Oliva Serie 'O'

Considered the finest maduro on the market, the Oliva Serie ’O’ Maduro is extra fermented before encasing a complex mix of medium bodied Nicaraguan fillers.

The Oliva Serie ’O’ Maduro is a prime example why Oliva is one of the most success and famous growers of tobacco in Nicaragua. With generations of experience all over the world, the family has learned the agricultural subtleties of growing unique leaf that is distinctly "Oliva". Hailed by aficionados all over the world as the best maduro leaf ever grown, the Oliva ’O’ Maduro will not disappoint.

The aging and extended fermentation process associated with maduro tobacco makes these cigars unavailable for extended periods of time. In fact, the Oliva Serie ’O’ Maduro has been so elusive to some Oliva fans that they stock up when boxes of their favorite size become available. The wrapper is slightly sweet with a caramel finish on the palate. The aroma is earthy with a medium body. For many the Oliva Serie ’O’ Maduro is truly the only great maduro.

Tabacos Baez

Baez is a small town in the Villa Clara province of Cuba where in 1950 our hero José “Don Pepín” Garcia was born, presumably with chaveta in hand. (The first infant ever to cut his own umbilical cord!) Tabacos Baez, a newish blend from Tabacalera Cubana, is named for that town.

This is a stout and well packed cigar that scored perfectly in terms of appearance and roll. The wrapper is a smooth and oily golden brown and the triple cap is a work of art. A gorgeous stick.

The draw is good, but a couple cracks in the wrapper resulted in thin smoke volume at times. The cracks were small and near the foot, so I burned through them in short order. The burn was a little erratic at first, threatening to tunnel (which it did not) and it required a couple of corrections. After the first third these problems unnaccountably disappeared and the stick behaved perfectly.

Tasting Notes

The first half-inch of the Baez Monarca is hallmark Pepin — an aggressive peppery bite, accompanied by a slightly greenish tasting tannin. The wrapper contributes a smooth buttery element — at this point it’s reminiscent of the 601 Connect, also blended by Pepín. But soon the bite subsides and the flavor slides into mild cocoa. The aroma becomes more pronounced, somewhat floral and slightly caramel-like, almost like a mild corojo.

The middle section is quite mild in flavor while remaining a little tannic. The smoke texture is medium in body, mild in strength, and short on action. There are lightly spiced woody flavors here.

The last section returns with the black pepper that kicked things off, though not as intense and less tannic, and a dry finish that begs for a liquid refreshment.