Pre-light Experience

The square pressed Oliva Serie G Robusto has a wrapper that is a marbled light brown that has some lightly raised veins present. The seams are lifting in some areas while the caps are well applied. The band is cream, gold, white and brown and denotes the company and line name. The aroma from the wrapper is lightly toasted cedar while the foot brings cedar and stone fruit sweetness. The pre-light draw brings a lightly musty, sweet cedar with a bit of anise.

First Third

The cigar begins with an aged cedar note that carries light amounts of sweetness, mustiness and bitterness. The retrohale is lightly toasted cedar and mushroom mustiness. At a half inch in, a light earthiness joins the profile. At an inch in, a light chocolate note becomes present. As the third comes to a close, the profile is aged, musty, sweet and bitter cedar with light amounts of earth and chocolate. The strength is slightly below medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the flavor profile becomes a bit fuller. The retrohale retains the lightly toasted cedar but now with a lighter mushroom mustiness. At a half inch in, the chocolate is barely holding on in the background. At three quarters of an inch in, a light creaminess joins the profile which smooths out the bitterness. At an inch in, the chocolate has departed. As the third comes to a close, the toast on the cedar has increased a bit and maintains light mustiness and sweetness while light earth and creaminess are in the background. The strength has bumped up to medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, a light bitterness returns. At a half inch in, both the toast level and bitterness pick up a bit. The retrohale is toasted cedar and mustiness without the mushroom note. As the cigar wraps up, the profile is toasted, musty, sweet cedar with bitterness a bit behind and cream and earth in the background. The strength remained at medium.

Burn

The burn was a bit wavy at times, but never needed any attention. The ash held on in almost two inch increments.

Draw

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

Overall

The cigar began with an aged cedar note that carried light amounts of sweetness, mustiness and bitterness. Some earth and chocolate joined a bit later. The second third saw the chocolate and bitterness depart. The final third saw the bitterness rejoin. The Oliva Serie G Robusto provided a nice, classic flavor profile and walked that fine line with the bitterness through the first two thirds on the positive side. As the bitterness reemerged and built up in the final third, it dropped the enjoyment level down a bit. The price point on the cigar is fantastic and with the flavor profile delivered, it’s a no brainer to come back to and recommend. One of the long standing lines that’s stood the test of time.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.72

Cost/Point

$0.93

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Oliva Serie G Robusto