Bandolero Serie A “Aventureros” Sagaces
Posted on March 12 2021
Vitola: 5⅞x46 | Smoking Time: 68 min | Cigars Smoked: 3 | Body: Medium+ | MSRP: $12
Wrapper: Ecuadorian | Binder/Filler: Undisclosed + Peruvian
Bandolero is the baby brother of Atabey and Byron, all from Nelson Alfonso. Coming out of Costa Rica, expect expert construction and a pleasurable experience. The Aventureros line was recently re-blended.
Visual Inspection: Beautiful smooth wrapper that looks like a chocolate bar. Visibly oily with a clean double band. Foot: coffee, raisin, leather. Cold draw: raisin, dates, and brown sugar — unusually sweet.
First Third: Raisin leads, followed by brown sugar, Brazilian nuts, baker’s chocolate, nutmeg, and hints of a peaty whiskey. Impeccable draw with exceptional smoke production. Retrohale brings brown sugar and familiar whiskey notes.
Second Third: Flavors largely similar, complimented by wood notes that pair beautifully with the whiskey hints. Raisin comes and goes. Oak and more prevalent pepper close out the third. Sweet aroma from the lit foot throughout.
Final Third: Getting progressively creamier. Whiskey and raisin fade, giving way to cherry wood, dark chocolate, Brazilian nuts, pepper, and a creamy half-and-half mouthfeel. Brown sugar returns at the end, met by milk chocolate, pepper, and a subtle floral note. Final retrohale: pepper and cream.
Final Thoughts: Starting as an absolute fruit-bomb, turning into sweet, woody, peaty, and wrapping up as a pepper and cream-bomb. Very similar to a Byron 21st Century. For $12 you cannot beat this — a cigar all walks of life can enjoy.
-Sam
Frequently asked questions
What is the relationship between Bandolero, Atabey, and Byron?
All three brands come from Nelson Alfonso and Selected Tobacco. Bandolero is the most accessible of the three in both price and strength — Atabey and Byron push into ultra-premium territory with more complex, undisclosed blends.
What does the Bandolero Sagaces taste like?
The reviewer describes a dramatic evolution — it opens as a "fruit-bomb" before transitioning through sweet wood and finishing with earthy, peaty notes. For a medium-plus cigar, it delivers exceptional complexity across its 68-minute burn.
Is $12 a fair price for the Bandolero Sagaces?
Yes — given the pedigree (Nelson Alfonso), the complexity of the blend, and the 68-minute burn time, $12 is very reasonable for what amounts to a boutique, ultra-premium adjacent cigar.