Oliva Connecticut

Reserve Cigars

The cigars come dressed in a silky Connecticut wrapper that offers extremely creamy flavor, which complements a core of Cuban-seed Nicaraguan binder and long-filler tobacco.

Aged to perfection, each puff coats the palate with rich tasting notes of wood, coffee, leather, and hints of sweet spice. Complex and savory, the Reserve doesn’t use the term “mellow” as an excuse to skimp on flavor.

The most recent review of this cigar from the prestigious, industry-defining publication Cigar Aficionado scored this stick a 92. Scoring a 90-plus from Cigar Aficionado is no small feat, with the magazine applying some of the toughest standards toward each and every stick. Cigar Snob, another one of the industry’s most difficult reviewers, gave this a resounding 91, noting that the cigar “consistently draws and burns exceptionally well.”

At this price point, Oliva cigars does an excellent job of not only capturing the premium customer but inviting in someone who may be new to cigar smoking with a combination of mellow-medium bodied strength and the flavorful notes that also include a kind of breakfast cereal sweetness, along with rich vanilla bean and cinnamon.

Of course, this should not be a surprise for anyone familiar with the Oliva brand, which has been crafting fine cigars since Melanio Oliva took in his initial tobacco harvest back in 1886 while in Cuba. Despite taking a pause to fight in the Cuban war of independence, Oliva returned and passed down the family’s expertise and attention to detail through the generations. During the Cuban revolution, the family spent time exploring; a cigar journey that led the Olivas from Honduras and Panama to Mexico and the Philippines. One of the early cigar settlers in Nicaragua, Oliva remains today, according to its website, the second-largest grower of Cuban-seed tobacco in the region.

Oliva went on to produce one hit after another from Nicaragua, which culminated in 2014 with the production of Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado, which won Cigar Aficionado’s Cigar of the Year award back in 2014. A beautiful cigar, the Serie V Melanio represented the family’s victory over so many difficulties upon leaving Cuba.

Gilberto Oliva Jr. said in an interview about the family: “It’s definitely fair to say that tobacco is in my blood. I couldn’t imagine wanting to do anything else. Growing tobacco, much like making the actual cigars, is an art form all its own. You have to consider everything from climate to soil and even weather patterns to make the right choices but also equally important, make those choices at the right times. I am always experimenting with different methods and different seeds. The agricultural side of the business is always evolving so each day brings new ideas and new challenges.”

The Oliva Serie V remains one of the top selling cigars in the industry and is a standard for many who view the company as a cut above when it comes to the utilization of Nicaraguan Cuban-seed tobacco.

The Oliva Connecticut Reserve Toro is going to pair excellently with a handful of alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages. A strong espresso for the morning coffee enthusiast balances out the sweetness of this cigar and also jibes with the legendary Oliva Cuban-seed Nicaraguan filler. A cognac, a pale ale in the vein of a classic Sierra Nevada or something from the Dale’s Pale Ale brand is ideal for beer drinkers, while wine connoisseurs could consider this an ideal summer smoke as it blends nicely with a rich and buttery Chardonnay.

No matter your size preference, the Oliva Connecticut Reserve Toro, Robusto, Churchill and Torpedo, are all great options for both day and night. Order your favorite size from JR Cigar today, and enjoy those rich, signature Oliva flavors without the added strength. Along the way, enjoy the best possible pricing the industry has to offer. Here at JR, we not only strive to offer incredible value but also provide a unique and curated experience to increase the knowledge of our well-informed customer base. There is no greater pleasure than pairing the right customer with the right cigar. For more information, check out our Oliva Connecticut Reserve cigars review on the Blending Room.