First off let me tell you how I review a cigar. I look for particular things, like craftsmanship of the cigar and how it presents it self in the box and my hand. When lighting I look for an easy light with a light-medium pull. When I cut I look for an even cut and no flaking or dry leaves. It should be somewhat moist but not enough to hinder the lighting. I look for taste; it can be any taste as long as it is good, a Maduro can be (depending on your current experience) sweet and rich, a little lighter cigar say a something in a Cameroon wrapper (still dark but not a Maduro) will be lighter with a slight spice. But never, never should a cigar be harsh nor should it be prone to tunneling. Why am I telling you this, well it is a review, and unfortunately for the Oliva Serie G Cameroons, it is not good, it failed in every way.

I often try more then 1 cigar from more then 1 store, I travel for my company and it affords me the ability to buy cigars everywhere in Connecticut and Westchester County. I tried the Oliva Serie G Cameroons several times from several stores hoping that maybe I got a bad stick, but the more I tried the worse it got. The first stick I bought pre-SCHIP for $3.79, and thought ok, not a bad stick but not a great one either. It was a little harsh on the first couple of pulls, like a Camel Light from my smoking days. It did mellow out further down the stick but was mostly unremarkable, there was in fact little to no taste. The cigar to have if you were having more then one cigar I thought. To be fair I gave it another try (at $5.49), this time it was just as harsh as the first one but for a longer time, then proceeded to fall apart, literally. I could not finish the cigar. So, out I went determined to try again and was met with the same indignities time and again by the G, from tunneling (uneven burns) to a harsh cigarette like smoke, to the cigar just falling apart. I know companies can make a decent if not good cigar for fewer than 5 bucks. The Flor de Ybor city by Fuente is proof of that (even if you currently have to order it via mail) so why not the G? I couldn’t begin to guess why, but you should burn your cash else where if looking for a cheap smoke.

TYPE:
I smoked the Topedo 6.5 x 52, Rubosto 4.5 x 50, and Belicoso 5 x 52. Neither one was good.

Flavor:
Harsh, then goes to a mellow draw or none whatsoever (if you are lucky).

Price:
3.79/5.79 stick
Box 85/100

Buy:
save your cash

Time to Smoke:
anywhere from 45 minutes to 20 depending on when it disintegrated

Where would it sit in my shelf:
it wouldn’t
Cigar Aficionado had this as 2006 top 25 cigars, they also had David Caruso on their cover that month. Take both with a grain of salt.

Meh

The Oliva Connecticut Reserve. The light color stick that's full of flavor.

After my “bad date that ended with a handshake” experience with Oliva’s Seri “O”, I had some new found doubts on their lines. I was willing to write it off as the bad apple in the bunch, but in the words of Great White, those Rockers that know how to burn down the house “Once bitten, twice shy” (it’s not too soon for that joke, is it?)

This smoke had a nice even burn

But as any informed smoker knows, one experience does not a brand make! So at the recommendation of Kevin Page at Buttheads Tobacco Emporium, I decided to give their Connecticut Reserve line a go. Good thing I wasn’t my usual stubborn self! This Torro was a nice light enjoyable stick. As standard with Oliva’s, this cigar contains Cuban seed Nicaraguan long-leaf fillers tied together with a Ecuadorian grown Connecticut Leaf bow. This mild treat is full of flavor that opens up within the first inch of its burn, and that smooth smoky flavor would continue strait to the final draw. The only negative was that the leaf started to break down near the end.

Now that is the face of a man enjoying his Oliva!

Size: Torro, 6 inches with Ring gauge of 50.
Time needed: 45 minutes to enjoy this one.
Shelf Rating: 4/5 points for the Average Joe
Price: $5 to $7 a Cigar / $100.00 to $140 a box

Should you buy: Yes, it is not often that a light cigar will pack this much flavor. This can be a great addition to your everyday smokes, and a great option for someone new to the “Way of the Cigar”. I had this with a Sam Adams Cherry Wheat, and wow, they played nice together.

This went perfectly with the Cherry Wheat brew.

Things that make you say “O” (or at least try to!)

In our never ending quest to find good smokes under $6, the JoesSmoke.com stimulus package bus stops off at the Oliva “O” Maduro.

A nice looking cigar, but how did it rate?

We are talking about a medium to bold strength cigar wrapped in a Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro leaf, with 100% Habano seed Nicaraguan long fillers. Feeling saucy and to lazy to go down stairs for a whiskey, I had this with a Becks. Sometimes a nice German beer can do the trick with a dark stick. Being the first nice day here in mostly frigid Connecticut, I headed outside & gave it a light. Not the most even burn, but it did hold a strong ash. It had a moderate burn with a mild aftertaste. If you want to try something dark, with a mildly sweet ending, give it a go.

Something for the Joe’s to talk about: This Nicaraguan sun grown wrapper is aged for 5 years before it is harvested for the final product.

Size: Perfecto, 5 inches with Ring gauge of 55.
Time needed: 30 to 45 minutes to enjoy this one.
Shelf Rating: 2.5/5 points for the Average Joe (for $6 I was expecting a little more, it was not as strong as I hoped)
Price: $4 to $6 a Cigar  / $80.00 to $120 a box

From the start it did not burn as even as I would have hoped.

 

 

Should you buy: Maybe; I have had better Oliva’s for less (the Gold series is a nice $3 smoke), but this is my first walk down their “O” series Maduro line. For the price, worth a try, but I fell you get a little less stick then you should for the money, since you are paying for the shape. I may suggest trying the Robusto, or Double Torro for a similar price.