Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the Oliva Connecticut Reserve Robusto is medium tan and has some raised, knotty veins present. The seams are slightly raised while the caps are well applied. There is a patch on the wrapper that crosses a seam which is interesting. The band is white, gold and brown with the company name on front and the word Connecticut on each of the sides. The aroma from the wrapper is a mix of hay and light earth while the foot brings musty hay and musty cedar. The pre-light draw brings cedar and a light honey sweetness along with a mild spiciness on my lips.

First Third

The cigar begins with an interesting combination of young wood and toasted cedar along with a mid-level black pepper. At a half inch in, the young wood note has departed. The retrohale is toasted cedar with light amounts of black pepper and cream. At an inch in, a faint creaminess makes it to the mouth draws. As the third comes to a close, the profile is toasted cedar up front with black pepper a bit behind and mild creaminess in the background. The strength was mild-medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, a light, dry earth joins the profile. At a half inch in, some baking spice joins and mixes with the black pepper for an interesting combination. At three quarters of an inch in, the toast level picks up a bit. The retrohale is now toasted cedar and dry earth with light black pepper. At an inch and a quarter, the creaminess has left. As the third comes to a close, the profile is toasted cedar up front with dry earth not far behind and the pepper/baking spice mix a bit further behind. The strength in this third bumped up to slightly below medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins the baking spice leaves the black pepper while a faint creaminess rejoins. The retrohale now has the toasted cedar and dry earth even with mild black pepper. At three quarters of an inch in, a light vegetal bitterness joins the profile. As the cigar wraps up, the toasted cedar remains ahead of the dry earth with some black pepper a bit behind and some light vegetal bitterness in the background as the creaminess was no longer present. The strength remained at slightly below medium.

Burn

The burn line was perfectly straight throughout and the ash held on in inch and a quarter increments.

Draw

The draw was perfect, with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.

Overall

The cigar began with an interesting combination of young wood and toasted cedar along with a mid-level black pepper. The young wood departed a bit later and a light creaminess joined in. The second third saw some dry earth join in and the creaminess depart. The final third saw the creaminess rejoin for a bit and then depart as a light vegetal bitterness joined in. Construction was immaculate. The Oliva Connecticut Reserve Robusto started well, with a nice combination of flavors, but fell off a bit in the second third as the dry earth joined in and the creaminess departed. It maintained the average profile the rest of the way. This is a nice, milder offering from Oliva. The price point is attractive and is something a wide range of smokers could enjoy. While I don’t think it’s something I’d smoke on its own all that frequently, I could see it being a pretty darn good pairing with coffee in the morning and could see it really shining in that combination.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.10

Cost/Point

$1.23

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Oliva Connecticut Reserve Robusto