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Cigar Reviews This room is for organized blind reviews, individual reviews by CW Members and reviews entered into the database that the Editors feel are particularly well done. |
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10-24-2004, 11:53 AM | #1 |
Club Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 2,895
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Oliva "O" Ole Natural (original-blend, red band)
I bought a box of these about a year and a half ago in response to the rave reviews heard around here. I must admit that at first I was rather underwhelmed with these, but as of late they seemed to have blossomed splendidly. Right now, I'm enjoying one whilst I watch the KC Chiefs trounce the Atlanta Falcons in the privacy of my garage.
Presentation: Packaged in a very nice red and black striped lacquered wooden box lined in red velvet. Appearance: A parchment-textured dark brown wrapper with medium veins sporting a classy red cloth band. The cigar is firm to the squeeze and has a very subtle sweet scent. Draw and smoke: An average draw with average smoke volume; not much to write about -- nothing surprising here. Burn: A relatively even burn with no coning, canoeing, or other troubles. A medium-density "salt-and-pepper" medium-grey ash held to about 3/4". Taste: Oaky and woody with notes of black cherry and some underlying sweet honey notes. Medium-bodied and medium strength; very nice. Overall: As noted, these seem to have developed well with 18+ months of additional aging. What was originally perceived as a rather lackluster and somewhat harsh cigar has now become one of my top 5 domestics. Sadly, this blend has been replaced with the new Oliva "Bold", so once I'm finished with these they're history.
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"A cigar is a banana for the monkey of the soul." --Tom Robbins |