I haven't seen a lot of reviews about these Oliva Master blend 3 cigars yet and I got my hands on a robusto, which sells for € 10.00 a stick here in The Netherlands, and as all tobacco products, it has a fixed price. I guess these cigars are made from a 2006 crop, as that year is printed on the band. The filler is a Nicaraguan ligero wrapped with a Nicaraguan broadleaf sun grown wrapper. I smoked some of the older Master blends in the past and back in 2007 I even reviewed the Oliva Master blend 1 torpedo.

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The wrapper is dark and oily with just a few minor veins. I notice that the lasered logo, that was on the previous Master blends is missing on the Master Blend 3, the bands are the same though, just in a different color. The construction feels a bit soft, not soft spots but soft overall. The predraw is a bit on the loose side with a mind spicy tobacco flavor. The cigar has a full hay smell. The cigar is box pressed to the max, it's not round and not even square, this is the most rectangular cigar I have ever seen besides the La Flor Dominicana Factory press.

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I taste a full flavored coffee with some earth flavors. The earth is stronger than the coffee and soon a dry wood flavor replaces the coffee. After an inch I also taste some pepper and far away on the background I even notice some chocolate.

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The chocolate disappears quickly and the pepper becomes stronger with the earth flavor on the background with a little bit of wood. After two thirds the wood gets a bit stronger, the earth flavor gets milder and the pepper moves to the aftertaste. Soon after that the red pepper becomes stronger and dominant.

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The smoke time of this 5x50 robusto is an hour and twenty minutes. I got a huge amount of thick white smoke. The draw and the burn are good and the light colored ash is compact and firm. This cigar is full flavored and medium to full bodied. It burns clean, I didn't get a flame when I tried to purge it.

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Would I buy this cigar again? Yes, definitely.

Appearance: 8 / 10
Construction: 7 / 10
Draw: 7 / 10
Burn: 7 / 10
Smoke & ash: 9 / 10
Aroma first part: 8 / 10
Aroma second part: 8 / 10
Aroma third part: 8 / 10
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mmmm MB III's - love them! Yea they are from 2006. If the story stays true the different MBs are released for only a year and 2006 was the MB IIIs.
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Great review sir...what an ash! I have smoked several No. 1s of these, and a few no.2s, and probably 1 no.3...the 1 series ended up to be my fav! Great job!
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Great review Ferdie.:-)
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Do like the MB III's!
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I love these and most Oliva sticks.
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Another fine review of a nice stick!!! :-)
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Thanks for the review! I had my first MBIII yesterday (a torpedo) & enjoyed the heck out of it.

:-)
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Nice review, I always wanted to try an MB. I'll have to grab one next time I see one.
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Great review Ferdie. :-)

I'm a fan of these as well. I haven't tried a robusto yet, but I've had the torp and loved it.
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Another great review, Ferdie, and this is indeed a great smoke. I picked up a box some time ago, which I've now smoked halfway through. That is one purchase I never regretted.
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I guess I'm in the minority. Just had my first and didn't enjoy it at all. Very rough and bitter. Maybe I'll see if I can find another to give it another shot.
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One of my favorite sticks actually. You don't really hear a lot about them. Great review!
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MB 3's are good for just about any occasion... :-)

good review, thanks
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Great review Ferd...I got the chocolate and coffee even the earth but none of the spice...Luv these sticks
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I bought one a few weeks ago as one of my purchases to smoke with a friend at a B&M. I almost torched it earlier in the week, but something more appealing came in the mail. I will have to give this a try soon.
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Great review as always . love these smokes.
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I have never tried this stick yet, but I see that many of my BOTL enjoy these very much. I must try this stick soon. Thanks for the great review!
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Great review. I have one in my humi that I will have to try soon.
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