Oliva Black Swan Review with Tommy Z

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It's rare for Oliva to release anything new. With the exception of the V 135th, their product list has been virtually unmolested for a decade, maybe more. So it's noteworthy when they do…. a veritable Black Swan event you might say (see what I did there?). Oliva Black Swan is the fruit of our team on the ground in Nicaragua. We're always seeking out unique tobaccos in bodegas that have yet to find their way into a cigar. In its simplest form, tobacco is a commodity and factories either grow and/or purchase materials in large lots to get what they need to maintain consistency in their iconic blends and brands. The result of this pattern means there are inevitably unique, small batch tobaccos lumped in that are too small to make a full-time production blend, and such tobaccos are typically stored away for aging. They may emerge for special limited edition projects or they may accumulate, depending on the factory. Black Swan is so named to take advantage of these exceptional but limited tobacco lots.

The crown jewel in the Oliva Black Swan crown is the wrapper - a dark and oily "real deal" Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. True Connecticut River Valley Broadleaf has been grown in the Northeastern USA for over a century and it's prized for the deep layers of flavor and distinct sweetness it delivers. Due to agricultural competition and some unexpected weather events, the crop and yields have been in steep decline, which has driven up prices and in many cases, forced factories to look for alternatives and/or to accept a wider range of color and quality of leaf. Some of the top-quality sorted CT Broadleaf wrappers that Oliva owns has been accumulating in their aging rooms..... due to the limited yield, each year it's been set aside but is not ample enough for a full blown, nationally distributed Oliva brand. But it's perfect for Black Swan, as a more limited and seasonally available offering. This gorgeous leaf is combined with an Oliva powerhouse Nicaraguan filler blend bound with an Ecuadorian binder. Beautiful, dark, and oily, perfectly constructed, and composed of aged, perfectly fermented fillers and wrappers. Upon lighting, expect deep, earthy, sweet notes and a long finish. Medium to full in body, fans of Oliva and fans of boutique cigars everywhere will savor this tasty morsel.