Bodega designed the Reunion Digestivo as an after-dinner smoke meant to be the capstone to a long evening of smoking lighter cigars (such as the Bodega Reunion Aperitivo), drinking heavily, and eating heartily, AKA my favorite pursuits.

I’ve smoked this cigar before but haven’t put my thoughts on paper until now–lucky you! You get to see inside my head (without having to remove part of my skull). Please don’t remove part of my skull.

Without rambling any more, here’s my review of the Bodega Reunion Digestivo Toro.

Bodega Reunion Digestivo Background

Size: 6″ x 52 ring gauge
Style: Toro
Blend:
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan

Let’s see… this blend will have pepper, of that I am certain. The Nicaraguan binder and filler should come together to produce some serious spice and strength while the Mexican San Andres will help to balance out the profile with some sweetness (as is characteristic of maduros), some fruit/floral notes, and possibly some earthy or woodsy flavors.

I’m partial to anything that packs a punch, so Nicaraguan and Maduro based cigars can move right to the front of the line! I’m especially excited to smoke this bad boy again (as I’ve liked the Digestivos that I’ve had in the past).

Initial Observations

Appearance: Smooth, beautiful construction. Flawless.
Aroma: Sweet tobacco.

Pairing, Cutting, and Lighting

Drink Pairing: Black coffee
Lighter: Xikar single-flame butane
Cutter: Xikar guillotine

Cutting and Cold Draw

No issues with the cut–no unraveling or other ugliness. Cold draw produced cedar and a sweet mustiness like an old west general store. Nostalgic.

The First Third

The initial puff is black pepper followed by a continuing pepper presence on the tip of my tongue and a regal white oak finish (oddly specific, but regular oak seemed too heavy–no, I haven’t licked a white oak, but I’m not averse to trying).

Pairing nicely with the black coffee so far–brings out a nutty, oily undertone to the smoke.

The ash is beautiful–thick, white, and dotted with little white balls (not to be mistaken with the tiny white balls one might find on a mouse or a hedgehog).

The Second Third

Loving the pepper. Love love love. A bite is a blessing in a cigar. None of that frou-frou “it’s smooth and creamy and inoffensive” bull going on here. This is rich, dark tobacco and most certainly not a Virginia Slim.

RAISINS! Delicious, sugary, fruity raisins! Maybe even a hint of peach skin? Eat a peach or smoke a peach, either way, someone will be happy. But man, oh man is the dried fruit presence strong in this cigar (especially when the burn heats up). Really quite pronounced and tasty.

The Final Third

Spicy raisin notes coming through as the burn heats up. Quite enjoyable. Some woodsy notes as well, though I am fixated on the dried fruit. The smoke output is rivaling a Liga at this point.

The oak is a continuing presence, and every so often I’m dancing back to the nutty notes, but the ever-present pepper spice tends to overwhelm any of the subtler nuances (implying that nuances can be un-subtle which I’m pretty sure defeats the purpose of using the word “nuance”).

The Last Inch

A bit harsh towards the end, but no pain no gain–I love the accentuated pep of the pepper.

Final Impressions and Rating

This cigar was meant to be an after-dinner smoke, and I can see why. The spice and fruit notes pair beautifully with coffee (and, I would assume, a rich Imperial Stout or Porter). Really works well as a strong culmination to the evening.

But truly, the dried fruit notes are what blew me away. This cigar is seriously worth trying if only to experience the joy of a well-blended cigar.

Rating (Seek out and buy again, Smoke if I happen to find one, Avoid at all costs): SEEK OUT AND BUY AGAIN

Another solid smoke from Bodega. Highly recommended.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Cheers!