Gilberto Oliva Reserva - Cigar Review

Gilberto Oliva Reserva
650 Toro

NOTES:
Slightly jagged, self-correcting burn.
Pack density stays goodly moderate.
Calm smoker, paced slowly.
Wants to be double/triple puffed...
warms-some on account a' that.
Syrupy delivery which bitters-some.
Purging is recommended.
Over-all quite zesty.

• Mulling spice 
• Leather 
• Soft woods
• Molasses
• Red fruit syrup
• Earth

Rather straight-forward but with 'nuff dimension via nuance to stave off being linear. Un-complex. Could use a bit more roundness and back-bone, but is somewhat rich nonetheless. Biggest gripe is a lack of notes. Finish is of average length, with notes there being a sweetly spiced extension of draw.

FINAL GRADE: B+
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79 D 60-69 F 0-59

WRAPPER: Indonesian Sumatra Maduro
BINDER: Ecuadorian
FILLER: Nicaraguan

STRENGTH: Medium-Full
ORIGIN: Nicaragua

IN ADDITION:

I hath previously reviewed the Gilberto Oliva Reserva Blanc. I prefer that Connie to this, which I find an odd-ish thing to relate.

For the first time since the Oliva family sold their cigar manufacturing/sales operations a year ago... and for a goodly handful a' years prior: Oliva hath just released an entirely new brand. This Gilberto, to be clear. Consisting of a pair a' lines, the Gilberto Oliva Reserva Blanc of this here review, and the due-out-later-this-summer Sumatran top-leaf'd Gilberto Oliva Reserva. (Guts are same in each.)

Named by Oliva in homage to their patriarch, Gilberto Sr. is best known for his work as a tobacco grower. As an aside, when Oliva sold to J. Cortes in 2016, they kept the fields. Sr. began growing in 1969 Nicaragua, and would go on to plant leaf in Honduras, Mexico, Panama, and the Philippines.

Note: this cigar was originally announced under the nom de tobacco of Facundo. Originally announced... a cigar by this same name was announced back in 1995, and rolled by Plasencia. With its moniker quickly shortened to simply "Oliva," it would usher in the start of what's really one a' my favorite brands, gentlepersons.