Back in 2008, Oliva Cigar Company began what has become a yearly tradition the Oliva V Maduro. While the brand began as a torpedo, the company switched in 2011 to a toro format. But that wasn’t the only change as the cigar went from being a Connecticut Broadleaf, to Habano in 2010 and in 2011 it would change to San Andres, where it remains today.
Like last year, the 2015 Oliva V Maduro measures at 6 x 60 much to my dismay.
Cigar: Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial 2015
Size: 6 x 60 (Double Toro)
Wrapper: San Andreas (Mexico)
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: Full
The Look: When you look at the Oliva V Maduro straight on it doesn’t look much different then the traditional line. The wrapper while darker isn’t tremendously different then the classic V line. The band looks the same except on the side it denotes Maduro Especial. The cigar itself has some nice visible oils some thin veins and feels like velvet under the fingers. It is firm, well packed and with no soft spots.
The Notes: The foot of the cigar has the nose of cedar shavings with a subtle sweetness. The cold draw has more notes of cedar with a touch of mocha and wet earth. There is some spice on the lips as we prepare to light the Oliva V Maduro 2015 edition.
Once we light up the limited edition from Oliva there are notes of earth and leather, but once you retrohale the cigar it begins to take on a complexity that consists of warm chocolate and a touch of cinnamon. As we work our way into the first third of the Series V Maduro the sweetness moves front and center with some leather on the moderate finish.
As we transition into the second third some pepper develops through the nose but the sweetness of the cigar reminds the focal point with a cola like sweetness and a hint of cherry. As we move past the midway point some elements of coffee begins to appear and linger on the finish with a touch of leather.
The last third sees the coffee notes develop as the primary flavor with some mocha floating around in the background on the finish where it is joined by some nuttiness and faint elements of cedar.
The Burn: The 60 ring gauge Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial is flawless with a razor-sharp burn line. The combustion line ultra thin with a perfect draw. The ash which is a mix of dark and medium gray holds strong for more than a third at a time. I did need to relight the cigar once as we moved into the last third but that may have been due to user neglect as I was working on a few things at the time of review.
The Finish: With a cigar that is limited in production to 6,000 units it is a no brainer that these are box worthy just for the collectibility aspect. As much as I once hated 60 ring gauge cigars I find them to be less annoying the more I smoke them. Even though I want a 6 x 50 toro release of this yearly release, I found the Double Toro to be enjoyable and well rounded.
Score: 90
Price: $10.19 / $89.99 @ Two Guys Smoke Shop
Oliva V Maduro 2015
Oliva V Maduro 2015 Foot
Oliva V Maduro 2015 Burn
