SEPTEMBER 18, 2022 - PHIL KURUT, COMEDY - CIGARS - MUSIC
OLIVA SMALL BATCH MADURO DOUBLE ROBUSTO BOX PRESSED (5 x 54)
WRAPPER: MEXICAN SAN ANDRÉS
BINDER: NICARAGUA
FILLER: NICARAGUA
Marshamallow fails to completely conceal itself behind earth and spice. That’s not a complaint. Citrus squeezes through the retrohale, leaving a bit of its spice partner to linger on the nose hairs. Spice and a very faint earth/coffee combo rest on the finish with spice dominating but not overwhelming.
The draw is smooth but not too easy, and an abundant smoke output works steadily to fill the room while the foot smoke fills in the gaps with wood, leather, and spice.
Spice now fades as chocolate and prune begin to mingle, leaving earth and cherry to pick up the end. Chocolate runs off with cherry through the nostrils, and the finish brings on an excellent smoothness. Mild coffee, chocolate, and cream hang out there, all in equal measure. Nice.
Everything begins to meld together but also allows for individual room in a brief spotlight. Wood, chocolate, earth, cherry, and coffee each get a brief monologue. If they were unstable, it might be a soliloquy. Maybe that’s just what I’m doing here in my shed by myself. Whatever.
I seem to bring up stage performance often during my reviews. Oddly enough, I never liked stage acting. Even in some of the better plays I’ve seen, it never seems like acting. It always strikes me as people just reciting lines in a very cheesy manner. Movies are better. Anyway.
Coffee and earth blow quietly through the nose, and coffee sits heavy on the finish but allows for drops of dark chocolate and cream.
For some reason Willam Shatner’s version of “Rocket Man” enters my mind. A bit random, and better than any play I’ve seen. Mercifully shorter as well.
Coffee, dark chocolate, and prune welcome back the slightest bits of marshmallow here in the last leg. Never did track, but I was a big Usain Bolt fan. Who wasn’t?
The retrohale still summons coffee, and milk chocolate drips off the end of the stirring spoon and drops it prior to the finish. All coffee there. Creamy too. Groovy.
Excellent construction.
While I won’t name drop another brand in this review, this cigar reminds me of a more expensive brand I dig. The Oliva Small Batch Maduro happens to be a bit prettier and just as toothy and tasty but at a fraction of the price. I might be switching up and saving some dough. I’ll probably risk losing the little bit of street cred I have. Oh well.
SMOKE TIME: 1 hr. 33 mins.
RATING: 3.25 / 4 - Better than stage acting.