Oliva Master Blends 3 Churchill Review

Oliva Master Blends 3 Churchill Cigar Review

10/15/2022 

These are expensive smokes and supposedly rare, but I've acquired 20+ of these for like $4 a piece. I will rate it as a $8 smoke to be fair. Most retailers want $10 to $12 when you buy a box. Just looking at it, you can tell it's top notch. No loose roll, it is oval pressed and very firm throughout its length. This is an all Nicaraguan, supposedly with ligero fillers and a sungrown broadleaf wrapper. This one I'm smoking is brown, but the latest one's I've bought are dark, almost black. 

This one has been aging in my humidor maybe a year. I'm hoping for a complex full bodied smoke tonight. I had a full day this Saturday. I got up early, ran a 5k, took 2nd place, ate a huge country fried steak lunch, followed by a grilled chicken dinner. I'm on my 5th shot of George Dickel Rye whisky and did I mention it's late Saturday night? It perfect 60 degree weather outside for a light fire with my outside music playing loud. Let's light her up. 

Right away I taste strong caramel sweetness. A little spiciness coming through. A cedar aftertaste. I hope it keeps it up as it is good the first few minutes. 

Damn, it is running like that 15 year old dude that smoked me in the 5k race this morning. What the hell? I don't know if I've ever had a cigar run the first 3 minutes. 

I correct it with some saliva and my propane torch, maybe losing 20 percent of the cigar. It's straightened out now. Dropped the ash and has a nice cone. I think it's burning fine now. Pretty similar flavors, maybe more creamy now but even more spice. It's a tight roll, but easy pull. Not clouds of smoke, but I'm enjoying the amount of smoke it's pulling easily. This cigar is 7 inches long, not meant to smoke it like a vacuum. 

Smoking perfect now. If it keeps this way, I'll only nock one point off the burn rating. Pulls easily with strong flavors of caramel, a little bit of toasted graham crackers, and a bit of spices. 

Got 30 minutes in, about half way through. Hasn't changed too much. Definitely a smooth and creamy smoke. A tad more than medium flavored. If it has ligero, which I can somewhat sense it has, it should start to kick in. But it's very refined in its rich flavors. Just took my 6th and maybe final shot of Rye whiskey shot. Continuous sweet flavors of toasted marshmallow and graham crackers overpower my palate. Not really tasting chocolate. Maybe the other darker cigars will have that. I'm not complaining, it very enjoyable. This one has a nice balance of spice on your tongue and throat. Very smooth with no harshness or bite at all. Anyone can smoke this. But, it is kicking in some body. 

I think it's accelerating the whiskey to kick it up a notch of relaxation. I'm probably drinking and smoking it way too fast, which I'm usually guilty of. But it's smoking slower now and delivering more flavors. I did just run my 2nd best 5k time, at my age of 45, I'd say I'm doing something right. I don't want to overdo it, but I know what I'm doing. I want to enjoy my Saturday night. Jerry Garcia Band After Midnight is now jamming. This is what it's all about. A little more spice coming with more earthy and leathery tastes, but still very smooth. Maybe some toasted walnut and oak flavors. Spice and sweetness still linger. Definitely burning perfect since the first inch. 

It's getting stronger for sure. Still refined. Stronger flavors of toasted nuts overpower the cedar and sweetness. Still leaving spice on your palate. It's like a toasted marshmallow full of nuts with a deep woody taste. 

Having to slow down a bit. An hour in and this cigar is beginning to peak. Probably not for a beginner, it is strong. Jerry Garcia is playing Stella Blue like it's like an encore to a 2 hour set. All of the flavors are coming together to deliver a great experience. Still not overbearing, just rich, creamy, and smooth flavors. My palate is full of all of the flavors. They've been building slowly to this.

An hour and 15 minutes in and I'm past satisfied. Still has the caramel sweetness underlying the richness. About an inch left and a lot left to smoke. Most will probably throw it out, but why, it's still smoking good. No harshness and smooth. About to kick my ass but it tastes good, so I should finish it. Great late night cigar. 

Almost an hour and a half and I'm still enjoying it. If you want a complex and satisfying cigar, try this one, even fit the price. If you can find it cheaper, buy a bunch. Not an everyday smoke, but a great weekend night smoke. Not the most flavorful smoke, but very complex and satisfying. I'll be smoking many more. 

Overall: 93 

Flavor 92, complexity 95, burn 93, experience 93, value 92.