Oliva

[Lew Barrett]

I have never bought a box, but every time someone offers me one, I am mighty impressed. Yesterday a friend and I sat on my porch and enjoyed a Series G. This was a short Robusto, and quite full bodied. Research indicates it was an exceptionally reasonably priced cigar. In any case, I am resolved to obtain a box or two of these cigars. But which vitolas? It's a line of considerable depth. Gentlemen?

[Hank Koestner]

If you are going for a box, I think the Robusto is the best. If I may suggest, try the Oliva Series V Torpedo and Double Robusto first, and see if you like them better. All of Oliva cigars are priced affordably, and they are all very good.
I had a few G's, and liked them very much, but I went to the V.
Are the taxes high there, and do they increase the prices considerably? If they do let me know. Florida still has some of the lowest tobacco taxes in the country.
It might be much cheaper to buy here or online by the box. Lots of discounts out there right now.

[tym2relax]

The Oliva is a super value and my hands down favorite in the Series G is the Belicoso Maduro. It's the pick of the litter!!

[Lew Barrett]

I ordered a box of Serie V torps based on all the hoopla about them. Got them from Miamistogies.com as most of the other online sources were out of stock.
I think I'll pick up some Serie G belicosos too, as I liked the robusto I had yesterday but always prefer figurados if everything else is equal. I'm almost out of Cubans, and can't bring myself to go through the rigamarole and expense at this point; the Olivas I've had before have been really satisfying.

Cigars here are over the top expensive. Un-buyable except to try one.

[Hank Koestner]

IMO, the Series V is one that lives up to the hoopla. I think there is a figurado in the series G, and I think it was one that I tried back awhile ago.
I purchased a handful of the Robusto since that was available. Oliva is producing great cigars at a great price. I have never had one that wasen't constructed well. Take a look at Seriouscigars.com out of Texas. Great selection and prices.

[tym2relax]

I second the recommendation from Hank for Serious Cigars. They sell singles and boxes. Can't bring myself to buying in BM stores anymore.

I've yet to try the V since each time I was placing an order for other cigars, the V was consistently out of stock (singles or fivers). Ever since the CI rating came out.

Lew, when you try the V, please let us know your opinion.

[Lew Barrett]

Thank you gentlemen. I will report back. My Vs are supposed to be in stock, which is why I bought them there. We'll see!

[KINGSTON]

The V from Oliva is top notch. They just lauched a cigar called NUB (very good smoke also). Oliva is one of the few (and I mean few) companies that GROW IT, ROLL IT AND SELL IT.

Try visiting you B&M they need every ones support. The states are trying to put smoke shops out of biz. Keep your money and taxes in your community.

[tym2relax]

The V from Oliva is top notch. They just lauched a cigar called NUB (very good smoke also). Oliva is one of the few (and I mean few) companies that GROW IT, ROLL IT AND SELL IT.

Try visiting you B&M they need every ones support. The states are trying to put smoke shops out of biz. Keep your money and taxes in your community.

That's really tough to do when you see a $17 cigar in the B&M that is $8 online. I once told a clerk that if they could try to budge just a little on the MSRP, I would buy...but I hear what you are saying.

[KINGSTON]

California Cigar Smokers are in a tough situation. The shops would love to charge less but they have no control over the states OTP (OTHER TOBACCO TAX). California is one of the highest in the country. The fact is the shop pays taxes that the online dealers don't have to contend with.

Example:

Online Store buys wholesale $4 dollar stick, they keystone it @ $8 no OTP Tax

B&M Store(Cali) buys wholsale $4 dollar stick, they pay 3 dollars OTP Tax
they keystone it @ $14 dollars

sad truth. I guess try to support both. For me it's B&M.

[Lew Barrett]

I always will buy locally, on virtually everything, if I don't significantly injure myself doing so. For single sticks, I have no problem. And of course I realize that the taxes impose a penalty on owners locally. It's a tough, tight spot to be in.
On the other hand, I'm thrilled to find Oliva's cigars so much to my tastes. A number of years ago I had just about given up on domestically available smokes apart from a few pet brands. Then, those went sour too. The Olivas are among the best of the "domestics" I've smoked
and are a match for most of the current unobtainium as well. As my stock of horded beauties slowly dwindles to naught, I have been saved from the drudgery of crappy smokes by a Nicaraguan manufacturer. Oh joy! I can't wait to light up my first V.

