By Gary Korb
A Stunning and Reliable Source of Entertainment
On more than one occasion, I’ve been asked to recommend a first-rate, affordably-priced Nicaraguan puro, and one of the first cigars that often comes to mind is the Oliva Serie O Toro. Maybe that’s because I fell for this cigar over 10 years ago, and it’s never let me down.
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Size: 6″ x 50
Strength: Medium Plus – Full
Wrapper: Sun Grown Nicaraguan Habano
Filler & Binder: Nicaraguan Estelí, Condega, and Jalapa
My Experience: So, when it came to chillin’ out on this particular weekend afternoon at my local cigar lounge, I chose this reliable Oliva “go-to” to accompany my mug of coffee. As some football pregame show on the TV flickered blue light amid the dimly lit room, my cigar opened with sweet cedar and floral notes in a welcome nod to its Cuban roots. Once the ensuing game began, it didn’t hold much interest for me, so I spent most of this cigar playing Texas Hold ’em on my phone.
The Oliva Serie O Habano Toro is not a complex cigar; then, not every cigar has to be, right? But the construction is flawless and once lit, it’s impressively consistent. That consistency comes from Oliva’s perfect fermentation and aging of the tobaccos, as long as 5 years, which also accounts for its buttery smoothness. The well-balanced, medium-plus smoke is smooth and creamy right down the line offering dark tobacco flavors – mostly earthy and woody – with a ribbon of sweetness that fades in the final, full-bodied third for an enjoyably spicy and bitter-free conclusion.
Suffice it to say . . . $5m in worthless chips later (you can’t play for cash in PA…yet), I was convinced, once again, that the Oliva Serie O Toro is a winner in more ways than one. If you’re looking for a rich-tasting, full-flavored Nicaraguan treat, this cigar has it all, in spades.
If you’ve had an experience with this cigar, please leave a comment or share a similar experience.
Executive Editor
Gary Korb has been writing and editing content for CigarAdvisor.com since its debut in 2008. An avid cigar smoker for over 30 years, he has worked on the marketing side of the premium cigar business as a Sr. Copywriter, blogger, and Executive Editor of Cigar Advisor. A graduate of the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, prior to his career in the cigar business, Gary worked in the music and video industry as a marketer and a publicist.
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My favorite cigar… smooth, enjoyable and never disappoints.