I’ve smoked plenty of cigars that take their time warming up, but Oliva NUB is built around a completely different idea. This cigar is made to get straight to the good part. The short, thick shape is not just a gimmick. It helps the cigar deliver bold, concentrated flavor from the first draw instead of making you wait for the blend to open up.

What surprised me most is how long NUB smokes for its size. Even though most of these cigars are around 4 inches long, the large ring gauge and dense construction give it a slow, cool burn that feels much closer to a full-sized cigar experience. Reviews often praise the line for clean construction, easy draw, big smoke output, and reliable burn quality. Cigar Advisor notes strong construction, near-invisible seams, a good draw, and heavy smoke/flavor notes in its NUB review guide.

The flavor depends heavily on the wrapper, which is one of the best parts of the lineup. The Connecticut is the smoothest and easiestgoing, with cream, cedar, nuts, and a little spice. LM Cigars described the NUB Connecticut 354 as creamy, nutty, and balanced with cedar and subtle spice. The Cameroon brings more classic cigar character with earth, nuts, sweetness, and a little leather. The Habano is bolder, peppery, savory, and more intense. The Maduro is the richest of the bunch, with coffee, dark chocolate, wood, and sweetness; recent reviews of the Maduro 460 highlight creamy chocolate, pepper, coffee, good construction, and strong ash performance.

To be fair, NUB is not the most complex cigar in the world. Some smokers may find the large ring gauge a little awkward, and the flavor can stay fairly steady instead of developing dramatically from third to third. But that is also the point. NUB is not trying to be a long, slow, evolving cigar. It is trying to deliver the sweet spot right away and hold it. On that promise, it does a very good job.

For me, Oliva NUB is a dependable, flavorful, and fun cigar. It gives you a lot of smoke, a satisfying burn time, and enough wrapper variety to match different moods. The Connecticut is smooth, the Cameroon is balanced, the Habano has attitude, and the Maduro brings the darker flavor. It is a cigar that knows exactly what it wants to be: short, bold, and straight to the point.

Ratings

Category	Rating	Notes
Construction	91/100	Usually very well made with a firm pack, clean draw, and solid burn.
Flavor	88/100	Flavor is strong and enjoyable, though not always deeply complex.
Smoke Output	93/100	Big, thick clouds are one of NUB’s strongest traits.
Burn Performance	89/100	Slow and cool for the size, though the big ring gauge needs a good light.
Balance	87/100	Wrapper options give the line good range; some blends are more balanced than others.
Value	90/100	Feels like more cigar than the size suggests.
Overall Rating	89/100	A very good cigar line that delivers exactly what it promises.

Wrapper Ratings

Wrapper	Rating	Best Description
NUB Connecticut	88/100	Creamy, smooth, cedar, nuts, mild spice.
NUB Cameroon	89/100	Nutty, earthy, lightly sweet, classic.
NUB Habano	90/100	Peppery, bold, savory, stronger finish.
NUB Maduro	90/100	Coffee, cocoa, dark wood, smoky sweetness.

Final Verdict

Oliva NUB earns an 89 out of 100.

It is not perfect, and it is not trying to be overly fancy. But it is consistent, flavorful, well-built, and memorable. The whole concept works: big flavor, short format, no wasted time.