[Lew Barrett]

My Series V Torpedoes have arrived. :D Film at eleven!

Added: And, they are well and properly presented. No individual cello wrappers! Yea!

[Lew Barrett]

Experience has taught me that smoking cigars that have just come off the plane from Miami (or Switzerland:D) is usually a mistake. For whatever reason, they almost always need to settle down for a week or two before I make a final judgement about them.

Even knowing that, I couldn't help but to break out one of my newly acquired beauties as soon as I got home especially as the sun was shining. Not being clear about what the cigar might yield, I opted for El Dorado 15, a safe bet with medium to full bodied cigars, as so many have oft suggested to me here on these pages. You hear me Hank?:D

The Serie V torpedo is delivered in a well made black cedar box and were thankfully not wrapped in individual cellophane wrappers. Those cellophane wraps are a packaging trick I loathe, but in good taste, are not employed here. Oliva's internal wrapping of the bundle is a bit arcane, requiring you to carefully undo the plastic wrap surrounding the contents. Once you've negotiated that little step, you are greeted by beautiful, consistent looking sticks, in a rich medium chocolate maduro color with a light oily sheen. There's nothing artificial about the color, unlike those "too black" maduro smokes that suggest disappointment. The wrapper was nigh onto perfect, with thin, delicate veining and just the very least hint of tooth, otherwise so delightfully silky that I took a second before clipping off the tip, which came off cleanly and evenly. I tested the draw before lighting. Perfect!

Some fire, then. Immediately copious and full bodied smoke met me. A sip of ED15 followed, a rum which seems to do no wrong with medium to full bodied cigars. However, all was not perfect. Damn! It seems the better the cigar, the more it needs to rest for a week or two after a long journey. Although I got none of the off tasting, overly floral notes that frequently accompany a cigar that has just unpacked it's bags, (nor any of that flinty "pencil lead" taste that also spells doom for my enjoyment) it was clear that this cigar would develop even greater flavor and subtlety after a week or two in the humidor. I continued to smoke and sip, noting the power of this cigar, and tasting the nutty undertones that will develop to a greater extent following a short rest. The cigar burned beautifully, yielding a long tight ash, with a completely even burn all the way through. It developed more flavor as it burned down, but didn't quite reach the sweet sublimity that I know awaits me after this box settles in. The Oliva Serie V Torpedo in maduro is a fine, powerful and complex cigar that will undoubtedly soon attain greatness in my humidor.

The ED15 was a safe and tasty match for this smoke, by the way. The cigar helped underscore the quality of the rum, muting the sweetness and complimenting the varied and layered undertones of this adaptable
bottle. A delicious experience that promises even greater pleasure in the weeks to come.

As the world boils and churns around and beneath us, with such ethereal pleasures as these becoming increasingly rare and expensive, I at least have my box of cigars and bottles of rum to console me. Ah, sweet escape! Life is fleeting; so it is nice, once in a while, to live in the present and enjoy the pleasures of the senses.

[tym2relax]

Thanks Lew for that detailed review. Please let us know how it goes after you let them rest a bit.

I have learned the hard way that carefully controlled humidity and patience are key to getting the most from cigars. I usually rest cigars two weeks to a month before I try. Along with a humidor I keep a cooler with a remote hygrometer so I don't have to open so often. Lately, most the cigars I have been getting are on the wet side. I just put 10 Gurkha Legends in the cooler and they alone increased the overall humidity level to 70 degrees (I try to maintain 65).

Back to the V. Funny that yesterday a friend of mine called to let me know the local B&M had the V's and wanted to know if I wanted to try one tomorrow. The temptation to smoke without rest will take over. Oh the joy!

[Torpnubber]

I had the opportunity to try these last summer as a pre-release, gifted to me by a very large distributor.
Without knowing anything about the blend, I found it a very nice cigar, but I never found it to be nearly as good as some make them out to be.

Obviously, I'm in the minority, because they are backordered everywhere. I've always been a big fan of Oliva and wish I still had some 10th Anniversary Sumatras and Master Blend I's sitting in my humidors. :(

[Lew Barrett]

Obviously, I'm in the minority, because they are backordered everywhere. I've always been a big fan of Oliva and wish I still had some 10th Anniversary Sumatras and Master Blend I's sitting in my humidors. :(

If they don't improve after they rest, I'll be inclined to agree with you, because at the moment they're more notable for their power than their flavor. I did get some taste of nuts; my favorite cigar flavor, and I'm hoping that will develop. I'm betting they will. I never like cigars straight from the post office.

