Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the Oliva Serie O Maduro Robusto is a matte milk chocolate with a network of slightly raised veins and fine tooth. The seams are smooth and the caps decently applied. The band is the traditional design for the series and denotes the company and which serie. The aroma from the wrapper is a lightly musty mixture of wood and earth while the foot brings musty cedar and light earth. The pre-light draw brings airy cedar and light floral notes.

First Third

The cigar begins with a slightly stale toasted cedar and earth. At a half inch in, the staleness transitions to a carboard type note. The retrohale is toasted cedar, earth and light cardboard. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar is a bit ahead of the earth, and a very mild baking spice has now replaced the carboard note in the background. The strength was slightly below medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, light creaminess and cocoa powder join the profile. At a half inch in, the earth, cocoa powder and baking spice are all mixed together. The retrohale is an even mix of toasted cedar, earth, baking spice and cocoa powder. At an inch and a quarter in, the creaminess has departed and the overall profile is a bit dry. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar is just ahead of the earth, cocoa powder and baking spice. The strength bumped up to medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the toasted cedar and earth are now even while the cocoa powder has departed. The retrohale is toasted cedar, earth and baking spice. At three quarters of an inch in, the toast level and the baking spice both pick up a bit. As the cigar wraps up, the toasted cedar and earth are even up front with the baking spice right behind. The strength remained at medium.

Burn

The burn was straight throughout, but the cigar went out unexpectedly in the final third, requiring a re-light. The ash held on through each third.

Draw

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

Overall

The cigar began with a slightly stale toasted cedar and earth. The staleness transitioned to cardboard a bit later and then was replaced by baking spice. The second third saw some creaminess and cocoa powder join in and the creaminess later departed. The final third saw the cocoa powder drop out. The Oliva Serie O Maduro Robusto didn’t start all that great with some staleness and carboard, but things came together in the second third with a nice combination of flavors, but then waned in the final half of the cigar. Not a bad offering, but not all that exciting either. This is a step above the Natural offering in the line, but I’m not sure I’d see myself coming back to it with any frequency.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.00

Cost/Point

$1.37

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Oliva Serie O Maduro Robusto