The Oliva V Maduro is back for another go around, and this time they use the familiar 6 x 60 Double Toro size. Personally, I was hoping the company would get away from this size. For a while the cigar has highly sought after by collectors and/or cigar geeks but this size does nothing to help that in my opinion. A corona gorda would be nice or even a traditional Robusto or Toro. It feels like the company has mailed it in on this release doing nothing interesting to change it up. Let’s hope the cigar is good, shall we?
Cigar: Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial 2017
Wrapper: San Andreas (Mexico)
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Length: 6
Ring: 60
Size: Double Toro / Gordo
The Look: The cigar comes packaged in an affordable 10 count box, and based on memory the wrapper doesn’t seem as dark or as tooth in years past. The 60 ring cigar is rolled to perfection, but there are a few notable veins on the wrapper. It’s firm to the touch with a spongy foot and the cigar features the Oliva V band on it. It would of been nice to have a secondary band that denoted Maduro on it.
The Notes: After we cut the cap on the Oliva Maduro Especial 2017 the initial draw is heavy on cedar notes with a touch of earth while those cedar notes are mimicked on the foot of the cigar. Once the cigar is toasted and lit, the first puff of the cigar reveals a note of red pepper flakes.
As we smoke the first third its remarkably smooth with some subtle earth notes, that linger in the background with primary notes of mocha and nuts with a continued red pepper on the retrohale which lingers on the aroma of the cigar.
As we transition into the second third the pepper from the retrohale becomes the focal point with a subtle mocha note and a lengthy leathery finish.
The last third sees a coffee notes develop as the primary flavor with some mocha floating around in the background while the retrohale has an abundance of red pepper and a long leathery finish.
The Finish: Been there, done that. That’s what came to mind when I smoked this cigar from Oliva. I use to look forward to this yearly release but with another year of 6 x 60 I feel like I am over it. If you’ve been a fan of the release and you like the 60 ring gauge this might be for you, but I hope Oliva discontinues this release or changes up the format.
Score: 88
Price: 10.69 / $89.99
Oliva V 2017 Maduro Especial Double Toro
Oliva V 2017 Maduro Especial Double Toro Burn
