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Initial Thoughts
Hopefully, by now, you have heard of Bodega Premium Blends cigars, or the Reunion line, or at least, Emilio Cigars/House of Emilio. If not, I hope this review will turn your eyes towards their direction. You see, House of Emilio is responsible for distributing some of the top boutique brands on the market today. BPB happens to be the newest brand in their line-up.
As mentioned, BPB is run by Cigar_G, Gino Domanico, who is one of the most followed people of the cigar world on Twitter (no, I did not research that). He and three of his friends have come together to create Bodega and the Reunion line. The Reunion line is made up of two very different cigars, the Aperitivo and the Digestivo. Each serves a distinct function and is intended to be smoked at certain times and with a beverage of your choice. The Reunion line concept overall is for cigar smoking to bring people together, particularly friends or relatives.
The Aperitivo is meant to be like an appetizer (or aperitif) to stimulate or arouse the appetite. I know many people consider a cigar as something you have after dinner (in comes the Digestivo), but the idea of the Aperitivo is to get ready for dinner by smoking this cigar. Definitely an idea that I think most avid cigar smokers can get on board with without a lot of convincing.
The Aperitivo comes in the same box as the Digestivo, with 10 of each per box. There are three vitolas available: Toro, Double Robusto, and Corona Gorda. You can find more information on the brand and get a variety of other entertaining tidbits on their website http://bpbcigars.com/ .
The sample smoked for this review came from BPB Cigars. As usual, their generosity will not be a factor in how it is rated.
Looks
The Bodega Reunion Aperitivo is a very “appetizing” looking cigar. It has a natural Colorado wrapper with minimal veins and mostly smooth seams. The triple cap is flush. Inspecting the foot, it appears to be well packed.
The bands compliment the cigar very well. The main band is the largest, with red, white, purple, and silver. It has “Reunion” printed on it. The second band has Bodega in small print and Aperitivo on it. Both are snug but slide off rather easily when the burn line gets close.
Function
The Bodega Reunion Aperitivo has a rather refined look to it, but felt a tad rough. It is also a little silky too, so it balances out. There was very little give on the squeeze test and no soft spots or lumps. There was a small tear on the foot, but nothing substantial.
Is it wrong to want to smell a cigar? I hope not because I was definitely eager to do so. The foot had a sweet molasses aroma. The barrel had a faint molasses and earth combination.
I go with my trusty CRA cutter to clip the cap. When I give it a test draw, I notice it is a little tight. Even so, I am still able to get the molasses and earth I picked up on the barrel.
Smoking
I am now eager to light up this little appetizer! Since I was at a shop, I was able to use a cedar spill to do so. The Aperitivo lights up nicely and evenly. The burn stays even throughout the smoke.
Unlike the pre-light, the draw is excellent from the beginning. I am able to get lots of smoke from each puff.
The only construction issue I experienced was the ash. It was mostly gray throughout and looked to be pretty solid. However, at about the ½” mark, it fell in my lap with no warning. From there, it was pretty ugly and not very solid. Not a big deal but worth mentioning.
Flavor
Now for the main event, the flavor! Since this was supposed to be an appetizer, I was not expecting to be overwhelmed with flavor, but not underwhelmed either. Let’s see how the Bodega Reunion Apertivo tastes.
From the beginning, I am greeted by the sweetness that I got from the aroma. It is pretty close to molasses, so that’s how I will describe it. That note mixes well with earth, wood, and a mild white pepper. As this section develops, some savory and floral notes jump in the mix as well.
In the second-third, the floral notes start to take over. With it comes tangy, savory, sweet, woody, and mildly peppery notes as well. As it progresses, the wood becomes more prominent. The retrohale has a very smooth floral note to it.
As I enter the final third, all of the same notes are present, but are present at different levels than before. The sweetness starts to fade out and the floral note takes its place, almost coming across as minty on the finish. At the very end, the cigar becomes almost all wood with a little bit of nuttiness. The wood almost becomes overwhelming at this point.
