Cigar Weekly

jazznut · 10-17-2004, 10:52 AM

"Bull Ride"

Oliva “O” Olé Maduro from Nicaragua
Size: 4.75 inches by 50 ring gauge (Robusto)
Capa: Sun-grown Nicaraguan Havana seed Maduro
Capote & Tripa: Nicaraguan Havana seed

The setting of flame to a hitherto untried cigar always creates an added sense of anticipation. And Cigar Weekly’s SmokinAFuente (Rodney) very kindly provided me with just such a scenario in the case of this Oliva “O” Olé Maduro Robusto.

Maduro is an oft overused descriptive as regards wrapper leaves. But in the case of this Nicaraguan, the term was entirely appropriate, the colour of the capa exuding an exceptionally deep burnt umber hue with dark mahogany highlights. The Robusto sported a perfectly circular cross section as well as a carefully applied cap with a rounded head. It felt ultra firm in my fingertips, there being no superficial softness. The simply designed dark blue and gold fabric band made for a final touch of elegance.

Technically speaking, the Olé acquitted itself fairly well. The draw of the cigar was perfect. Unfortunately, the combustion of the wrapper and binder displayed a periodically annoying propensity to lag behind that of the tripa. Touch-ups were therefore required here and there to correct this tendency and to place the burn line of the pale to medium grey ash back on course.

The pre-light aroma, typical of many Maduros, evidenced dichotomous characteristics, in this case pitting a whiff of barn stables against a sweet scent of Frosted Flakes.

Inhaling through the unlit end exposed more homogeneous notions of furniture woods, cedar, light tobacco and spearmint.

Following firing, however, the Oliva quickly revealed its Jekyll and Hyde persona, as an incredible pungency encompassing leather simmering in minestrone, overbaked ginger cookies, seared caramel coated beef fat and rubber filled every corner of the room. This penetrating salvo of scents would not dissipate for the remainder of the evening.

Taste-wise, the Olé opened in equally resounding manner, depositing sensations of maplewood bonfires and rich, spice-infused, fertilized earth on the palate. Secondary flavours of molasses and rye bread crust tagged along for the ride while a powerfully high-toned herbal-cedar thrust flew above. A demure underlying sweetness born of Christmas spice cookies and licorice candies then began to appear.

The Robusto grew rounder and smoother toward mid point, gaining a degree of opulence to offset the bull ride edginess. But this is not to say that the cigar became any less powerful. For the Oliva’s strong, heady blend of heavily toasted tobacco persisted right through to the forceful finale.

The Oliva “O” Olé Maduro struck me, in the final analysis, as a very mouthfilling and vibrant smoke. However, I did not sense in its demeanour the intricate interplay of nuances and complexity found in the Master Blends series. The Maduro Robusto offers, nonetheless, a decent and very solid smoking experience well suited to those moments when one is searching for a dense hit of Nicaraguan flavour.

Thank you very, very much Rodney for the chance to try this Oliva.

10-17-2004, 10:52 AM	#1
jazznut Managing Editor Emeritus Herf God Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 26,082	Oliva "O" Olé Maduro Robusto "Bull Ride" Oliva “O” Olé Maduro from Nicaragua Size: 4.75 inches by 50 ring gauge (Robusto) Capa: Sun-grown Nicaraguan Havana seed Maduro Capote & Tripa: Nicaraguan Havana seed The setting of flame to a hitherto untried cigar always creates an added sense of anticipation. And Cigar Weekly’s SmokinAFuente (Rodney) very kindly provided me with just such a scenario in the case of this Oliva “O” Olé Maduro Robusto. Maduro is an oft overused descriptive as regards wrapper leaves. But in the case of this Nicaraguan, the term was entirely appropriate, the colour of the capa exuding an exceptionally deep burnt umber hue with dark mahogany highlights. The Robusto sported a perfectly circular cross section as well as a carefully applied cap with a rounded head. It felt ultra firm in my fingertips, there being no superficial softness. The simply designed dark blue and gold fabric band made for a final touch of elegance. Technically speaking, the Olé acquitted itself fairly well. The draw of the cigar was perfect. Unfortunately, the combustion of the wrapper and binder displayed a periodically annoying propensity to lag behind that of the tripa. Touch-ups were therefore required here and there to correct this tendency and to place the burn line of the pale to medium grey ash back on course. The pre-light aroma, typical of many Maduros, evidenced dichotomous characteristics, in this case pitting a whiff of barn stables against a sweet scent of Frosted Flakes. Inhaling through the unlit end exposed more homogeneous notions of furniture woods, cedar, light tobacco and spearmint. Following firing, however, the Oliva quickly revealed its Jekyll and Hyde persona, as an incredible pungency encompassing leather simmering in minestrone, overbaked ginger cookies, seared caramel coated beef fat and rubber filled every corner of the room. This penetrating salvo of scents would not dissipate for the remainder of the evening. Taste-wise, the Olé opened in equally resounding manner, depositing sensations of maplewood bonfires and rich, spice-infused, fertilized earth on the palate. Secondary flavours of molasses and rye bread crust tagged along for the ride while a powerfully high-toned herbal-cedar thrust flew above. A demure underlying sweetness born of Christmas spice cookies and licorice candies then began to appear. The Robusto grew rounder and smoother toward mid point, gaining a degree of opulence to offset the bull ride edginess. But this is not to say that the cigar became any less powerful. For the Oliva’s strong, heady blend of heavily toasted tobacco persisted right through to the forceful finale. The Oliva “O” Olé Maduro struck me, in the final analysis, as a very mouthfilling and vibrant smoke. However, I did not sense in its demeanour the intricate interplay of nuances and complexity found in the Master Blends series. The Maduro Robusto offers, nonetheless, a decent and very solid smoking experience well suited to those moments when one is searching for a dense hit of Nicaraguan flavour. Thank you very, very much Rodney for the chance to try this Oliva. __________________ My whisky adventure began at the age of nine. Good things DO take time!