Oliva Master Blends 3
Rest time unknown
Soft flame
This was a gift from a BOTL that wishes to remain anonymous. So, I am going to honor his wishes. Unfortunately that means I have no idea how long it was aged before I got around to it.
This stick was a little hard to get going. One part of the foot did not want to light. A little patience got everything evened out. The cigar started out with a nice medium spice, leather, cream and sweetness. Delivery was smoother than a porn star after a wax job. I was very pleased with the experience and found myself smiling.
Look at that char line. It is about as close to razor sharp as you can ask for. The profile is carrying on with very little change. The spice is taking on a unique flavor. It isn't black, white, or red pepper. It coats the tongue and leaves a pleasant sting behind. The retrohale gives off a cedary sweetness without the wood. It reminds me of the sweet smell of a well seasoned humidor before the sticks go in.
For some reason Google isn't updating with all of my auto backup files. So, I'll try to do my best without the visual aids.
About one inch in the flavor profile pickups up some earth and a flavor like dried fruit pops in. The fruit is popping in and out about every other puffs and only comes around about three times. It is a pleasant surprise and I miss it when it goes away. It adds a nice high note that adds a great balance to the darker flavor tone. The leather tastes like I licked my wallet. In other words well aged and smooth as a baby's bottom. The spice is still there and the cream keeps marching on like a soldier in formation.
As the first third comes to a close I get a slick coffee taste that reminds me dark black beans freshly roasted. The flavor only lasts for a few puffs and then slides back to tango with the earth. They work together to add a bit of complexity to the blend and then they both step out. A puff or two later and we're back to leather, spice, cream, and sweetness is way back there playing hide and seek. It seems a bit scared of garnering too much attention.
Coco jumps in for a couple of puffs. Then it teams with the sweetness and cream to become a cup of hot chocolate. The leather fades back and earth strolls through with a wave. Exit stage left. The spice rolls out for a little while. I guess it had something better to do than entertain me. I'm getting an earthy undertone and then it transitions back to leather.
The stick develops an identity crisis as the end of the second third approaches.
Earth, Sweetness, Cream, Chocolate
Leather, Spice, Tobacco, Cream
Earth, Sweetness, Cream, Chocolate
Leather, Spice, Tobacco, Cream
Leather, Earth, Spice, Coffee, Cream, Sweetness
Fuck me! They're all here and I can't tell them apart.
Then the last third starts. The flavor transitions to well aged tobacco, leather, earth, and a big dollop of cream. The cream starts to fade out and spice comes back. We end up with a world class example of well aged dark tobacco, leather, spice, and cream. The well aged tobacco takes over and every other flavor wants a chance to peak it's head through. Each puff brings something different as the body and nicotine slam into the full end of the spectrum. Then with a little over an inch left the tobacco, spice, and leather take over. I think they're experiencing a roid rage or something. The cream is struggling to stay relevant and keep things balanced.
I stand up and I'm having balance issues. The nicotine is actually making it hard for my vision to focus. Everything has nice soft edges. It starts to become too much as I hit the one inch mark. The spice is coming in hard and the tobacco is pissed off at something. It is dominating the profile. The cream gives up the ghost and I get a dying gasp from the sweetness.
With about three-quarters of an inch left I yell "NO MAS!" I'm rocking on my feet and the cigar is coming in for the knockout. The nub is getting hot and the flavors are smearing. So, into the ash bucket it goes.
This was a great stick. I really needed it after last night. This is the type of stick that will reaffirm your belief in cigars. If you have a bad smoking experience give you palate time to recover and grab one of these. I recommend you start with a five pack and smoke one at thirty, ninety, and 180 days. Then, if you are digging it buy a box. You'll have two left to get you through rough patches while the box ages. It is a win all around.
Rest time unknown
Soft flame
This was a gift from a BOTL that wishes to remain anonymous. So, I am going to honor his wishes. Unfortunately that means I have no idea how long it was aged before I got around to it.
This stick was a little hard to get going. One part of the foot did not want to light. A little patience got everything evened out. The cigar started out with a nice medium spice, leather, cream and sweetness. Delivery was smoother than a porn star after a wax job. I was very pleased with the experience and found myself smiling.
Look at that char line. It is about as close to razor sharp as you can ask for. The profile is carrying on with very little change. The spice is taking on a unique flavor. It isn't black, white, or red pepper. It coats the tongue and leaves a pleasant sting behind. The retrohale gives off a cedary sweetness without the wood. It reminds me of the sweet smell of a well seasoned humidor before the sticks go in.
For some reason Google isn't updating with all of my auto backup files. So, I'll try to do my best without the visual aids.
About one inch in the flavor profile pickups up some earth and a flavor like dried fruit pops in. The fruit is popping in and out about every other puffs and only comes around about three times. It is a pleasant surprise and I miss it when it goes away. It adds a nice high note that adds a great balance to the darker flavor tone. The leather tastes like I licked my wallet. In other words well aged and smooth as a baby's bottom. The spice is still there and the cream keeps marching on like a soldier in formation.
As the first third comes to a close I get a slick coffee taste that reminds me dark black beans freshly roasted. The flavor only lasts for a few puffs and then slides back to tango with the earth. They work together to add a bit of complexity to the blend and then they both step out. A puff or two later and we're back to leather, spice, cream, and sweetness is way back there playing hide and seek. It seems a bit scared of garnering too much attention.
Coco jumps in for a couple of puffs. Then it teams with the sweetness and cream to become a cup of hot chocolate. The leather fades back and earth strolls through with a wave. Exit stage left. The spice rolls out for a little while. I guess it had something better to do than entertain me. I'm getting an earthy undertone and then it transitions back to leather.
The stick develops an identity crisis as the end of the second third approaches.
Earth, Sweetness, Cream, Chocolate
Leather, Spice, Tobacco, Cream
Earth, Sweetness, Cream, Chocolate
Leather, Spice, Tobacco, Cream
Leather, Earth, Spice, Coffee, Cream, Sweetness
Fuck me! They're all here and I can't tell them apart.
Then the last third starts. The flavor transitions to well aged tobacco, leather, earth, and a big dollop of cream. The cream starts to fade out and spice comes back. We end up with a world class example of well aged dark tobacco, leather, spice, and cream. The well aged tobacco takes over and every other flavor wants a chance to peak it's head through. Each puff brings something different as the body and nicotine slam into the full end of the spectrum. Then with a little over an inch left the tobacco, spice, and leather take over. I think they're experiencing a roid rage or something. The cream is struggling to stay relevant and keep things balanced.
I stand up and I'm having balance issues. The nicotine is actually making it hard for my vision to focus. Everything has nice soft edges. It starts to become too much as I hit the one inch mark. The spice is coming in hard and the tobacco is pissed off at something. It is dominating the profile. The cream gives up the ghost and I get a dying gasp from the sweetness.
With about three-quarters of an inch left I yell "NO MAS!" I'm rocking on my feet and the cigar is coming in for the knockout. The nub is getting hot and the flavors are smearing. So, into the ash bucket it goes.
This was a great stick. I really needed it after last night. This is the type of stick that will reaffirm your belief in cigars. If you have a bad smoking experience give you palate time to recover and grab one of these. I recommend you start with a five pack and smoke one at thirty, ninety, and 180 days. Then, if you are digging it buy a box. You'll have two left to get you through rough patches while the box ages. It is a win all around.
.