The Bodega Reunion Aperitivo Corona Gorda is mild-medium (closer to med) in strength and medium-full in flavor. All the flavors were well balanced until the end, when wood took over and made it slightly less enjoyable. Smoke time was 1 hour 10 minutes.
Would I Buy It Again?
Yes. I will say it is a little on the expensive side though.
Is It An Everyday Smoke?
Since I can’t always have 2 cigars a day, I would say no. I will add it to the rotation though.
Would I Buy a Box?
Since half of the box comes with the Digestivo, I will have to smoke that first before I decide. I would get a 5 pk.
Frequently Asked Questions
How strong is the Bodega Reunion Aperitivo?
The Aperitivo is mild-to-medium in strength, though Eric notes it leans closer to medium. It’s not going to knock you over, which fits the whole “pre-dinner smoke” concept pretty well.
What are the flavor notes of the Bodega Reunion Aperitivo?
You’re looking at molasses sweetness up front, mixing with earth, wood, and mild white pepper. Floral notes take over in the middle third, and the finish goes heavy on wood with a little nuttiness — and the wood gets almost overwhelming right at the end.
Where can I buy the Bodega Reunion Aperitivo?
Eric says to check your nearest local retailer first, and if you can’t find them on shelves, they’re available online at bpbcigars.com.
How much does the Bodega Reunion Aperitivo cost?
The Aperitivo runs around $10 a stick, though Eric is pretty upfront that he thinks it smokes more like a $7-8 cigar. Worth trying, just know what you’re paying for.
What bourbon pairs well with the Bodega Reunion Aperitivo?
Eric doesn’t call out a specific bourbon pairing in this review — he mentions smoking it at a shop and focuses more on the cigar itself. That said, he does note it’s designed to be smoked with a beverage of your choice.
Where to Buy Bodega Reunion Aperitivo
Average retail: ~$10 per stick. Prices vary by retailer.
| Retailer | Price | Availability | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Famous Smoke Shop | ~$10/stick | ✅ In Stock | Shop Now → |
| Cigars International | ~$10/stick | ⚠️ Check Stock | Shop Now → |
| Amazon (samplers) | Varies | ✅ Available | Search Amazon → |
Stogies on the Rocks may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
Best Bourbon Pairings for the Bodega Reunion Aperitivo
As a full-bodied, high-strength Nicaraguan torpedo, the Cojonu 2006 demands a bourbon with presence. Here are our top three pairings based on complementary flavor profiles.
#1 — Knob Creek 9 Year
Knob Creek 9 Year’s caramel and oak backbone should complement the Aperitivo’s molasses sweetness and earthy wood notes without steamrolling the floral mid-palate.
Buy on ReserveBar → Read Our Review →#2 — Old Forester 1920
Old Forester 1920’s bold dark fruit and baking spice character plays well against the Aperitivo’s savory and mildly peppery notes in the first and second thirds.
Buy on ReserveBar → Read Our Review →#3 — Russell’s Reserve
Russell’s Reserve’s softer, rounded sweetness and gentle vanilla should keep the Aperitivo’s floral notes front and center without competing with the heavy wood finish.
Buy on ReserveBar → Read Our Review →Pairing suggestions based on the Stogies on the Rocks flavor profile scoring system. Browse all bourbon reviews →
Conclusion
Bodega Premium Blends is a company made up of people who cherish the camaraderie of smoking cigars with friends. I feel that this comes out in the Reunion Aperitivo Corona Gorda. It definitely seems like the type of cigar you would start the night out with friends with. Taking what the Aperitivo aims to be in mind, I say it is right on the mark!
Taking the Aperitivo as just a cigar to smoke when time allows, I will say that it is very good, but not quite as good as the price suggests. I would say it is a solid $7-$8 cigar, but no more. As far as this rating goes, it loses a point for that and a point for how it ended. Otherwise, it is a solid cigar that is definitely worth trying out. Hopefully, you can find them on shelves at your nearest retailer. If not, I know they are available online.
So, gather up your friends and have a little Reunion!
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