As both owner and blender, Oliván’s Around the World cigar embodies his empirical yet everevolving craft. This complex, full-to-medium-bodied blend is tailored for seasoned smokers, featuring 17 tobacco varieties from 17 countries –a true rollercoaster of bold, shifting flavors that leave no room for half-measures.
With a refined palate honed through travels to nearly 70 countries and expertise in countless tobacco varieties, Ismael Oliván embarked on his premium tobacco journey in 2015 under the mentorship of master blender Óscar Arias (a collaborator since 2003).
Oliván –a martial artist, former military officer, and master blender with over 20 years of experience– has crafted blends for his own brands (B.A.M.F., Don Oliván, and K9) as well as hundreds of private labels produced at his ROCF (Rodríguez Oliván Cigars Factory), which operates three facilities in the Dominican Republic.
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Cold Draw: A wrist test confirms an ideal draw. Pre-light aromas reveal floral and woody notes, evoking a forest walk.
Initial Light: The long-filler core –a blend of 15 carefully selected tobaccos– unfolds with accordion, entubado, and bookleaf techniques. Hints of aged, earthy dampness emerge, echoing the cold draw but with intensified depth.
First Third: The opening intensity mellows. The unconventional blend produces an ash shifting between white and gray hues, rising and falling dynamically. Classic Nicaraguan notes clash with tropical fruit undertones, foreshadowing the cigar’s segmented complexity.
Second Third: Greek tobacco mediates the battle between Transylvania’s boldness and Caribbean sweetness (Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica), pulling the blend back to medium strength while reducing nicotine harshness.
Final Third: A crescendo of prior flavors resurges, amplified. The Pennsylvania Broadleaf binder ensures steady combustion, even during pauses. Thick smoke coats the palate with coconut oil, roasted almonds, espresso, and yeast. True to ROCF’s signature style, the last third shines brightest –a finale where the only constant is transformation.
