While I never got the chance to smoke a Bold, I couldn't disagree more with the other reviews on this cigar. The Special S an exceptional cigar. Complex, spicy and flavorful. Like all Oliva cigars, the draw and burn are perfect. This is absolutely one of my favorite cigars.

A very strange move to abandon the Bold, which was a very good and full bodied cigar, and go to this. Oliva raised the price and made a lighter blend. Now this new blend is not bad, but not worth the asking price. OH nad BRING BACK THE BOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love Oliva products and their "Bold" was one of my favorites, but these do not measure up, especially for the price! They are relatively soft and under-filled. The pre-light aroma is very "ordinary." The wrapper is nice (they look great!) and there is lots of white, plush smoke but not nearly the flavor or "richness" I was expecting. They don't last long for a Churchill-size cigar and the flavor is one-dimensional and never seems to unfold. I've smoked about a dozen from three different sources (Famous, a couple from a local shop and from a friend who traded me half a box because "These aren't my favorite, that's for sure."), and I won't be buying more. For the price there are much better buys out there. Oliva, you've let me down! :-(