CIGAR OF THE NIGHT –JUNE’S GUN SMOKE!

Photo Cred: Rigby’s

Photo: Paul Costo – Oliva Cigar Representative, with our sponsor for the night, Trinity Black Car Service – owners Sunny & Amanda Donaho. 

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It’s time to get last month’s cigar article out before next month’s smoke night. We started off the event by giving a Happy 14th Anniversary shout-out to Gary Flynn & Leslie Brown Flynn, owners of Rigby’s Cigars & Lounge, on the square in downtown Paris, TX. They are the host location for the Paris Smokeasy Cigar Club and Gary is the Humidor Master on the Board of the Humidor (Club Executive Board). We also welcomed last month’s sponsors Jeff & Cathleen Y Padier as new members to the club.

We have had this brand before back in our juvenile days of the cigar club when we just grabbed some boxes off the cigar shelf and that’s what we smoked. The first full year of the club was 2018 and the Cigar of the Year (COY) was the Oliva Serie V Belicoso in a 5” x 54-gauge. April of 2019, we had the Oliva Gilverto Reserva Blank in a 7” x 50-gauge. Again in 2020, Oliva came in as the club favorite winning the COY with the Oliva Master Blend 3 Liga Maestra Torpedo 2006 in a 6” x 52-gauge. That was the first full box of cigars I ever purchased!

After all these years of smoking Oliva Cigars and them being a staple line at Rigby’s, we finally got Paul Costo in the house to present the Oliva Line to us and tell us what we were smoking for the night. We have known Paul for years as the Oliva Cigar Representative and were happy to finally have a spot to get him in as our Cigar of the Night.

As far as Oliva Cigars go, they are the 2nd largest grower of Cuban-seed tobacco in Nicaragua. From their website it says:

Melanio Oliva first grew tobacco in Pinar Del Rio, Cuba in 1886. His growing operations were suspended while he fought in Cuba’s War of Independence. After returning from war Melanio resumed his operations. In the early 1920’s Melanio’s son Facundo Oliva took over the growing operations. Facundo cultivated the Oliva family fields for several decades. As Cuba became overrun by the Communists, the tobacco landscape changed. Facundo’s son Gilberto Oliva shifted from growing to brokering tobacco. In the early 60’s the pressure became too great and Gilberto traveled from country to country in search of the distinct Cuban taste. His travels took him to Honduras, Panama, Mexico and even the Philippines. Gilberto finally found fertile ground in Nicaragua where the Gilberto Oliva brand was launched in 1995 with Gilberto Oliva Sr, then shortened to “Oliva” in 1996.

For July, we had the Oliva Serie V Liga Especial Torpedo in a 6” x 56-gauge. It is a blend of Nicaraguan Long Filler Tobaccos, with a specially fermented Jalapa Valley Ligero in the blend, a Nicaraguan Binder, and is finished with a high priming original Cuban seed grown Ecuadorian Habano Wrapper. In the Cigar Aficionado Magazine’s Top 25 Cigars for each year, Oliva has made that list every year since 2005. They have made it into the Top 10 for the last ten years straight. That is called crazy good consistency and a record that I don’t know any other cigar line has done.

Serie V Melanio Toro as the #3 and the E.P. Carrillo Allegiance Confidant (made by Oliva) as the #5 in 2023.

Serie V Churchill Extra was #5 in 2022

Serie V Melanio Maduro Churchill was #7 in 2021

Serie V Melanio Churchill was #9 in 2020 and #8 in 2018

Serie V Lancero #6 in 2019

Serie V Belicoso #3 in 2017 and #18 in 2012

Serie V Melanio Robusto was #8 of 2016

Nub Cameroon 358 (made by Oliva) was #23 in 2015

Serie V Melanio Figurado was the #1 Cigar of the Year in 2014.

Padilla Reserva Toro (made by Oliva) was #12 in 2014

Serie O Churchill #11 in 2013

Serie V Liga Especial Double Robusto #22 in 2011 and #12 in 2008

Serie V Maduro Especial #18 in 2010

Serie V Liga Especial Belicoso #5 in 2009

Savinelli Special Selection 2005 Torpedo (made by Oliva) #24 in 2008

Serie V Torpedo #4 in 2007

Serie G Cameroon Robusto #11 in 2006

Oliva “O” Classic Olé #9 in 2005

With 55 people present and tying the record 16 positive comments it received a Redneck Ratin of 92 out of 100!

Our sponsor for the night was Sonny Donaho & Amanda Donaho with Trinity Black Car Service. They are a Professional Chauffeured Transportation Business, backed by over 15 years in the Executive Car Service Industry. They are a local family owned and operated business and can be found on Facebook or on their website. From personal experience with their DFW Airport roundtrip service or a night in Pittsburg for a winery event, we found their service is simply exceptional!

Written by JD Marrs

Hosted by Rigby’s Cigars & Lounge