Nica Libre Potencia Belicoso

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Sun Grown
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Size: 5 x 54 Belicoso
Body: Medium/Full
Price: $5.00usd
Manufacturer: Cigar International Private Label
Paired Drink: Homemade German Lager 

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I chose this cigar for my first review on this blog because I've smoked a box or 3, and enjoyed every single stick. Be warned, this may not be the most objective cigar review, but I felt it worth starting with a known cigar, to get this blog started. 

Many are likely familiar with the original AJ Fernandez blended Nica Libre. With it's Padron like ring and heavy marketing on Cigarbid.com as "the poor man's Padron", I'm sure I'm not the only one who found the offer hard to resist. The Potencia is blended by Oliva, and is a completely different animal. I believe that both of the Nica Libre lines are Cigar International exclusives.

Appearance: Beautiful oily, reddish suede leather wrapper. A few veins, but nothing that significantly detracted from the look. Densely packed, heavy for the small stature.

Prelight: Dominate cedar and oak. Sweet caramel, cocoa and faint crushed red pepper.

1st third: 
Pepper, spice, cedar - in that order. A very slight resistance in the draw, and tad tight for me, but I think most wouldn't find it a problem. Retrohale is all pepper. Ten minutes in, the tightness in the draw is completely gone. Playing backup the the spice and pepper are is a long lasting cafe con leche finish.

2nd third:
The burn is a little ragged, the ash is a dark gray and a little flaky. The finish is getting longer, the coffee and cream notes are really starting to take over with the red pepper moving to a supporting role, especially in the retrohale. 

Final third:
I had to sit the cigar down for a little break as it started getting hot. I really enjoy the flavor, and was smoking it a bit to fast. Nicotine is finally starting to show, but I'm not suffering for it. The flavor isn't changing much, other than getting stronger as the smoke continues. 


Summary:
This cigar won't win any complexity awards. However there are nuanced flavor changes, and the smoke never gets boring. This dense, slow burning smoke makes for a perfect goto smoke when a Fly Pig or Tatuaje Black Label would be better left for other times. It also makes a great moocher smoke both because of the price, but also because the strength isn't likely to disable the occasional cigar smoker. 

I've smoked more than a few of these with little or no significant age. I don't feel that in my experience they need much rest before they are ready to go. It's a great cigar to have around, while the rest of your collection is sleeping any sickness away. 

The cigar for this review came from a box I purchased from Cigarbid.com 3 months ago. It has been stored in my personal humidor at 60-65% since arrival. You can purchase these here: Cigar International