This compact 4x38 Cuban sandwich from Oliva surprises with its "mini but mighty" performance. At about $6 per stick in 30-count boxes, these Nicaraguan puros wrapped in Ecuadorian Connecticut leaf offer an entry point to the brand's renowned blending skills. The cigar burns like pocket-sized zen - just enough for a 35-minute mental reset during lunch breaks.
Cold draw brings pencil shavings and dry cereal notes. Initial puffs deliver unexpected white pepper on the retrohale over a base of cashew butter. Combustion stays even despite thin gauge, with visible oil streaks darkening the wrapper near burn line.
At the halfway mark, transitions to almond biscotti territory. New oak tannins emerge alongside raw honey sweetness. Watch for slight tunnel effect - periodic purging maintains steady smoke output from the tight roll.
Approaching nub stage reveals damp hay earthiness characteristic of Nicaraguan filler. Retrohale develops chalky mineral finish. Body amps up to medium intensity with faint nicotine presence, suggesting darker leaves in lower primings.
The Cameroon-seed wrapper from Ecuador displays visible stem lines typical of shade-grown leaf. Triple caps hold firm through punch cut. Cold aroma mixes barnyard and fresh photocopier paper - telltale signs of Connecticut seed tobacco grown under cheesecloth tents.
