Cigar Review: Oliva Serie O Churchill
Oliva Serie O Churchill - 2013 #11 Cigar of the Year
Cigar Review By Jamie Stevens
- Strength: ●●●●● Full
- Wrapper: Brazilian, Connecticut Broadleaf
- Binder: Brazilian
- Filler: Nicaraguan
- Origin: Nicaragua
- Rating: 90
A Sudden Return to Winter
Why, oh why, did I jinx myself with all my talk about warm weather and springtime? In an instant, winter made a comeback, with highs in the 50s and a cold wind slapping me in the face. To make matters worse, an extra dose of pollen has me sneezing my butt off on the regular. Don’t mind me while I cry in the corner.
But despite the weather and allergies, I’m excited to smoke the Oliva Serie O Churchill today. Oliva has always been one of my favorite brands, and I’ve been looking forward to this smoke all week. The cigar itself is stunning, boasting an oily, dark brown Nicaraguan wrapper with Nicaraguan fillers. At 7x50, this is another large cigar, so I made sure to have a big meal beforehand and paired it with coffee—knowing I’d be outside for quite some time!
First Impressions: Black Pepper Kick
Right from the start, I was hit with strong black pepper notes and earthy undertones. The amount of pepper actually caught me off guard—I may have coughed (don’t judge me). Thankfully, my coffee helped balance out the intensity, but I’m still legit freezing out here.
This chilly outdoor smoke session has me seriously considering upgrading my smoking setup. Sitting in the cold is far from enjoyable. My cat decided to join me for a bit, watching the birds in the tree behind me, but she’s a scaredy-cat (literally) and dashed back inside after five minutes. My dog also joined me, though he looks just as irritated by the cold as I am.
As I progress through the first half, the flavor profile remains steady, until around the midway point when leather and coffee notes emerge. But honestly? I found myself getting a little bored—which is surprising, I know.
Second Half: A One-Dimensional Experience
Moving into the second half, the black pepper intensifies slightly, and there’s a bit more sweetness in the profile. However, I start noticing an issue—the burn becomes wavy, requiring a few touch-ups along the way.
Unfortunately, there’s still not much evolution in flavor. The black pepper remains dominant, and I kept waiting for something else to develop—but it never did. This one-dimensional profile is unexpected for an Oliva cigar, and I can’t help but feel a little let down.
As I near the end, the strength picks up, transitioning into a full-bodied smoke. I ended up smoking this for an hour and 45 minutes, yet I didn’t feel much complexity throughout the experience. The price point is great, but beyond that, I’m unsure. This might be one I need to revisit to see if I have a different experience next time. SHOP NOW
About the writer Jamie Stevens
Jamie Stevens is a cigar enthusiast who has contributed both as an influencer and reviewer for over eleven years. She lives in historic York, Pennsylvania, where she works for her local government as a leader involved with the coalition on homelessness. When not working, she enjoys outdoor activities (hiking, kayaking, etc.) and spending time with her family. She appreciates all kinds of cigars, from mild-bodied all the way to stronger, full-bodied cigars. She enjoys both the higher-end sticks and the ones on the more affordable side. You can find her on Instagram and Facebook as Cigareyes717, where she has over 19,000 followers!
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