[Lew Barrett]

Is anybody else going to post a cigar thread, or do I have to look at this for the next four weeks?

Smoked another V last night, same impression, sad to say. More power than flavor. Maybe they'll need some box time. With such a popular vitola, it's possible they may be rushing them to market a bit. I think they're promising but may need to sit in cedar.

My G maduro belicosos arrived today though. More on those later, as I really like the G robustos. Also bought some 1964 Padrons, various sizes.

[Torpnubber]

Sorry your V's aren't coming around yet. I think eventually they will, with time.

Luckily, you should have no such problem with the Padrons.
I'm actually steering away from the popular trend of super strong smokes.
I seem to be enjoying a more balanced cigar than a powerhouse

[Lew Barrett]

I haven't given up on the Vs by any means but they need some time. They'll come around. I enjoy a medium to strong cigar and always have, but they need more than strength. SD4s are a good example. Powerhouse smoke, and sometimes not what I want to smoke, sometimes exactly what I need.
I probably like the old Punch Punch as much as anything. I suppose those would be medium bodied in today's world, but Cubans tend toward strength. On the other hand, I don't enjoy "mild" cigars at all. Nothing there. I smoked a Belicoso straight from the box yesterday. Excellent recommendation, Torp. Winners straight away.

[Hank Koestner]

When the V,s first came out, I smoked one and thought it was excellent. I split a box with a friend, and I have 3 left, they have been in my humi about 6 months and they are better than I thought they would be after aging. They are a strong cigar, but mine are not as strong as your description, and there is a great core of leather and coffee. Lots of flavor. It sounds like they are pushing production due to demand. I am going to buy a single if I see them and see if I notice a difference in the current blend. I feel bad that I recommended them. I am going to go pour a glass of rum with my tail between my legs.
I think the thing about most Cuban cigars is the richness of flavor. They seem strong to some because of the depth in taste, and they are not extremely full in body. Strength does not matter to me one way or another, it is the flavor and the richness in body that makes a cigar delicious. I think that since Americans are smoking stronger cigars now, we are being bombarded with strong cigars that are losing complexity.

[Lew Barrett]

Oh, I have to save you, but not from the rum, Hank! I decided to order them before our conversation, and would have done so anyway. They are so highly recommended everywhere, that even trusting your excellent taste as I do, I would have ordered them had you given them the thumbs down.

I think they will be excellent with just a month or two of rest. As I said, construction and presentation are top notch, and they're not bad cigars by any means, just not as complex and "tonal" as I'd expected from all the hoopla, of which your voice was but one. I haven't given up on them. I've gotten boxes of Habanos that were unsmokable and disappointing but later opened up to be just fine. These are far from that. They will get smoked and enjoyed. May I inquire what you're smoking and drinking tonight, and what else you might recommend to a smoker who enjoys a nutty, sweet smoke in the old fashioned tradition?:D Oh, and do have a drink on me! But not on my account!;)

[tym2relax]

I have some V double robusto's on the way and some Illusione cg4's. Has anyone here tried any of the Illusione's?

Lew, I am glad you liked the G Belicoso Maduro. It is really a good cigar to have on hand and cheap enough to hand out to others.

I had another Padron 64 a week or so ago and still was not overly impressed. I have a couple more that will sit even longer, but so far these don't do it for me. Perhaps a larger vitola would be different, I don't know.

Lately, my favorite cigar of late has been the 601 Blue. Full cigar with deep, deep flavors. And, very consistent. This I think is one of the best, yet overlooked, blends by Pepin.

And about 'powerhouse' cigars. For me it's all about flavor. If it happens to be strong too, then I sloooow down the smoking. We are not in a hurry, right?

[Torpnubber]

I just picked up a box of CG4's last month.

The corona gordo size is probably my current favorite, and after trying a fiver of these, I decided to pick up a cab.
Dion has done a really nice job with these, I just hope he can keep these as consistent as they have been.
With such a small production and with a change of factories, it can be quite difficult.

[Lew Barrett]

The G Belicosos were good straight out of the box. Easily a day to day smoke at a realistic price.
I'm stunned at how expensive some of the Nicaraguan smokes have become.
And others as well. The market for South American luxury cigars has taken a strange turn.
Twenty or more bucks a stick (much more for the most touted) is hard to justify for legal imports, but many are priced there all over the web. A friend brought over some Trinadads last night (the real deal); corona gordas. These are a mid-rated Habano. I believe he said he landed the box for about $250. We went online and surfed around a bit. One supplier has a free freight program, and Punch Punches, one of my favorites, are available around the same price, landed. Discounting the cost of
any consequences, (not without risk, after all) the implication to me is obvious.
I think the high end producers are engaged in a bit of gouging. I suppose it's all a matter of what the market will bear.

