Saint Luis Rey Bellicoso Review

[smokin5]

My first experience with this, & a very enjoyable one at that!
Here's the 'plug' from Famous Smokes:

"With its rich-tasting Nicaraguan wrapper & binder, plus a complex blend of filler tobaccos from Honduras, Nicaragua and Peru, the Saint Luis Rey Belicoso is a medium to full-bodied cigar that rated at an 'outsanding' *90* by Cigar Aficionado. It even made their 'Top 25 of 2006.' A must-try!"

6 1/8 x 52 ring, dark natural wrapper.

Prelight didn't hint at much. Basic tobacco flavor.
Nice brown wrapper with no blemish, very firm.

On lighting, it starts off VERY earthy, rich soil mixed with a lot of pepper.
About 1" in, the pepper subsides a little. The smoke is creamier and a little sweet with a touch of oak & citrus. Nice deep coffee emerges. Like espresso with brown sugar & pepper. It reminds me of a TTT Trinidad, but not as sweet or oaky. Good salt & pepper ash.
I wouldn't call this a "full" smoke, but more of a fuller side of medium.
In the 2d 1/3, the earthiness returns, joined by oak & that great coffee flavor.
As I get into the last 1/3, the sweetnesss slowly fades, almost unnoticeably until I realize it's no longer there. Now it tastes like the bottom of a good strong cup of coffee; a little bitter but not overly so. Almost anise-like. I continue until there's an inch left, when I put it down.

Overall, a very good cigar, especially for the price. Famous sells these for $68/box of 25. The Rothchilds (5x54) are only $53. Mike's Cigars has an e-mail only special on these (Rothchilds $45, Toros $49.50), but the info is on the office computer & I'm home.
I'll post it on the Retailer site tomorrow. After I order a box or 2!

[Sisyphus]

Thanks for the great review! I've never smoked a Saint Luis Rey anything. Looks like they're also available in a maduro. Will have to give these a try!

-Ken