Bandolero Premium Prelight
Selected Tobacco launched in 2012 with the Bandolero, Atabey, and Byron brands. Nelson Alfonso founded Selected Tobacco after his tenure at Habanos. Nelson Alfonso famously designed the branding for one of the most recognizable cigars of all time, the Cohiba Behike. Bandolero is known as the slightly more affordable sister brand to Atabey and Byron. The Bandolero cigars benefit from the same exotic aging process that Atabey and Byron endure. The aging process involves raising and lowering the humidity in rooms lined with cedar from Cuba, Spain, Lebanon, Brazil, and Mexico. This process allows the tobacco to absorb flavors and aromas from the cedar environment.
The Bandolero Premium launched in 2025 as a new line under the Bandolero banner. The Premium line is aged for a minimum of 3 years in Madrid, Spain, after being rolled in Tabacos de Costa Rica. The blend showcases an Ecuadorian Habano 2000 Wrapper, a Nicaraguan binder, and filler leaves that include Nicaraguan Ligero and Peruvian tobacco. The Bandolero Premium is available in three vitolas – 4 1/2 x 50 “Ironicos” Petit Robusto, 5 1/4 x 52 “Bravos” Robusto Extra, and the 6 x 55 “Magnificos” Toro Gordo.
The wrapper is a very light brown with green undertones and a light oily sheen. The aromas are of rich cedar and earth. The draw is tight, with notes of earth and more cedar. The draw isn’t tight enough to require any intervention, but I’m hoping it opens up once it’s lit.
Bandolero Premium First Third
The profile opens up sweet and nutty with medium smoke output. The notes on the palate are toasted wheat, marshmallow, and rich cedar. The retrohale shows sweet, creamy coffee, almonds, and a tingle of white pepper. The profile here is extremely sweet, with a clear almond latte flavor on the retrohale. The strength of flavor is medium. The finish is soft with notes of sweet, creamy coffee. The ash and burn have been perfect, and the draw has opened up, becoming only slightly snug.
Bandolero Premium Second Third
The palate flavors are saltine crackers, cedar, earth, and fresh herbs. The notes on the retrohale are sweet, creamy coffee, almonds, and a tingle of white pepper. The sweetness has mellowed, and the profile’s additions of salt and herbs have added balance to the flavors. The smoke output remains at medium. The strength of flavor remains at medium. The finish has grown to medium with notes of coffee and saltine crackers. The ash, burn, and construction have been perfect.
Bandolero Premium Final Third
The palate shows cedar, dried herbs, saltine crackers, and a hint of earth. The flavors on the retrohale are sweet, creamy coffee, almonds, and some mineral notes. The smoke output remains at medium. The strength of flavor has increased to medium-plus. The finish is medium with notes of almond and coffee. The burn line got a little wavy but self-corrected. The ash was fantastic. Past the band, the flavors continued to lean into the almonds, herbs, and minerals. I put this one down with just under an inch left.
Bandolero Premium Conclusions
The Bandolero Premium opened up as sweet as I’ve known tobacco to be. The profile then slowly introduced more salty and earthy flavors, finding an excellent balance in the second third and final thirds. The construction, as I’ve come to expect with Nelson Alfonso’s selected tobacco, was impeccable. Naming a cigar ‘Premium’ all but guarantees some sticker shock, but the Irónicos are the most palatable at $25, with the larger vitolas priced at up to $40. Given the flavors, construction quality, and the 5-year age statement, I’d gladly revisit the Bandolero Premium in the Irónicos. I’m also very curious to try the rest of the vitolas in the line. I’m thrilled to see more releases under the Bandolero banner, and if the team at Selected continues to produce cigars like this, I’m sure I won’t be the only one.