The Trinidads, by the way, were delightful, even if they don't get the highest marks in the Ratings Game. The Serie G represents a very nice alternative to such craziness viewed in this light.

[tym2relax]

I just picked up a box of CG4's last month.

The corona gordo size is probably my current favorite, and after trying a fiver of these, I decided to pick up a cab.
Dion has done a really nice job with these, I just hope he can keep these as consistent as they have been.
With such a small production and with a change of factories, it can be quite difficult.


Good to hear Torp. I remember awhile back after his smokes first hit the market and his dealers quickly ran out of stock. I contacted Dion about the delay in restocking and he said that he got a sampling from the rolling tables and was not impressed, so he had them do it again. Happily, he is a very picky guy and wants to maintain consistency. Time will tell though if popularity continues.

[Hank Koestner]

I was able to catch some Cg4's when they first came out, have about ten left. I like them alot, good rich taste and fairly priced. I understand the latest batch is just as good. I also like the 2 size also, a belicoso I believe.
I have smoked 2 V DR's, the first one I liked and the second I did not. So I am trying to decide wether to try them again. The second was very strong with much earth and not much depth. The first one I smoked was not as strong, and had good flavor variations.
I like a number of Don Pepin's blends, and the 601 Blue is a favorite, as is the 601 Habano Oscuro.

[Don Piero]

I wonder where the Terminator :D is buying his cigars.

[tym2relax]

I like a number of Don Pepin's blends, and the 601 Blue is a favorite, as is the 601 Habano Oscuro.


Hank, since you also like the Blue, which rum do you prefer to drink with it?

[Hank Koestner]

I like ED 12 with the Blue, also La Favorite Rhum Vieux, and Mount Gay XO.

[Lew Barrett]

Speak to me about the 601s Hank. I have renewed enthusiasm for the cigars we CAN buy based on my recent Nicaraguan purchases. Liking the high end Padrons a great deal. A 1964 with ED12 last night was delightful. I could easily have enjoyed ED15 with it as well, as it wants a very full bodied and sweet rum to stand up to it's flavors.

[Hank Koestner]

First Lew, which size Padron 64 was it? I am currently purchasing and tasting the different sizes both the natural and maduro, to find out which I like.
I really love some of the 1926 sizes, but these are too expensive to smoke with any frequency.
Don Pepin Garcia blends and makes the 601 blends for United Tobacco under EO brands. Instead of me writing a book, go to Seriouscigars.com and look up 601. My favs are the Habano(red label) robusto and toro, the Maduro(blue label) torpedo, and the Habano Oscuro(black and green label) robusto tronco and perfecto la punta. They are all pretty full in body with good rich taste, and fairly priced.
There is also a Conneticut (black label) that is mild to medium in body, the only blend I do not care for.
Check some of the prices on the website. Thier Padrons are some of the cheapest I have seen.

[tym2relax]

If you are looking for a great deal on the 601 check out

www.atlanticcigar.com

[Lew Barrett]

I ordered a mix of 7 cigars, in both maduro and natural (all of the smaller sizes), but the Principes (I bought three maduros) are all I've smoked so far. So, to state the obvious, even the petite coronas in this line are delicious. I have in reserve the following, a maduro and a natural Monarca (lonsdale sized) and 2 Anniversary coronas in maduro.
I was so impressed that I now also have on the way (from Serious) a selection of about a dozen different sizes including 3 vitolas of the 1926. They should arrive today, and cover the Torpedo, Pyramide, Exclusivo and some more coronas. In the 1926 I bought a #9, a#35, and, if I recall, a 40th Anniversary all in maduro. So, I'm working my way through the sizes. But I will say up front that the small sizes of the 1964 line seem to be terrific, and that's one way to buy them, get the benefits of a good smoke and not shell out $15 or 20 a a stick every time. I'll find the vitolas I like and settle in on them, I guess.

This follows my observation that, for example, a Cohiba Siglo 1 can be as much fun to smoke as a corona or corona gorda of a less expensive brand. I've always been a fan of medium sized cigars.