CRQuarto
Brrraaaiiinnnsss.....
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2009
- Messages
- 1,850
Oliva Master Blends #1
Size: 6 1/2" x 52 rg Torpedo
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Strength: Mild - Medium
The way I came to posses this cigar is funny in the sense that it started with an Master Blends #3 that was gifted to me by Stoggie13 when I went to herf with him and Souldog in August. The #3 was a robusto, and it was an exceptionally flavorful and powerful cigar that was a true delight to smoke. I smoked it the same day as the herf, and since then have enjoyed a few more over at my second home, Bo's, which always has them in stock. When engaging Bo in a conversation about the wonderful cigar that the #3 is, he asked if I had had the chance to try the #1 or the #2. I stated I hadn't, and he told me that as he had a couple boxes of both, he would bring me one of each to try. True to his word, earlier this week he handed me this cigar and told me to make sure that before I smoked it, that I was not only in the mood for it, but to set aside ample time to enjoy it. He told me that I would need a few hours, as the cigar was a slow burning piece of heaven. I'm glad I listened.
I knew absolutely nothing about this cigar prior to tonight when I smoked it, as after I was finished I decided to do a little information hunting. Probably the best bit of info I could find was located on SmokingStogie.com, which had a brief history of the cigar prior to the review. From what I've found, the cigar was of a very limited release, and was rolled using tobaccos that were of an optimal quality and flavor profile, but consisted of crops far too small to use for a regular release. So, in true hard to find and limited fashion, the tobaccos were used to create the first of the Master Blends series, the number one, which yielded a total production of 15,000 boxes. The first Master Blends also featured something that is extremely unique, as well as something I have never seen nor heard of, which is a laser engraved tattoo like symbol below the band. These cigars were released in 2003, so on top of the three years they had been aged prior to the release, the particular cigar I had in hand had an additional six years of aging on it making for a total of nine years. Hot damn.
Pre-Light
The first thing that struck me of course was the tattoo, which is easily one of the most beautiful things I have seen in the cigar world thus far. I can't say what the design reminds me of, but it is very elegant and I found myself simply staring at it in amazement for a good ten minutes. On showing it to a few other people, it was the topic of conversation for at least an hour. Honestly, I almost didn't want to smoke it for fear of destroying two pieces of art: the superbly constructed cigar, and the tattoo. The construction was absolutely top notch, with a smooth, tightly wrapped wrapper devoid of defects or large veins, and was finished with a perfect torpedo tip as well as a very tightly bunched foot. The cigar was hefty in the hand, and had very little give when squeezed, feeling so solid I was immediately horrified at the thought it was certainly plugged. Fortunately for me, this fear was for naught as once the head was cut, the draw was absolutely spot on, and carried with it a faint taste of sweet tobacco. On smelling the wrapper and foot, I caught the faint whiffs of the same sweet tobacco, only in aroma form.
Burn & Draw
This area was the only one with a negative in it, in that the burn was a bit odd at times through the duration of the smoke. I did have to correct every so often, at which point the burn would level out for a while, then it would begin to wander a bit and require a gentle nudge to get it back on track. Aside from that, the draw was perfect from start to finish, never once changing and maintaining a good enough resistance to keep me sipping the smoke, yet always generating billowing clouds of sweet smoke. The burn revealed a soft, light gray ash with nice banding in it, that held strong until let go every inch. Not once did the cigar become hot, it stayed wonderfully cold throughout.
Flavor Profile
I had no idea of the age on this cigar prior to smoking it, though I could tell it did have a few years on it. From what I have read after smoking it, these were a powerhouse when first released and had a nice strong peppery blast to them, however mine had none of the power or pepper spice to it. The flavors were complex and soft, culminated by a clean finish that was absolutely wonderful. Throughout the duration of the smoke, I was picking up flavors of vanilla, leather, nutmeg, fresh baked bread and pumpkin. The smoke was so buttery smooth and flavorful that my mouth was watering profusely. I could have eaten this thing. I say that the cigar was flavorful, but it was subtle as well, which I can only guess is a direct result of the aging.
Overall Impression
This cigar is the second this week that blew me away. I am very saddened at the fact that these are very, very difficult to procure, and that I did not ever have the chance to buy a box of these, as they had come and gone by the time I started smoking cigars. This cigar is to me a perfect example of what a well aged cigar can do, despite having not had it when it was first released. I could just simply sense how the flavors had melded together to perfection, complimenting each other to perfection. I loved this cigar down to the nub, and like all other amazing smokes, I was sad to see it end, but certainly pleased I had the opportunity to enjoy it. Everything about it aside from the burn was what a great cigar should be, and I hope I can snag at least one more, if not a box by some stroke of extremely good fortune. I hope the #2 sets the bar again.
*Apologies for the lack of more pictures, my exposure settings on my Nikon was out of whack and I failed to notice. I was too dang excited to smoke the thing to worry too much about photos....
