The history of the Oliva family’s roots in the cigar world date back to 1886 with a rich respect for the Cuban seed tobaccos. As with many of the tobacco producers, the climate of Cuban politics forced the productions and families to uproot and search for places to plant their roots outside of the tumultuous country. With fertile soil offering safe harbor in Nicaragua, the Oliva brand has grown into the second largest producer of Cuban-seed tobacco in the world.
What’s Inside?
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut - Binder: Nicaraguan
- Filler: Nicaraguan
Construction:
Wrapped tightly in an expertly crafted Ecuadorian Connecticut the attention to detail highlights an unrelenting ideology of finesse and style. While staying true their roots and not compromising quality for a brash, bold image, the Oliva Connecticut Reserve lets the smoke do the talking. With the Nicaraguan Binder and Filler mingling together and playing oh-so nicely together, the two create a harmonious set of layered flavors that because of the aging process and construction create a early flawless smoking experience.
“Connecticut Reserve is blended from Nicaraguan long fillers and binder. Finished with only the finest Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, this medium-bodied cigar shows rich flavors as a smooth, silky smoke.”
Draw:
Easy, Breezy, Beautiful is not just a slogan for stunningly gorgeous hair anymore. While the start of the Oliva held back a bit with a pull to the draw, as the cigar opened up, the flavors were allowed to shine through the Ecuadorian Connecticut and let the flavor profile of the Nicaraguan tobaccos step into the spot light. With a beautiful silvery-grey ash, and a loosening draw, the craftsmen at Oliva were able to produce a truly divine smoke.
Burn:
From the very start of the Connecticut Reserve it showed the potential for an outstanding burn. The wrapper never creased, coned, or showed signs of breakage. As the burn worked its way down the wrapper, every new layer of ash was a testament to quality and craftsmanship that runs through the entire Oliva line.
Aroma:
Prelit :
- Marzipan
- Milk Cholocate
- Esspresso
Lit:
- Roasted Almonds
- Rich Earth
- Creamy Coffee
Flavor:
“This mellow cigar is not short on flavor with subtle notes of wood, coffee and cream.”
Hints of toasted almonds mix with a nuanced sweetness that starts with the first puff and finishes with the the last. Smoking this cigar all the way down just to where make-shift tools were needed to hold on safely was a perfect way of showing how all of the aging, construction, and details came together to create a top tier smoking moment without having to spend an arm and a leg to enjoy it. The roasted coffee notes hang with marzipan nuances and invite a bit of rich spiced leather to hang out with the rest of the flavor gang.
Value:
Whether you’re celebrating a wedding, going on a fishing trip, or simply looking for that perfect afternoon smoke, the Oliva Connecticut Reserve does not disappoint. At just under $4.00 a cigar, yes you read that correctly, this is so much more than just a value smoke. Oliva has grown into a brand where their everyday smokes showcase the same quality that their high-end offerings do. Quite simply; for the price, abundance of layered flavors, and the consistency of construction, the Oliva Connecticut Reserve will not back down and will not be beat.
- Construction
- Burn
- Flavor
- Slightly tight draw
This cigar in the Toro format certainly feels long in my hands, given my general preference for Robusto sized cigars. The burn is decent, requiring the occasional minor touch-ups to keep the burn even, and stayed lit when I had to put it down for restroom breaks. The salt-and-pepper ash stays planted to the cigar anywhere from 1-to-2 inches before breaking off. One thing I’ve found is that the wrapper leaf is extremely thin and can easily tear or rip if you’re not gentle with it, so take care when removing the cigar band.
If you haven’t tried an Oliva, definitely try one! If you’re looking for a cigar that has a lots of flavor but not over-powering, try the Connecticut Reserve and even if you’re accustomed to stronger bodied cigars, try one of these anyways as you might find it compliments your taste.