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Oliva Master Blends 3 Torpedo Cigar Review

By Jesse | October 9, 2007 |

Brand: Oliva Cigars
Line: Master Blends 3 Liga Maestra
Vitola: Torpedo 6 x 52
Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Broadleaf Sun-Grown
Binder: Nicaraguan Habano
Filler: Nicaraguan Ligero
Body: Medium-Full
Strength: Full
Box Price: $216 (Box of 20)

Description: This is the third offering of Oliva’s premium Master Blend Series. Each blend is a limited run that uses some of the choicest tobacco available. When the tobacco is gone so too, unfortunately, is that specific blend. I’m not sure exactly why I’ve passed these up on previous trips to my local tobacconist, however coming in at $10 or more a stick, I’m sure cigar budget might have been a factor. My cigar budget is limited so it would obviously make a good dent in my monthly cigar allowance.

I typically haven’t had any issues in the department of construction with Oliva’s cigars , and this one stayed in that line. The wrapper wasn’t too veiny, swhich was surprising for a broadleaf wrapper. I picked up a hint of the fermented Scotch like flavor on the prelight draw check. The draw itself was a little tight but that was easily fixed by taking a slightly deeper cut then I normally do.

The Master Blends 3 wasted no time, as immediately I was hit with a flavorful blast of coffee and pepper on the first few puffs. After an inch or two the cigar picked up more of a cocoa flavor but still keeping all that spiciness. Near the one third mark I started to have some burn issues. Throughout the rest of the cigar I had to constantly touch up one side to keep it from getting too uneven. In the final third the peppery spice became the predominate flavor with an unpleasant charcoal note added in. This may have been caused by the need to touch the cigar up so often. I finally let it go out with just over an inch to go, by this time I noticed I had a decent buzz that caught me a bit unawares.

Verdict: I really like the complexity of the flavors and I think with some more rest to take some edge off the strength it would be a better cigar. The burn issues annoyed me, but I’m going to try a few more to see if that caused the unpleasant flavors I picked up.

Similar Cigars: It has some similarities to the Padron Anniversary Maduro, but I still think the Padron is the better cigar and worth the few extra bucks.

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Topics: Cigar Reviews |