NC Review: Oliva Serie V

[ayedfy]

Another NC, then I'm back to usual business. The Americans seem to think this one goes alright so I took the opportunity to give it a shot.

Oliva Serie V Ligero Especial. Nicaragua, vitola size: 5x54.

Cold observations: Firmly packed, gorgeous dark oily wrapper. Nice aroma at cold of raw coffee bean, cracked pepper, and dark cooking chocolate. While most NCs I've smoked have been wind tunnels, the draw of this is definitely firm. Sweet notes of vanilla custard and shredded wheatmeal biscuits coming through on the cold draw.

Opening third: Body starting off at an even medium. Coffee, coffee, coffee. Warm and toasty, with more of the biscuity cereal sweetness alluded to on the cold draw. Butterscotch and starchy baked potato. Undertones of acidity, but much quieter than the overwhelminng zing from the previously reviewed AF Hemingway.

Middle third: Developing into a slightly citrusy twist. Grapefruit, pomegranate, mango, and lychee. Apple strudle making its way in at about the halfway point. Introduction of some savoury spices. Capsicum, basil, and burnt toast. Still sitting at a modest even body.

Final third: Drying up to that expected toasted tobacco bitterness. Cocoa beans, espresso, charred oak, and losing much of the sweetness from the previous stages. Grassy, with dry hay sitting towards the back. Again, no change in body.

Rather nice. Loses points on a disappointing final third, however the deliciously balanced layers of complexity in everything before that was lovely. Well done Nicaragua for making an NC I'd actually spend my coin on!

87/100

[Marker]

I personally love the Oliva V, but I should probably slow down smoking them. The middle third fruits and spices have eluded me.

[Profmd]

Definitely one of my favorite non-Cuban cigars.

The wrappers are what really draw me in. The sweetness is right where you want it also.

Great review!

[olotti]

Thanks for the review. I love the oliva V's. I've had quite a few that if I were to have closed my eyes I would've swore I was smoking a Bolivar just loads of coffee and cream with a nice spice floating over the top. The oliva family hit it out of the park with this line and its been a staple of mine for years.

[Marker]

You mean you don't get pomegranate, lychee, capsicum, basil and shredded wheatmeal biscuits? LOL

Very specific and descriptive review Ash. You certainly have a talent with words!

I wouldn't know lychee if it hit me in the face, while smoking a cigar.

[ramon_cojones]

You mean you don't get pomegranate, lychee, capsicum, basil and shredded wheatmeal biscuits? LOL

Very specific and descriptive review Ash. You certainly have a talent with words!

I've never tasted that amalgam before that's for sure.

[Hollywood414]

I have trouble bringing out one or two distinct flavors, never mind five in one third of the cigar alone! I need to step up my game.

[ayedfy]

To everyone talking about those wild flavours... I know I sound like a wanker, but I really didn't have to dig to pull those out in the case of this example. Sometimes cigars taste quite generic and I have to really hunt around for anything out of the ordinary, but here, every second draw was something different and unusual, and very distinctive. There were also some other flavours that hit me but I couldn't quite put my finger on and thus didn't make it into this review. Wonderfully complex cigar.

[JohnnyNorth]

I suggest you try different vitola. Oliva serie v lancero is a great after dinner smoke.

Bold and spicy coffee notes are present.

[westg]

Good on you for taking the time and effort for posting your review. I too like the Oliva V line. I will post you a pm as to where you can buy a box and not get stung for duty at least I haven't yet any way. The one thing you should take out of your post review comments is that good or bad, you know people are reading them by their comments.

You described a composite of flavours well done and thanks for posting.

[ayedfy]

I suggest you try different vitola. Oliva serie v lancero is a great after dinner smoke.

Bold and spicy coffee notes are present.

Will keep that in mind, thanks for the suggestion!

[ramon_cojones]

I used to smoke v lanceros all the time years ago, really no comparison to CC variants like cohiba.

[paulF]

Cheers for a great review Ash and for a very developed palate! Awesome stuff!