back to top

Spotlight Brand: Gilberto Oliva Reserva Blanc

July 16, 2017 |

A satisfying homage to Oliva's founder.

The Oliva family has a deep history in the tobacco industry. The family started as growers in Cuba but didn’t actually start producing cigars until the 1990s when Gilberto Oliva, Jr. launched a brand of cigars bearing his name. Oliva’s newest blend pays tribute to the family patriarch with its new line of Gilberto Oliva Reserva blends. 

Gilberto Oliva Reserva Blanc is handcrafted in Nicaragua, using a golden-brown Ecuador Connecticut wrapper leaf and only the highest quality Nicaraguan long-fillers. This recipe brings about sophisticated notes of roasted nuts and cream. A beautiful addition to Oliva’s already impressive portfolio.   


Q & A: What to Enjoy on the Links

Q.
What cigars are best suited to enjoy on the golf course?

6/29/17 | by KD in Chevy Chase, MD

A.

This is a common, yet welcomed conundrum. Cigars and golf are a match made in heaven, and many of us have very distinct preferences for which premiums we take to the links. Personally, I prefer a larger cigar with a mellow to medium body that’s easy on the wallet. I reserve cigars with Connecticut wrappers for the golf course. They pair well with classic golfing beers like American lagers and crisp pilsners, plus they have just enough flavor to keep my interest and not distract me from the task at hand (because let’s be honest, I cannot afford distractions). In my experience, a larger cigar tends to stand up better to relights than smaller cigars like robustos or coronas. Oh, there will be relights. 5 Vegas Gold Churchill and La Perla Habana Black Pearl Oro are fantastic choices, and they’re affordable enough to hand out to your golf buddies or lose one in the rough.

by John

Review:

Tim Not Your Grandfather's Gispert

For those of you familiar with Gispert, you know that its original blend is on the mellow to medium side. It’s a great cigar that’s well made and has elegant notes of cream and leather, but it’s not exactly the most complex cigar you’ll ever enjoy, and while I appreciate this cigar’s accessibility, I like something with a little more oomph. Apparently others feel the same, and Gispert heard the calls for a bolder blend. The company collaborated with tobacco master AJ Fernandez, who has quite the track record for making beautifully complex, full-bodied cigars. After careful planning and meticulous sampling, AJ and Gispert released Intenso to please the masses.

Intenso’s Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper is a deep chestnut brown and has a rustic quality to it. That’s the nature of this leaf: it’s thick, leathery, and tough as nails, adding a natural spice and sweetness that no other tobacco offers. Tobaccos from Nicaragua and the Dominican comprise the filler, and when combined with the Broadleaf wrapper, it produces prominent tasting notes of oak, espresso, and leather. It’s bolder than the original for sure, and more complex, but it won’t knock you off your feet with spice and strength. I’ve partaken in a few of these, and I intend to enjoy many more. This cigar is a great collaboration from Gispert and AJ Fernandez, one which I would highly recommend trying.


Article Image
100% satisfaction guaranteed
Get the Latest Deals!
Sign Up for email