Back in 2012, Famous Smoke Shop began to promote a new line of Oliva Produced House Blends. Brian and I were fortunate enough to get a few samples and we set out to record a couple of episodes of Herfin’ Heads. We reviewed both the Inferno and Vindicator favorably and I’ve been smoking them, off and on, ever since.
Having done a Short Ashes Review of the Inferno, last week, I thought it only made sense to revisit the Vindicator as well. Much like the Inferno, the Vindicator can be had for about $3.00 per stick (5 Pack Pricing) on Cigar Monster.
What you get for the money is a well-made medium bodied cigar. The flavor profile is a bit darker than the Inferno and produces tastes of Earth, Wood, and a little Pepper. The finish is ever so slightly dry but easy on the palate.
If you are a fan of Oliva cigars, I would suggest giving the Vindicator a try. Do yourself a favor though, wait until they are on sale through Cigar Monster (which happens a few times each week) to save yourself a couple of dollars. They also make good filler if you are tying to bulk up your order to qualify for freebies.
Walt, I’m kind of torn between the this one and the Inferno. The Vindicator to me is a little sweeter and not quite as deep in flavor, while the Inferno seems a bit more “serious”. The band on the Vindicator is somewhat of a turn-off for me as well, but at Monster prices, it’s not a deal breaker. I’ve seen 10 packs of the Inferno in robusto for as little as $24.95 (free shipping) lately.