Agile Cigar Review: Crux Bull & Bear Double Corona

Agile Cigar Reviews are cigar assessments where we use a lightweight, shorter format. These will never take the place of our comprehensive reviews. They are only used on blends we have previously assessed. This might be a blend we are re-scoring or giving a score for the first time. It might be a blend we are looking at in a different size. Today we look at the Crux Bull & Bear in the Double Corona size. This is a cigar previously assessed multiple times most recently in the Ninfamaniac size back in December 2017.

Wrapper: Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Plasencia S.A.
Double Corona: 7 x 54

The Crux Bull & Bear was one of the earliest regular productions lines released by Crux Cigars. Keeping with the tradition of the name, this line is skewed toward some of Crux’s larger ring gauge offerings (although there was a Ninfa size released as a store exclusive in 2016). In 2021, Crux added a 7 x 54 Double Corona size into the line. This is actually the first Double Corona size that Crux has put anywhere in its portfolio. Today we take a closer look at the Crux Bull & Bear Double Corona.

Blend-wise, the Crux Bull & Bear Double Corona consists of a Habano wrapper over all Nicaraguan tobaccos for the binder and filler. The cigars come from the Plasencia factory, which produces most of the blends in the Crux portfolio, including the Bull & Bear. The cigars come in 20-count boxes, which include two 5-count soft boxes, and 10 loose cigars. The boxes of the Double Corona reflect the packaging re-design Crux underwent in 2019.

The Crux Bull & Bear Double Corona opened up with notes of cedar, wood, earth, and mixed pepper. As the cigar moved through the early phases, the cedar note moved to the forefront. This cedar note developed a savoriness, and the savoriness increases throughout the first half of the cigar. The second half saw the earth notes increase, eventually displacing the cedar and savory notes. There was also an increase in pepper toward the last third.

In terms of strength and body, the Crux Bull & Bear Double Corona started out medium, and progressed to medium to full in the second half. This cigar did have a meandering burn from time to time requiring frequent touch-ups. The draw was also a little more open than I prefer.

OVERALL ASSESSMENT

Final Thoughts

One thing that has impressed me about the Bull & Bear line is how versatile this blend is. It performs well in everything from a Ninfa size to a 60 ring size. The Double Corona is a nice offering and I do love how the Double Corona delivers some very nice savory notes during the first half of this cigar experience. At the same time, I still would say I enjoy the Toro, Gordo Marblehead, and Robusto Extra sizes better. Still, if you are looking for a Double Corona, this will satisfy. It’s a cigar I would recommend to a more experienced cigar enthusiast, but certainly would not discourage a novice. As for myself, the Crux Bull & Bear Double Corona is a cigar I would buy and smoke again.

Summary

Key Flavors: Cedar, Savory Notes, Wood, Earth, Mixed Pepper
Burn: Very Good
Draw: Very Good
Complexity: Medium
Strength: Medium (1st Half), Medium to Full (2nd Half)
Body: Medium (1st Half), Medium to Full (2nd Half)
Finish: Very Good