Cigar Watch

Cigar Brand? Oliva Padilla Habano

Size Name? Robusto

Length/Ring Gauge? 5 x 50 ring

Purchase Date? 6/13/2008

Box or Individual? Sampler

Smoking Date? 7/1/2008

Packaging? Cello & Band

Price (Per Cigar or Box)? $5.00

Where Purchased? Gift

Country Where Made: Nicaragua

Meal/Beverage: Sandwich , salad & beer

Overall Appearance and Presentation of Cigar (Max. 20 Points) (19 of 20)

Wrapper Color? (4 of 4) Nice even color

Consistent Color Within Box? (2 of 2) Very consistent color

Oily/Dry? (2 of 2) Nicely Oily

Veiny/Smooth? (4 of 5) Mod. Veins

Cap Construction? (1 of 1) Nicely done

Packaging? (2 of 2) Good presentation

Ease of Cutting? (2 of 2) Easy cut

Construction (Soft, Hard)? (2 of 2) Med.

Lighting and Burning Properties (Max. 15 Points) (12 of 15)

Even Initial Light? (1 of 1) Easy initial light

Even Burn? (9 of 11) Initial OK 50% Canoeing 75% Better

Resting Smoke (light & even, smoldering)?

(1 of 1) Nice volumes resting

Burn Rate (fast, perfect, slow)? (1 of 1) slow and deliberate

Ash (Solid, Black, White and Crumbly)?

Darker gray - held together well

Require Re-Lighting? (0 of 1) Yes twice - about half way down the smoke

Construction (Max. 30 Points) (27 of 30)

Initial Draw Easy 50% Light 75% OK after the relight (24 of 27)

Wrapper Stays Intact? (3 of 3) Yes - very nice wrapper

Taste (Max. 35 Points) (31 of 35)

Light, Medium, Full-Bodied? Full bodied

Bitter, Harsh, Smooth? A bitter shot at first then settled down

Sweet/Salty? Slightly sweet

Bland, Vegetal, Spicy, Peppery? Spicy and peppery

Describe Any Changes in Body or Flavor: This smoke started out with a burst of harshness - I almost put it out. But then it settled down to a great smoke. The harshness went away and the spicy and peppery tastes came out. It remained full bodied throughout but lost any hint of harshness or edge. The flavor built towards the end - I smoked it down to the nub.

Aroma (Rich and Smooth and Acrid)? Very nice aroma - warm, earthy

Finish? Good finish - stayed with me after I put it out

Comments: I smoked two of these to get a good feel for the stick. They were very consistent - well made - and very tasteful. There is a very good tobacco taste and back tastes of leather with a slight sweetness. The wrapper is pure joy and the construction is first rate. The small problems that I had with it pale beside the great experience of smoking it.

Total Score / Grade: 89