The Bellas Artes Maduro: A Cigar That's Both Beautiful and Bold

As many of you may know, Forum Cigar Club, is the project I’ve been working on for the past 2 years. This is my passion and something that I’m doing just for the sake of doing it. As every project, there have been it’s ups and downs, however, I’ve decided to put the full project on pause while I' focus on different projects in my life.

However, this doesn’t mean that I’ve stopped enjoying “My time” with premiums cigars, and my wish to share my experiences of smoking great cigars. Hence I’m starting FCC (Forum Cigar Club) newsletter where I’ll be sharing what I’m smoking with everyone.

My main focus for this newsletter mirrors the same objective of the club. Create a community where we can discuss, learn, explore and most importantly; appreciate and enjoy the craftmanship, quality and tradition of the world of cigars.

Any cigar smoker will know that the context/location of where you are smoking is a great part of the whole experience. This week I find myself house sitting - first time I’ve done this - for some friends in Fulham (Chelsea) having a staycation in London.

The cigar I’m enjoying today is -in my opinion- a new world cigar classic, The Bellas Artes from AJ Fernandez in it’s lancero vitola 7x48 box pressed.

With a gorgeous and oily wrapper, this cigar is so beautiful that I almost don’t want to light it up. It’s name is spot on “Bellas Artes” it is truly a work of art. Pre-light you get a strong aroma of cacao, leather and manure on the body with some red chili spices coming from the foot.

It starts very smooth with leather and cacao being predominant in the 1st third. It then evolves merging the cacao with a delicious manure and spice which leaves a long lasting finish with it’s oily wrapper on the lips.

The draw and construction is perfect, which for a lancero, is not an easy feat. Lanceros are notoriously difficult to roll given the small gauge of the vitola, which only highlights the level of quality and craftmanship that AJ puts in his cigars.

I find this particular vitola of the “Bellas Artes” particularly dynamic, which is why it’s my favorite of this line up. As you continue to smoke the cigar its flavors keep evolving showing notes of dark fruits, vanilla and some toffee accompanying the strong chocolate and leather notes with relatively small bitterness. A perfect smoke for a hot 30°summer day in London.

For pairing I went for a nice and cold Gin & Tonic with a slice of cucumber to add some bright and fresh notes. I would recommend to pair this with something bright like a cold lager beer, champagne or even a nice paloma with tequila. I would stay away from any darker spirits like bourbon, whiskeys or rums.

But now I want to hear from you, have you had the lancero “Bellas Artes”? Have you had any of the “Bellas Artes” before? Do you like them? Have I said something completely wrong?

Let me know in the comment section below, but for now, I will say thank you so much for being here and I hope you have a great day.