Bella Vanilla

The Bella Vanilla turned out to be a surprisingly enjoyable departure from my usual cigar rotation. Every now and then, it’s nice to step away from the traditional profiles of earth, leather, cedar, and pepper and enjoy something a little different.

From the first light, the cigar delivered a mellow, mild flavor centered around natural vanilla bean sweetness. The flavor was present without being overpowering or artificial, complementing the tobacco rather than completely masking it. The smoke itself was smooth and easygoing, producing a wonderfully pleasant aroma that made the experience just as enjoyable for those nearby as it was for the smoker.

Construction on my first experience was excellent. The cigar burned evenly, drew well, and remained consistent throughout the smoke. It was the kind of relaxing, flavorful cigar that serves as a nice change of pace when you’re looking for something a little sweeter and more aromatic than your everyday smoke.

However, a second experience with the Bella Vanilla on December 18, 2010, proved quite different.

That particular cigar became unusually brittle while smoking. The wrapper began flaking off in places, and portions of the filler seemed to erode as the cigar burned. Needless to say, it made for a somewhat frustrating experience. What made it even stranger was that I immediately checked my humidor afterward and found everything else in excellent condition. Humidity and temperature were consistent, and no other cigars showed similar issues.

Sometimes a cigar simply has construction problems that occur during rolling, storage, or shipping long before it ever reaches the humidor. That seems the most likely explanation here, because the issue appeared isolated to this particular stick.

Even with the odd second experience, my overall impression of the Bella Vanilla remains positive. When properly constructed, it offers a smooth, aromatic, vanilla-infused smoke that provides a welcome change from traditional cigar profiles.

And as for that brittle second cigar? Well… sometimes cigars are just weird.