Oliva Federal Cigar 93rd Anniversary Reserve No. 2
📌 Brand: Oliva
📌 Line: Federal Cigar 93rd Anniversary Reserve
📌 Size: No. 2 (Torpedo, 6" × 52)
📌 Weight: 16.7 g
📌 Age: 11 years
📌 Origin: Nicaragua
Tasting Notes
Dark Chocolate – Bitter-sweet richness
Cedar – Clean, woody backbone
Espresso – Deep roasted tone
Black Pepper – Steady but controlled warmth
First Impressions
The No. 2 presents a sharp, elegant torpedo head with a dark, oily Ecuadorian Sun Grown wrapper. Construction feels solid and the aroma brings cocoa, cedar, and a touch of pepper. Cold draw is smooth with just the right resistance.
Smoking Experience
First Third – Opens with chocolate and espresso, cedar lifting the profile. Burn starts clean.
Second Third – Pepper grows slightly; flavors deepen nicely. Tar begins to collect at the tip, requiring a quick cut and clean
Final Third – Chocolate fades, espresso becomes sharper, and the cigar requires a relight to continue. Still flavorful with strong smoke output.
Pairings
Alcohol – Amrut Fusion Single Malt (India) - Tropical fruit, malt sweetness, and gentle smoke that elevate the espresso-chocolate core while cutting through the tar note.
Tea – Korean Sejak Green Tea - Clean, slightly nutty, and crisp — refreshing the palate and balancing the cedar and pepper beautifully.
Music Pairing
“Bag Lady” – Erykah Badu
Smooth, warm, and mellow, matching the cigar’s chocolate-espresso body.
Final Thoughts
The Oliva Federal Cigar 93rd Anniversary No. 2 delivers a strong, chocolate-espresso profile with excellent structure and satisfying depth. Minor issues — tar accumulation and a late relight — held it back slightly, but overall it’s a memorable and well-executed anniversary release.
Final Score: 8/10
Why not a 10?
Tar buildup and one relight disrupted otherwise excellent construction and muted flavor clarity toward the end.
Only cigars that deliver flawless draw, balance, flavour evolution, construction and satisfaction get a 10.