Oliva Connecticut Reserve Churchill vs Undercrown Shade Gran Toro
How do Oliva Connecticut Reserve Churchill and Undercrown Shade Gran Torostack up? Here's the head-to-head — strength, wrapper, flavor, size, and critic ratings — plus which one to reach for.
The short answer
The Oliva Connecticut Reserve Churchill and Undercrown Shade Gran Toro sit at a similar mild-medium strength, so it comes down to flavor and origin.
- Strength
- Body
- Mild-Medium
- Mild-Medium
- Origin
- Nicaragua
- Nicaragua
- Wrapper
- Ecuador Connecticut Shade
- Ecuador Connecticut Shade
- Binder
- Nicaraguan
- Sumatra
- Filler
- Nicaraguan
- Dominican & Nicaraguan
- Vitola
- Churchill
- Gran Toro
- Size
- 7 in × 50
- 6 in × 52
- Rating
- 92/100 · 2023
- —
- Flavor
- CreamAlmondCedarOakLight coffee
- CreamCashewToastLight pepperOak
The verdict
- Strength
- Both land at Mild-Medium — a similar body either way.
- Critic scores
- Oliva Connecticut Reserve Churchill carries the published pedigree (92 points from the critics).
Both are worth knowing — the "better" cigar is the one that fits your taste and the moment.
Choose Oliva Connecticut Reserve Churchill if
creamy notes appeal to you.
See Oliva Connecticut Reserve Churchill →Oliva Connecticut Reserve Churchill vs Undercrown Shade Gran Toro — FAQ
- Is the Oliva Connecticut Reserve Churchill or the Undercrown Shade Gran Toro better for beginners?
- They're a similar mild-medium strength, so neither is clearly easier — choose by flavor. The Oliva Connecticut Reserve Churchill brings cream and almond, the Undercrown Shade Gran Toro cream and cashew.
- What's the difference between the Oliva Connecticut Reserve Churchill and the Undercrown Shade Gran Toro?
- The Oliva Connecticut Reserve Churchill is a mild-medium Nicaragua cigar with a Ecuador Connecticut Shade wrapper; the Undercrown Shade Gran Toro is a mild-medium Nicaragua cigar with a Ecuador Connecticut Shade wrapper.
- Which is rated higher, the Oliva Connecticut Reserve Churchill or the Undercrown Shade Gran Toro?
- Oliva Connecticut Reserve Churchill: Cigar Aficionado 92/100. Undercrown Shade Gran Toro: no published critic score yet.