, medium-bodied cigar in the first two thirds. By the last third, both attributes progressed to medium to full. This was a cigar that had excellent construction and this was reflected on the burn and draw.
I had been going back and forth on what size of La Bohéme is the “Belle of the Ball” (best vitola). Without a doubt, I can say the Pittore size is the one that knocks it out of the park. It’s definitely a box worthy cigar.
Summary
Burn: Excellent
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: Medium
Strength: Medium (1st 2/3), Medium to Full (Last third)
Body: Medium (1st 2/3), Medium to Full (Last third)
Finish: Excellent
Assessment: 4.0 – Box Worthy
Score: 93
References
Original Assessment: La Bohéme by Boutique Blends Cigars
News: La Bohéme by Boutique Blends Cigars
Price: $11.94
Source: Purchased
Stogie Geeks Episode: Episode 108, Episode 113, Episode 120
Stogie Feed: La Bohéme Poeta (Episode 113), La Bohéme Poeta (Episode 120)