Quesada Selección España Petit Belicoso

This year Quesada Cigars continued with its limited edition Selección España program, this time with the special size being 4 1/2 x 40 Petit Belicoso. This is the third year that they’ve done this, with a slight tweak to the way that they’re released. Like last year, Quesada is selecting the retailers instead of using a lottery, but this year due to the smaller size of the cigar, the box is now a 100-count cabinet.

While the Selección España has three regular release sizes, the Petit Belicoso brings the limited releases to three and the overall count to seven.

 

• Quesada Selección España Short Robusto (4 x 50) — $7.95 (Boxes of 20, $159) — March 2011 — Regular Production
• Quesada Selección España Robusto (5 x 52) — $8.50 (Boxes of 20, $170) — March 2011 — Regular Production
• Quesada Selección España Corona (5 1/2 x 42) — $7.25 (Boxes of 20, $140) — March 2011 — Regular Production
• Quesada Selección España Lancero (7 x 38) — $8.50 (Cabinets of 50, $425) — January 2013 — 12 Cabinets of 50 Cigars (600 Total Cigars)
• Quesada Selección España Ninfa (7 x 33) — $12.95 (Cabinets of 50, $647.50) — January 2014 — 12 Cabinets of 50 Cigars (600 Total Cigars)
• Quesada Selección España JFH 25th Anniversary (4 3/4 x 38/58/44) — $7.95 (Boxes of 10, $79.50) — July 2014 — 150 Boxes of 10 Cigars (1,500 Total Cigars)
• Quesada Selección España Petit Belicoso (4 1/2 x 40) – $7.50 (Cabinets of 100, $750) – January 2015 – 12 Cabinets of 100 Cigars (1,200 Total Cigars)

• Cigar Reviewed: Quesada Selección España Petit Belicoso
• Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
• Factory: Quesada Cigars
• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Arapiraca
• Binder: Dominican Republic
• Filler: Dominican Republic & Nicaragua
• Size: 4 1/2 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 40
• Vitola: Petit Belicoso
• MSRP: $7.50 (Cabinets of 100, $750)
• Date Released: Jan. 5, 2015
• Number of Cigars Released: 12 Boxes of 100 Cigars (1,200 Total Cigars)
• Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

Even as the fattest ring gauge of the limited release Selección Españas, it’s still quite a diminutive, appealing looking cigar. Sporting a gorgeous medium brown wrapper as well, the Petit Belicoso is definitely something that would catch my eye on a store shelf. Bringing the cigar to my nose, the aroma has a barnyard scent that’s heavy on the manure and hay notes with a touch of leather. The cold draw is creamy and slightly sweet with hints of toffee and a bit of spicy kick on lips and tip of my tongue.

The first third starts with a rich nuttiness, some leather and a touch of milk chocolate. Having taken off just a little of the pyramid cap the draw is right in the middle of the ideal range. The burn is fairly even right off the bat, despite not starting with the best light on my part. An inch in and the milk chocolate and nuttiness has grown, along an earthiness that adds to the richness of the profile.

Having quickly moved into the second third, the burn continues to be nice and even while the ash is compact and held on to just before the second third started. The milk chocolate has moved into the background, while the earth, nuts and leather stay strong up front. Black pepper has shown up as well, though it’s very much a minor note. The burn has become a little ragged, though not enough to warrant a touch up.

A short 40 minutes later I’m already in the final third and the nutty note has almost turned into a specific hazelnut. The burn has gotten a bit ragged and needs a quick touch up. The pepper has ramped up a bit as well, and unfortunately a bit of bitterness joins the profile. There’s still plenty of earthy and nutty notes up front however. Before I know it the cigar is at its nub and I’m forced to be put it down.

Final Notes

• The first box of the Petit Belicosos went to Just For Him in Springfield, Mo. while the second has gone to Union Cigar Company in Monroe, N.C.
• Just For Him owners Christian and Jessica Hutson have been said to have been large influences in getting the cigar into the United States when it was originally only slated to be sold in Spain.
• Sometimes it’s difficult to balance the main band on top of the secondary band to take the final picture, but Quesada made it easy with these since the bands are glued together. I’m assuming this happened because of the lack of real estate to place them, requiring them to basically be right on top of each other.
• While the first two thirds of each sample performed mostly the same with a few variations, the final third was the same across all three samples. They all needed a few touch ups and developed a slightly bitter note in the profile.
• Quesada Cigars advertises on halfwheel.
• The cigars for this review were purchased by halfwheel.
• Final smoking time averaged just under an hour.