Oliva Serie 'V' Maduro 2008 Torpedo Review
Cigar: Oliva Serie 'V' Maduro 2008
Size: Torpedo 6.5" x 52
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: MSRP ~$7.00
Initial Impression/Prelight
This Serie 'V' Maduro was from the 2008 release, and while the cellophane was well yellowed, the cigar didn't show any visible signs of being 8 years old. The Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper was deep, chocolate brown, fairly smooth and retained a light oil. I could barely find the seams, and the cigar appeared well-rolled and firmly packed.
I picked up dry cocoa powder and a unique, almost buttered mushroom aroma from the wrapper and foot. I clipped the tapered torpedo head, and tasted a slightly sweet hay on the firm cold draw.
This is the second cigar I've smoked from this box, the last being nearly a year ago. It's been in my humidor for around a year at 65%. Oddly, I've given away more of these to friends on the forum than I've actually smoked myself, but I'd been waiting for a good occasion to smoke another, and today is the day.
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1st Third
The 'V' Maduro started out with rich chocolate, cedar, and sweet coffee flavors. I picked up no pepper at all, and the retrohale was creamy and smooth with light baking spices and more cedar. The draw was slightly tight, and the smoke output was a little sub-par at the start. I clipped off a little more, which helped some. The flavor was solidly medium and mild strength at most.
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2nd Third
In this section the draw opened up considerably, and the smoke output increased accordingly to a touch above average. The smoke also got richer and thicker, and the profile went from middle to more on the creamy side. I picked up leather here, along with roasted nuts and a hint of nutmeg to go along with the dark chocolate and more of a black coffee in this section. I also got a touch of meatiness towards the end of the 2nd third.
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Final Third
I had to touch up the wrapper to help it along here, but I know it didn't help that I was smoking very slowly. I got a darker, bittersweet chocolate in the last section, along with more leather and mellow cedar. I also picked up a peanut butter flavor, which is exactly what I remember from the first one of these I smoked. I don't remember that taste from any other cigar I've smoked, and it was great and went well with the chocolate, almost like a Reeses Peanut Butter cup thing.
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Overall Impressions
Well, this was a good cigar. I thought age had taken the strength down, but when I stood up at the end my head swam a little, and I'll say it's retained medium-full strength. Age hasn't dulled the flavors either, and I thoroughly enjoyed the chocolate and nuttiness throughout. Especially towards the end, it almost felt like letting little piece of 70% cocoa dark chocolate melt in my mouth. Awesome.
I retrohaled a ton (for me) during this cigar, probably every 8-10 puffs, and it stayed smooth and enjoyable. The cigar was creamy and slow-burning, and I'm looking forward to smoking the rest of the box.
This was a treat, and 7 years later the 'V' Maduro is smoking like a dream. If you ever have a chance to lay your hands on this release, I'd jump on it.
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Update: updated strength estimate - I wrote the review as I smoked, and it didn't hit me until I stood up.
