Brand: Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial
Vitola: Torpedo
Ring Gauge: 52
Length: 6.50
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Origin: Nicaragua
Price: $8.00

Brand:
On October 15th a new cigar from the Oliva Family of Cigars is slated to begin shipping from Miami Florida to cigar shops around the country. This cigar is a follow-up to the highly acclaimed Oliva Serie V Liga Especial, which has been a hit in the cigar market since its release a little more than a year ago.

The Serie V Maduro is available in one size, and one size only, a torpedo which is slightly different than the Liga Especial Torpedo. The V Maduro will have a ring gauge of 52 and a length of 6.50” as opposed to its counterpart which is 54 x 6.00. According to Cigar Insider, the reasoning for the reduced ring gauge was to dial back the power of the cigar. In early stages the added size made the blend “over the top” and by backing off the filler, the preferred proportion of power and smoothness was achieved.

Pre-Light:

After eagerly removing my Servie V Maduro from its cellophane sleeve, I began to give it a good looking over. The color of the wrapper is consistent from head to foot while exhibiting a slight dry appearance. In the middle of the cigar, there was one medium sized vein which added a slight lumpy feel to the leaf. When pinched, the cigar was firmly and consistently packed.

Once my initial inspection was complete, I moved to opening the head of my cigar. The cold draw produced a pleasant earthy flavor while providing an excellent draw with just the right amount of resistance for my taste. The aroma on the wrapper and exposed foot provided the same earthiness of the cold draw, however, was much milder.

First Third:

Once I was satisfied with my pre-light inspection, I moved to the lighting process. Just as I would have expected, the cigar lit without a hitch and began burning evenly from the start. The first puff of smoke was thick and flavorful, I quickly moved to blowing it from my sinus and was taken about by the result. The spice was intense, a larger puff certainly would have made my eyes water.

Just as you might have expected, the Serie V Maduro comes out of the gate in the Full bodied range. While being loaded with power, the smoke was easy on the palate and left me with a crisp and enjoyable sensation. After the initial wave of spice fades, the finish is creamy.

The flavor which stands out most to me is wood, although it is not what I would generally call cedar. It has a different character to it which makes it a little more difficult to place. As the wood flavor begins to fade, a rich black coffee flavor takes it place for a moment before dissipating.

The burn line is slightly wavy while producing a light colored and firm ash. The burn seems to be on par for a cigar of its size while having an excellent draw. Each puff provides an ample amount of smoke which feels dense and is easily passed through the sinus.

Second Third:

After an hour of smoking, I found myself into the second third of my cigar. The body becomes a little more full along the way, all the while, providing a smooth and creamy finish. When the smoke is passed through the sinus, there is still a blast of pepper which I find to be very enjoyable.

The flavors have developed considerable and hit the palate from all directions with lots of complexity. The primary flavor of wood remains while the black coffee flavor is subsiding. Replacing the coffee are tones of leather, black pepper, and what I would consider to be a traditional Connecticut broadleaf flavor. Just as one flavor begins to disappear, another slowly drifts into focus

The burn line was slightly wavy, as it was in the first third, but it is far from being what I would consider problematic. The burn rate continues to be right on par with its size while producing loads of thick and flavorful smoke with each and every puff. The spent wrapper produces a beautiful ash which is light in color with small white speckles from oils within the leaf.

Final Third:

After roughly an hour and a half, it was time to remove the band and get down to the final third of my Oliva Serie V Maduro. The body slowly progressed a little deeper into the full spectrum. After expelling the smoke, I was left with an enjoyable creamy texture which coated the walls of my mouth and tongue.

The flavors continued to develop and become more complex as the stick turned to ash. It seemed as though every puff provided more and more refinement which makes this cigar a pleasure to smoke. The dominant flavor remains that of wood, while the background flavors are a medley of sweet spice, black pepper, coffee, and bitter chocolate. When the smoke is passed through the sinus I still get a nice blast of spice.

Just as in the previous thirds, the burn line was slightly wavy and produced a firm, light colored ash. Once the ash develops to about an inch in length, a firm tap knocks it from the cigar in one solid chunk. The exposed foot has a slight cone shape to it which leads me to believe that all parts of the cigar are burning just as intended.

Final Thoughts:
Overall I am very impressed with the Maduro Especial. It was not what I expected, but in a good way. Having smoked a number of Liga Especial cigars, I had the thought in my head that this cigar would be very similar in body and flavor with a bit of a Maduro twist. This cigar was anything but that, it had wonderful flavor that was all its own.

If I had to make a comparison among existing Oliva cigars and this one, I would have to say that it has the body, power, and spice that I have come to love in the El Cobre, while having the richness, complexity, and refinement of the original Serie V. Personally I think that Oliva has hit a home run with this cigar and has produced exactly what people were crying out for when they asked for a Serie V Maduro.

The added price puts this cigar just outside of my general comfort zone, but I think it is certainly worth the extra dollar and a half. With the production being limited, I think that if you are interested in trying this smoke, you shouldn’t hesitate to make the purchase if you come across one in your local shop.

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