Size: 6 1/2" x 52 rg Torpedo
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Strength: Mild - Medium
The way I came to posses this cigar is funny in the sense that it started with an Master Blends #3 that was gifted to me by Stoggie13 when I went to herf with him and Souldog in August. The #3 was a robusto, and it was an exceptionally flavorful and powerful cigar that was a true delight to smoke. I smoked it the same day as the herf, and since then have enjoyed a few more over at my second home, Bo's, which always has them in stock. When engaging Bo in a conversation about the wonderful cigar that the #3 is, he asked if I had had the chance to try the #1 or the #2. I stated I hadn't, and he told me that as he had a couple boxes of both, he would bring me one of each to try. True to his word, earlier this week he handed me this cigar and told me to make sure that before I smoked it, that I was not only in the mood for it, but to set aside ample time to enjoy it. He told me that I would need a few hours, as the cigar was a slow burning piece of heaven. I'm glad I listened.
I knew absolutely nothing about this cigar prior to tonight when I smoked it, as after I was finished I decided to do a little information hunting. Probably the best bit of info I could find was located on SmokingStogie.com, which had a brief history of the cigar prior to the review. From what I've found, the cigar was of a very limited release, and was rolled using tobaccos that were of an optimal quality and flavor profile, but consisted of crops far too small to use for a regular release. So, in true hard to find and limited fashion, the tobaccos were used to create the first of the Master Blends series, the number one, which yielded a total production of 15,000 boxes. The first Master Blends also featured something that is extremely unique, as well as something I have never seen nor heard of, which is a laser engraved tattoo like symbol below the band. These cigars were released in 2003, so on top of the three years they had been aged prior to the release, the particular cigar I had in hand had an additional six years of aging on it making for a total of nine years. Hot damn.
Pre-Light
The first thing that struck me of course was the tattoo, which is easily one of the most beautiful things I have seen in the cigar world thus far. I can't say what the design reminds me of, but it is very elegant and I found myself simply staring at it in amazement for a good ten minutes. On showing it to a few other people, it was the topic of conversation for at least an hour. Honestly, I almost didn't want to smoke it for fear of destroying two pieces of art: the superbly constructed cigar, and the tattoo. The construction was absolutely top notch, with a smooth, tightly wrapped wrapper devoid of defects or large veins, and was finished with a perfect torpedo tip as well as a very tightly bunched foot. The cigar was hefty in the hand, and had very little give when squeezed, feeling so solid I was immediately horrified at the thought it was certainly plugged. Fortunately for me, this fear was for naught as once the head was cut, the draw was absolutely spot on, and carried with it a faint taste of sweet tobacco. On smelling the wrapper and foot, I caught the faint whiffs of the same sweet tobacco, only in aroma form.
Burn & Draw
This area was the only one with a negative in it, in that the burn was a bit odd at times through the duration of the smoke. I did have to correct every so often, at which point the burn would level out for a while, then it would begin to wander a bit and require a gentle nudge to get it back on track. Aside from that, the draw was perfect from start to finish, never once changing and maintaining a good enough resistance to keep me sipping the smoke, yet always generating billowing clouds of sweet smoke. The burn revealed a soft, light gray ash with nice banding in it, that held strong until let go every inch. Not once did the cigar become hot, it stayed wonderfully cold throughout.
Flavor Profile
I had no idea of the age on this cigar prior to smoking it, though I could tell it did have a few years on it. From what I have read after smoking it, these were a powerhouse when first released and had a nice strong peppery blast to them, however mine had none of the power or pepper spice to it. The flavors were complex and soft, culminated by a clean finish that was absolutely wonderful. Throughout the duration of the smoke, I was picking up flavors of vanilla, leather, nutmeg, fresh baked bread and pumpkin. The smoke was so buttery smooth and flavorful that my mouth was watering profusely. I could have eaten this thing. I say that the cigar was flavorful, but it was subtle as well, which I can only guess is a direct result of the aging.
Overall Impression
This cigar is the second this week that blew me away. I am very saddened at the fact that these are very, very difficult to procure, and that I did not ever have the chance to buy a box of these, as they had come and gone by the time I started smoking cigars. This cigar is to me a perfect example of what a well aged cigar can do, despite having not had it when it was first released. I could just simply sense how the flavors had melded together to perfection, complimenting each other to perfection. I loved this cigar down to the nub, and like all other amazing smokes, I was sad to see it end, but certainly pleased I had the opportunity to enjoy it. Everything about it aside from the burn was what a great cigar should be, and I hope I can snag at least one more, if not a box by some stroke of extremely good fortune. I hope the #2 sets the bar again.
*Apologies for the lack of more pictures, my exposure settings on my Nikon was out of whack and I failed to notice. I was too dang excited to smoke the thing to worry too much about photos....
