This past weekend the cigar industry lost another legend with the passing of Gilberto Oliva Sr. Like many great cigar makers, Gilberto Oliva was born in Cuba. In 1964 he settled in Nicaragua after he left the island nation when Fidel Castro began seizing tobacco fields and companies. In 1995, the company created their fist cigar available for sale in the USA named Gilberto Oliva. In time the cigar name was shortened to just Oliva but in 2017 the company which is now owned by J. Cortes re-released the cigar that started it all for the family.
Today we light up the Gilberto Oliva Reserva Blanc in the memory of this legend and share our thoughts.
Cigar: Gilberto Oliva Reserva Blanc
Wrapper: Ecuador Connecticut
Binder: Ecuador
Filler: Nicaragua
Length: 6
Ring Gauge: 50
Size: Toro
The Look: While the blend has changed from the cigar that was released in 1995, the wrapper remains the same on this Reserva Blanc. It’s a cigar that is packaged in a traditional cigar box. Visually the wrapper won’t win any awards as the nearly blond wrapper has some significant veins and color variations. The foot of the cigar is overly spongy but it appears to be well packed and rolled.
The Notes: Once the cap is clipped on the Gilberto Oliva Reserva Blanc there is a subtle molasses component, but its overpowered by grass and earth. The foot of the cigar sees some of that earthiness along with an abundance of cedar. Once the cigar is toasted and lit, there is a creaminess that envelopes the palate along with some cedar notes. Moving into the first third of the cigar, the cedar is dominant but there is also a definitive pecan as well. The retrohale adds some toasty components of freshly baked bread.
Moving on to the second third of the Gilberto Oliva Reserva Blanch a subtle caramel note begins to develop as the pecans fade away. The dominant notes of the cigar remain cedar and earth, but there is a toasty finish, especially when you retrohale as it still reminds me of freshly baked bread. The cigar is smooth, and the finish is short to moderate in length.
The final third sees things continue status quo, there is some sweetness that reminds me of caramel and the pecan note returns although its very much in the distance. The cedar and earth remain the focal point of the stick that continues to have some fresh baked bread and for the first time a touch of pepper on the retrohale.
The Finish: When Oliva sold their brand to J. Cortez in 2016, they held on to their tobacco farms. For Oliva it has always been about the tobacco. From the original cloth banded Bold that was packed in a box that was reminiscent of a toilet seat, to the O, G, V, Melanio and Connecticut lines Oliva was always about the tobacco. And while this cigar won’t win an award for appearances, its tobacco quality speaks volumes about the patriarch of the Oliva family. Thankfully the tradition will continue in the tobacco and his mark will be on the cigar industry for a long time to come.
Price: $6.79 / $118.80
Today’s cigar was smoked in memoriam, thus no score will be given. We will review this cigar in the near future when it is part of an upcoming Cigar Authority show.
Gilberto Oliva Reserva Blanc Toro
Gilberto Oliva Reserva Blanc Toro Foot
Gilberto Oliva Reserva Blanc Toro Burn
