Like almost every other novice cigar smoker I’ve met, I went immediately to the industry’s most established luxury brands for my early education: Cohiba, Davidoff, Romeo & Julieta, etc—just to establish a baseline.

But as I’ve always done (as is my way), I can’t help but be attracted to the overlooked and underrated when it comes to being both a consumer and a salesperson. It’s simply in my blood to want to give customers the best possible bang for their buck, not necessarily the most famous label; I want the same experience as a consumer.

Not that Oliva is all that overlooked in the grand scheme of things—having been around for 132 years and winning countless awards—but it still feels like an underdog. The Serie O (what I’m smoking in the above photo) gets great scores from critics and was named one of the 50 best cigars of the year by Cigar Aficionado. Look at any major cigar site and the feedback is pretty incredible. Yet, when I ask my amateur cigar-smoking friends about the brand, few seem to have heard of it.

I’m writing this blog today having finished my first Serie O, and my seventh overall cigar from Oliva. Pound for pound, dollar for dollar, I can’t imagine smoking anything better.

When it comes to whiskey, I look for two characteristics straight away when determining quality: weight and texture. Flavor comes after that. Call me crazy, but that’s how I work.

When it comes to cigars, I also look for two important characteristics right off the bat: burn and construction. Flavor comes after that.

You could have the best tasting whiskey in the world, but if it’s jagged and thin on the palate, you’ll never win over the masses. The same goes for cigars. You could have the most amazing taste experience, but if you’re pulling hard on every draw and dealing with an inconsistent burn, the experience is ruined.

I’m far from a cigar expert, but in the last six months I’ve gone back for repeat visits to cigars I know will deliver, time and time again, with a consistent burn and an effortless draw, manifested with huge billows of white smoke that spread like clouds across my patio. If the stick can also provide complexity of flavor, seductive aromas, and a whiskey pairing that knocks my socks off, I’m smitten for life.

The Oliva Serie O did that for me.

Nicaraguan Puro by design, the filler is made from Habano seeds grown in three different locations, bound with Habano leaf, and finished with a Habano wrapper. Whereas other top-rated cigars can be earthy, robust, and intense, everything about the Serie O is soft and seductive. It’s like cherry blossoms and cedar with a dusting of cocoa powder.

I can’t recommend it highly enough. Grab the Double Toro next time you come by the store. You won’t be sorry.

-David Driscoll