The Micallef Grande Bold Ligero is part of the Micallef Cigars Grande Bold line of cigars that were introduced in 2018. The line includes a variety of blends; Maduro, Nicaragua, Mata Fina, Sumatra, and todays review the Ligero. Not only did the company release five new blends but each one was released in multiple vitolas for a total of 22 SKUs, a bold move indeed.
As for the Micallef Grande Bold Ligero, the company describes the blend as:
- Wrapper – Ecuador (Sumatra Ligero)
- Binder – Ecuador
- Filler – Dominican Republic & Nicaragua
Note that the wrapper is uses a ligero leaf which is not common in most cigars. Usually the ligero is placed in the center of the filler due to its slow burning characteristic.
The Micallef Grande Bold Ligero is expressed in four vitolas and comes packaged in 20-count boxes:
- 552L (5 x 52)
- 554L (5 x 54)
- 660L (6 x 60)
- 758L (7 x 58)
For this review, I sampled two Micallef Grande Bold Ligero 552L robustos that I purchased from Tailored Smoke Cigar Lounge in North Carolina, for the review.
Pre-Light Examination
The Micallef Grande Bold Ligero is a beautiful cigar specimen with its oily dark brown and marbled wrapper that has practically no veins running along the barrel. It very solid to the touch and finished with a double cap.
As is the case for all cigars in the Micallef Grande Bold line, the Ligero is adorned with two bands. The primary band uses a green, gold, red, and silver motif. The Red letter “M” is centered below a knight’s silver mask all on a green background surrounded with gold. The Word Micallef is placed on top and the phrase “Grande Bold” on the bottom. The secondary band states “Ligero” in gold on a grey background signifying the blend.
Running the Micallef Grande Bold Ligero along the nose I picked up a delicate spice note along the barrel and butter and raisin notes off foot (like a toasted buttered raisin bread)
I sliced the cap straight across the shoulder and proceeded to give it some cold draw puffs that offered a nicely restricted draw and notes of sweet nut along with a growing cinnamon spice. This one of those cigars I rolled about and continued to cold puff a little more to savor the pre-light notes.
Using my double flame torch lighter, I warmed the foot to an even orange glow and drew in the first puffs of that offered a delicate dry fruit note and a light spice component. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Initial notes off first light included dry fruit and spice
- Light grey ash forms on top of a crisp thin char line
- Cedar notes join the profile
- Touch of Sumatra sweetness enters
- Pepper starts to show at the end of first third
- Ash is growing well and is quite solid
- Slight off burn in second third
- Dark chocolate notes move in to further entice the palate
- Ash fell in solid chunk revealing an off centered burn cone
- Citrus notes mix in and brighten the profile
- Touch of salted butter deep in second third
- Off burn appears again and this time requires a touchup
- Sweetness and spice takes this one to the nub
- Medium strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 30 minutes
Overall, the Micallef Grande Bold Ligero 552L was a flavorful cigar that truly highlighted the Sumatra ligero wrapper. Though the name ligero connotates visions of a strong cigar, this was was pleasantly smooth and medium in strength with pleasant flavor and aroma notes down to the nub. The cigar started with a beautifully pristine burn and solid ash near the midway it start to burn a bit wonky and required a touchup to keep it right. This is worth picking up a five pack of. I rate this a 91.
Point Deductions: (-1) Off Burn; (-1) Required Touch-up; (-1) Off Centered burn cone
