The folks at Famous Smoke Shop have once again come up with a good value cigar to introduce to the market. It is Oliva's new 'Inferno' cigar. I had the pleasure of trying a few of these during the release. The Inferno has a nice dark Habano wrapper from Nicaragua. In fact, this is a Nicaraguan Puro with the binder and fillers of ligero tobacco from Estili, Condega and Jalapa Valleys. Unlike some other Oliva cigars, the wrapper is firm and thick. The pre-lit aroma has a very rich 'tobacco barn' freshness. The draw is good with just enough restriction. No problem lighting the cigar but keeping it lit was more challenge, this is a cigar that likes to be smoked. If you set it down for a minute or two you will have to relight it.
The Inferno, although a very smooth smoke, is not for the novice. This is one very peppery and leathery cigar. The burn is slow, which allows the ash to really hold on (see the photo). I finally had to knock the ash off at the cigar's midpoint because it was getting difficult to draw through the entire ash to keep the cigar smoking.
I smoked two of these as soon as I got them, and then another one after it rested in my humidor for month. The rested cigar smoked about the same but was a bit smoother and not nearly as bold. The pepper and leather were more subtle, but even still, a full bodied cigar.
One of the good points of the cigar? It is consistant. The firmness, draw and flavors. The aroma was not that overwhelming. What I mean is that this is one of those cigars that smells better when someone else is smoking it. It was allergy season when I smoked these cigars, so my 'aroma-receptors' may have been on the blink, but I did not detect much aroma out of this smoke. However, my buddy accross the table from me was smoking one and I could smell his, which was a light kind of mocha aroma.
The last point to make is the price. A box of 20 5x50 Robustos (which is the size that I smoked) sells for around $70. At $3.50 a stick this is a very good value.
Disclosure: Review samples were provided by Famous Smoke Shop. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.
