Initial Thoughts
As I’m sure you know by now. I’m very drawn to beautiful packaging. This Oliva Master Blends 3 Liga Maestra is packaged superbly with one of the most unique bands I’ve ever seen. I typically shy away from cigars that cost more than $10 but I splurged last time I was in my local B&M and I picked this up. I knew Oliva made some great cigars, but I truly didn’t know what I was about to get myself into.
After looking at the band in more detail you see in gold print “2006”. I couldn’t find much of a back story on this, but I’m assuming that the tobacco was either planted or harvested in 2006. I’m smoking this cigar 6 years later, so I know it’s been aged for awhile and I can only hope that helps the flavor profile.
Another reason I picked up this cigar was the box pressed construction. I’ve always been a sucker for box presses, and I know that it is a more traditional way to package the cigars and isn’t done as much now a days. So I guess I’m also a sucker for nostalgia.
Looks
First off the Oliva Master Blends 3 Liga Maestra band is absolutey gorgeous. One of the most intricate bands I’ve ever seen and picked up before. I remember looking at in the humidor and I was like “I’ve got to have this cigar”. The wrapper is a U.S.A./Conn. Broadleaf that is a dark chocolate brown, very close to a maduro, but not quite dark enough. I would call this wrapper a Colorado Maduro. It is perfect not a single flaw on the wrapper what so ever. I bought this cigar in the torpedo vitola and it was constructed exquisitely. The wrapper was perfectly twisted around the binder and neatly clipped and the top of the head. You know whenever you see something and you’re think “That’s totally worth the money!”. Well that’s exactly what I thought about this cigar.
I was hoping not to be let down by the Oliva Master Blends 3 Liga Maestra when I performed the “pinch test” checking for soft spots on the barrel. Not to my surprise this cigar had been constructed perfectly. It was solid all the way down the barrel and no large veins whatsoever. I nipped the head of the cigar off to test the draw. As with most torpedos I typically cut them a couple of times until I get an adequate draw. I cut the cigar three times and tested the dry draw. This stick pulled like a dream. Zero effort whatsoever and I knew it was going to be a great smoke.
Smoking
As I’m sure you know by now, I prefer using matches to light my cigar and lighting this Oliva Master Blends 3 Liga Maestra was no different. The foot of this cigar took to the flame instantly. I was puffing right away without any issue whatsoever. The blue smoke coming off of this cigar was thick and very aromatic. I let it just swirl around my head to try and take in all that it offered.
The ash on this cigar proved to me just how well this cigar was made. It was a bright white ash right at the lip of the burn. It held that pure white color very deep into the ash when it eventually turned into a soft gray. I was able to hold the first ash for a little over an inch before it fell to pieces in my ashtray.
I continued to puff on this cigar to produce a nice cloud of smoke and then I let it rest for about 30 – 45 secs on my ashtray to keep it cool. I believe this helps protect the ash and it also keeps the cigar from burning hot and producing an awful flavor.
I smoked this Oliva Master Blends 3 Liga Maestra all the way down to the nub and at the end of this glorious smoke I snapped a picture of the last ash hanging on for a little over 2″. I was blown away at how well this cigar was constructed. Usually I can tell when I need to knock off the ash because I believe that it is affecting the cigar’s flavor. I wasn’t able to notice a difference whatsoever with the long ash on the end of this cigar.
Flavor
That leads me into the flavor of this smoke. On the dry draw of the Oliva Master Blends 3 Liga Maestra I picked up on a very light coffee flavor. It was as if I could taste two different coffees battling each other. One was a very dark roast and the other was a lighter roast. It was very interesting flavor combination on the cold draw.
Once the stick was lit I began picking up on a leathery taste with some pepper on the back end. The pepper wasn’t very spicy but you couldn’t certainly pick it up if you pressed your tongue against the roof of your mouth. This stick was incredibly full of complex flavors yet it was blended so well that all the flavors converged into one very smooth defined flavor. It was creamy, smooth, and complex all in one, and I loved it!
Even though the Oliva Master Blends 3 was incredibly full of flavor I wouldn’t classify this is a full bodied cigar. Its smooth flavor profile provides a great example of what perfectly aged tobacco should taste like. I would classify this a medium bodied cigar leaning towards full strength, but nothing that an average smoker couldn’t handle.
Would I Buy It Again?
Without a doubt. The Oliva Master Blends 3 Liga Maestra is well worth the $13. If you ever want to splurge on a cigar I suggest trying to find one of these.
Is It an Every Day Smoke?
If you have the money then I absolutely suggest you smoke one of these everyday.
Would I Buy a Box?
At around $230 for a box of 20, I would say this is a great investment of some very quality cigars.
Conclusion
I’m constantly surprised by the cigars that I pick up. I tend to go after cigars that have interesting packaging and great looking wrappers, and I’m hardly ever let down. Even though this cigar was out of my typical price range I was glad I stretched myself and bought it. It delivered a quality smoke and produced a phenomenal taste. I highly recommend you try this the next time you either order online, or ask your local B&M if they carry it.
