Oliva Black Swan

Purchased: 2 X 10-Pack #4 (5 X 43)
Store: Cigar Page.com
Price: $42.50 each
Buy again? Fuckin’-A!

I got sucked into the whole Black Friday thing and spent WAY more money on cigars than I should have. I got a box of Oliva “O” Maduros, a box of Martinez Queens, two boxes of Man ‘O War Puro Authentico, and two 10-packs of Oliva Black Swan. Originally, all I was going to get last week were the Queens and Puro Authentico to replenish my dwindling supply. But I saw the “O” Maduros on CigarBid and put in a max bid that I thought would be outbid and forgot about it. I won. Then I saw the Black Swan sticks on Cigar Page for $42.50 for a 10-pack and I impulsively bought two packs. I’m glad I did, because this is another cigar that I’m going to keep stocked up. Mind you, this was all pre-Black Friday. But the retailers were advertising early.

The Black Swans arrived this afternoon. Yeah, I know, I probably should’ve let them rest in my humidor for a month or so. But when I took them out of their packs, they looked ready to smoke. I slid one partially out of its cellophane wrapper and gave it a little roll. No crackling, and it felt solid AF. And the wrapper felt velvety. I knew then that I was going to have one this evening.

So here I am again, sitting in my backyard sitting area and I’m in my happy place. I’m REALLY in my happy place. This cigar is fucking incredible!

When I first lit it up, I was hit with that classic and distinctive Oliva teak wood aroma and flavor. It’s not exactly spicy. It’s exotic and I have come to love that about Oliva cigars. It isn’t as prominent as the Master Blends III, but it’s there and it tells me I’m smoking an Oliva.

Getting into the smoke, the sweetness of the Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper makes itself known, along with some cedar and forest floor, and a subtle vegetal flavor characteristic. Getting into the second third, dark chocolate starts coming off the foot. It’s in the smoke as well, along with a little espresso. The sweetness is also there, but there’s also a subtle burnt caramel and a hint of leather. The finish has been long the entire smoke. But in the second half, there’s also a very nice, lingering spice along with a mild citrus. By the last third, the spice becomes a little more pronounced but not at all overpowering as does the leather.

Construction is spot on! The stick is solid with no soft spots, and it doesn’t soften when getting into the last third. The burn has been mostly straight and gets slightly wavy at times, but corrects itself.

I love a cigar wrapped in Connecticut Broadleaf! The sweetness and chocolate are what draws me to it. The Ave Maria Argentum is like smoking a chocolate milkshake at the end. The Black Swan’s chocolate is more like semi-sweet Nestle Toll House chips. And it’s a cigar that punches way above its weight class!

Now I’m thinking I probably should’ve purchased more of these. They’re now all sold out on Cigar Page! Damn!

Update 4/28/2004: Well, they finally came back in season, and I immediately picked up two boxes of the Corona. I did keep a few from last season and shared one with a good friend who is a big Oliva fan who’d never had one. I let him know they were back in stock and I think he picked up a few boxes. He fell in love with the Black Swan that I shared with him.

I must admit that I was really missing these when they were out of stock. I almost got some Rocky Patel Black Swan sticks that share the same livery. But that is a completely different blend. The big thing for me with the Oliva Black Swan is the Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. For me, that’s what makes the entire blend. It is so dark and rich. I just can’t get enough of it! I’ve purchased two boxes, but it looks like I’m going to have buy a couple or a few more.