The Best Belicoso Cigars

Now that we’ve taken a good look at some of the top torpedo cigars, I’d like to shift focus over to the torpedo’s curvier-headed cousin: the Belicoso.

Similar to the torpedo, belicoso cigars are rolled with a taper at the head. The taper on a belicoso, however, is shorter and rounder than the pointy torpedo tip. This special shape creates a greater concentration of smoke as it passes through the cigar’s head, though to a much more subtle degree than the torpedo. Smoke pulled through a belicoso roll tends to be cooler and less intense.

Largely popularized by the Cuban Bolivar brand in the 1950s, the belicoso continues to be a worthwhile style that can truly bring out the best in a cigar blend, as evidenced by these 5 awesome examples of this old-school cigar shape:

1. Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Belicoso

Long-known for its high-quality Cameroon wrapper and classic, nutty, and zesty tasting profile, the Arturo Fuente Don Carlos blend shines brightly through the Belicoso vitola. Offering an ideal wrapper-to-filler ratio, the Don Carlos Belicoso serves up smooth and refined deliciousness with a grin-inducing chocolaty aroma.

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2. Illusione #2 Belicoso

A Nicaraguan puro loaded with grade-A vintage corojo and criollo leaves, the original Illusione blend stands as a testament to the raw power of rich Nicaraguan tobaccos. Its palate-pleasing tones of earth, leather, oak, and sweetness are perhaps best expressed via the strong, smooth push of the #2 Belicoso size.

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3. Liga Privada T52 Belicoso

Showcasing an oily stalk-cut Cuban-seed Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper over a Brazilian binder and choice filler tobaccos from Honduras and Nicaragua, the much-heralded Liga Privada T52 is a juicy beast of a smoke in any shape, and the Belicoso version is particularly robust in deep flavors. Light it up and let the bold cedar, pepper, and leather hit you directly in the taste buds.

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4. Upmann Vintage Cameroon Belicoso

A throwback to the original Cameroon-wrapped H. Upmann stogies of old, the H. Upmann Vintage Cameroon features a balanced mix of Dominican, Nicaraguan and Peruvian tobaccos wrapped up in a top-notch African Cameroon leaf. This blend smokes like it was made specifically for the Belicoso vitola, delivering rustic richness and a woody-sweet taste that will transport your senses right back to 1950’s Havana.

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5. CAO Mx2 Belicoso

Doubling down on the darkness, the Mx2 sports not one, but two unique maduro wrappers on top of its stout mix of fillers from Honduras, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and Peru. With an oily Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper covered by an even stronger Brazilian top-leaf, this compelling CAO creation is a full-flavored force to be reckoned with in its bold Belicoso form.

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Now you have absolutely no excuse to not roll some great belicoso cigars into your current stogie selection. Do so using the links provided in this article and you’ll likely get the biggest bang for your belicoso bucks.