Cigar Review: Gilberto Oliva Reserva Blanc

Basic Information:

Name – Gilberto Oliva Reserva Blanc

Manufacturer – Oliva Cigar

Size – Robosto

Wrapper – Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade

Tobacco Blend – Ecuador and Nicaragua

Pricing – $6.00

Body – Mild

Construction/Appearance:

The wrapper is maroon, white and gold and fairly simple. It is the exact flip color schematic as the Gilberto Oliva Reserva. The cigar is a walnut leather tan in color. There are some obvious veins and some visible seams. The cigar is finished with a nice double cap.

Pre-Light:

Aroma – Cedar and a smoky barnyard type aroma.

Type of Cut – Straight

Cold Draw – Charred oak, smoke and a lemon acidic note.

After Toast:

First Third

This cigar begins with nutty flavors. Some cream sits in the background mixed with vanilla as well. Once these flavors begin to blend a nice caramel like note comes forth and makes this stick like a Werther’s Original. The cigar is mild at this point. The burn pristine.

Second Third

The caramel begins to subside to a wood like note to begin this third. There is a cedar tang to it but also an oak weight on the mid to back of the palate. Really interesting experience at this point. At the mid-point of the cigar, the creamy nutty notes come forth again. Burn just gets a tad wavy at this point. This third the stick became medium in body.

Final Third

A really nice spicy cedar note comes into play right at the beginning of the final third. Cream moves to the finish and lingers long after the smoke is gone. True medium bodied smoke experience through the finish.

Suggested Pairing:

Bourbon – Bulliet

Wine – Infamous Goose Sauvignon Blanc or Chandon Blanc de Noirs

Overall Experience:

The Gilberto Oliva Reserva Blanc was a great medium bodied experience with a great flavor profile. Perfect for a morning cigar with a coffee or espresso. This reminded me of some of the Cuban cigars I’ve had in the past as well as one of my personal favorites a CAO Gold. Definitely try this if you see it at your local shop!