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Cigar Review: Oliva Inferno Robusto

9 Apr 2012

This year’s industry trade show is still months away, but that doesn’t mean new cigars aren’t debuting in the interim. Case in point is Inferno, made by Oliva.

Inferno is available from Famous Smoke Shop, an online retailer based in Pennsylvania. “Inferno cigars are one of the newest additions to Oliva’s stable of fine Nicaraguan cigars,” reads the Famous website. “Despite its potency, the smoke is velvety smooth with a complexity that will delight you even more than the affordable price.”

The price certainly is attractive, with the Robusto (5 x 50) sold for $4.50 for a single or $72 for a box of 20. The other two sizes in the blend—Churchill (7 x 50) and Toro (6 x 50)—are similarly priced.

I sampled three Robustos for this review, each provided to me free of charge by Famous Smoke Shop. The Robusto is a handsome smoke with a dark, reddish Nicaraguan Habano wrapper. You won’t find any soft spots, or any difficulties with draw, but you will encounter some harmless lumps and a few dark splotches. A nice aroma of dark chocolate emanates off the foot. For what it’s worth, the fire-themed red and gold band makes no mention of Oliva.

Quickly showcasing its filler tobaccos of Nicaraguan ligero, the Inferno Robusto kicks off with a full-bodied blast of heavy-handed espresso and black pepper spice. After a few puffs, though, it settles into medium-bodied mode, pulling back the reins on the espresso and pepper. What’s left is a muted core of cocoa sweetness and coffee.

At the midway point and into the final third, I start to appreciate the resting smoke more as I grow a little less interested in the Robusto’s actual taste. I guess that’s bound to happen. A cigar like this isn’t oozing with complexity or displaying a harmonious balance that begs to be appreciated. Instead, it’s delivering an honest profile at a fair price.

I think most of us are expecting (or hoping) for exactly that when we buy a box of cigars and the per-cigar price is less than $4. Here you get a nice golf course stick with excellent construction that won’t blow you away, but also won’t disappoint. That’s what makes the Oliva Inferno Robusto worthy of three stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

4 Responses to “Cigar Review: Oliva Inferno Robusto”

  1. Jermaine Monday, April 9, 2012 at 9:52 am #

    I'm a sucker for spice and coffee, so this sounds up my alley. I wouldn't be expecting a ton of nuance for $4 a cigar. Does sound like a good golf course smoke, as you recommend. Thanks for the review!

  2. Swede214 Monday, April 9, 2012 at 9:58 am #

    Thanks Patrick, this one sounds like my type of cigar, maybe it might even help my golf game!

  3. Tricky Rick Monday, April 9, 2012 at 12:49 pm #

    Sounds like an OK smoke. I am more inclined to give this a try b/c I've had good customer service from Famous in the past, unlike some other internet retailers.

  4. Stogies On the Rock Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at 9:38 am #

    Patrick,

    I'm honestly really surprised by the fact there is no mention of Oliva on the band. However they must have known it wasn't a great product worthy of the Oliva name on the band. If that's the case then why even release it? I think at $4 a stick it might be worth trying a couple even like you said out on the golf course so long as it would hold the burn.