In the last 40-plus years, I’ve probably smoked too many premium cigars to mention, but somehow the award-winning Oliva Serie O cigar remained under my radar. So, to prepare for the occasion, and knowing that it’s billed as a  robust medium-bodied blend,  I feasted on a juicy steak and a cold brew to prime my palate for this highly rated cigar.

Since 1886 the Oliva Company has been handcrafting the finest cigars in the industry using the best premium tobaccos, many of which are grown on their family farms in Estelí, Condega, and Jalapa regions of the country. Today the Oliva’s have amassed a huge portfolio of blends that range in strength from creamy smooth to bold and full-flavored that have all garnered a huge loyal following.

For this review, I turned to the Oliva Serie O Churchill, for there is no better way to relax after a hearty meal and a tasty brew, then with this stately 7 x 50 size.

Visually, the Serie O Churchill was a stunning specimen covered by a Cuban seed Sun Grown Habano wrapper that displayed a deep reddish-brown hue and a nice oily patina. Underneath is a blend of the finest estate-grown Nicaraguan binder and long filler tobaccos. A pre-light nose of hay and musty cedar denoted perfect aging.

Serie O came out of the gate swinging with a bold blast of black pepper and hints of earth that really captured my attention. A sweet tobacco aroma immediately put me in a very relaxed frame of mind.  I was waiting for the introduction of more tasting notes, but black pepper and earth remained throughout most of the first third of this smoke, almost to the point of becoming boring. Then, suddenly, this premium handmade really opened up with nuances of oak, charred wood, and black coffee.

During the second third of the smoke that zesty blast of black pepper returned, but never overwhelmed some new hints of sweet spice and cocoa that really pleased my palate. At this point, I realized this is going to be a  very long-lasting smoke with a crisp even burn and very little touch-up required.

Some sticks become tamer the longer they are smoked, but the final third convinced me that this was going to be a medium to full-bodied stick from start to finish, regardless of its intended medium-bodied profile. In addition,  I realized the black pepper top notes were here to stay. This is a good thing if you like your smokes very zesty, but personally I would have preferred a slightly smoother transition of creamy flavors and a bit more complexity. That said, this still was a very enjoyable cigar and one that I’d definitely smoke again.