Oliva Serie V Maduro

Sauer Grapes · 11-12-2008, 12:59 AM

Smoked my first one of these late this afternoon. Weather was clear and 50 with a very slight breeze.

Clipped the cigar to give a firm draw, but not tight. The cigar has a nice look, construction seems to be very nice except the cigar feels soft in more than a couple places. There are actually two stems visible on the foot as well.

Toasted the cigar and off we went. Initial smell and taste wasn't really that great, but it took off from there. Burn was straight the whole cigar. The cigar actually went out about 1.5 inches in, and I wasn't letting it sit at all. I re-lit it and it was fine the rest of the time, although I did purge a few times.

The taste would come and go, but overall it was a very nice tasting stick. There were a couple times that I got a burning sensation on my lips or tongue, but it wasn't from heat. It was almost a chemical burn taste and feel. The cigar was kept at 60 for the past week and a half, and 65 for the last day.

The amount of smoke would come and go as well, but after the re-light, it pretty consistently gave off a decent amount of smoke.

The big downside... about a third of the way through, I looked down and what did I see? Tar, and a good amount of it. I was lucky to see it and not taste it or get it on my lips, tongue or hands. I clipped a half inch further and didn't see any signs of tar and proceeded with the smoke. The draw was almost too loose now, but it's better than tar, and better than tossing the cigar. I was careful to look for more tar the rest of the cigar but none appeared.

Overall I really think these need some rest. I debating on whether or not to cancel my backordered box that is supposed to ship this week or not. I'll probably still get it and let it rest, and if I don't like the other single I have, just sell the box to someone who wants it.

Look: 8.5/10 stems in the foot are the only knocks on this one.
Construction: 2/10 tar was a big hit on this one. Without the tar it would have been much higher.
Draw: 8/10 before the re-cut, it had a very nice draw
Smell: 7.5/10 had a weird smell every so often, but overall nice
Taste 6/10 Very good most of the time, but had waves of chemicals or ammonia.

Overall 5/10 Without the tar, it would have been a 7 or 7.5. Should improve with age, but I'm not impressed, and for the price point there are MUCH better cigars. Regular V's are much better IMO. Did have a nice nic kick.

11-12-2008, 12:59 AM	#1
Sauer Grapes Snatchin' yo people up Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,235 Trading: (44)	Oliva Serie V Maduro Smoked my first one of these late this afternoon. Weather was clear and 50 with a very slight breeze. Clipped the cigar to give a firm draw, but not tight. The cigar has a nice look, construction seems to be very nice except the cigar feels soft in more than a couple places. There are actually two stems visible on the foot as well. Toasted the cigar and off we went. Initial smell and taste wasn't really that great, but it took off from there. Burn was straight the whole cigar. The cigar actually went out about 1.5 inches in, and I wasn't letting it sit at all. I re-lit it and it was fine the rest of the time, although I did purge a few times. The taste would come and go, but overall it was a very nice tasting stick. There were a couple times that I got a burning sensation on my lips or tongue, but it wasn't from heat. It was almost a chemical burn taste and feel. The cigar was kept at 60 for the past week and a half, and 65 for the last day. The amount of smoke would come and go as well, but after the re-light, it pretty consistently gave off a decent amount of smoke. The big downside... about a third of the way through, I looked down and what did I see? Tar, and a good amount of it. I was lucky to see it and not taste it or get it on my lips, tongue or hands. I clipped a half inch further and didn't see any signs of tar and proceeded with the smoke. The draw was almost too loose now, but it's better than tar, and better than tossing the cigar. I was careful to look for more tar the rest of the cigar but none appeared. Overall I really think these need some rest. I debating on whether or not to cancel my backordered box that is supposed to ship this week or not. I'll probably still get it and let it rest, and if I don't like the other single I have, just sell the box to someone who wants it. Look: 8.5/10 stems in the foot are the only knocks on this one. Construction: 2/10 tar was a big hit on this one. Without the tar it would have been much higher. Draw: 8/10 before the re-cut, it had a very nice draw Smell: 7.5/10 had a weird smell every so often, but overall nice Taste 6/10 Very good most of the time, but had waves of chemicals or ammonia. Overall 5/10 Without the tar, it would have been a 7 or 7.5. Should improve with age, but I'm not impressed, and for the price point there are MUCH better cigars. Regular V's are much better IMO. Did have a nice nic kick.