Cigar review: Oliva Serie V Especial
Lancero’s are not everyone’s favorite shape. If I get a good one , I feel very lucky. They are making a limited comeback and if manufacturers make more, the quality probably will get better.
Brand/Name of Cigar: Oliva Serie V Especial Lancero
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Size: 7 x 38
Wrapper: Habano Sungrown
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaraguan Alapa Valley Ligero
Shape: Lancero
Price: $6.99 MSRP, Holt’s Cigars
Where and When Smoked: Los Angeles, Ca. 4/15/18
Appearance/Construction: The cigar wrapper was a medium brown hue with elegant lines and a clean appearance. Semi oily feel with only small veins showing. Lancero’s tend to be somewhat tight and this stick was no exception.
Flavor/Taste and Aroma: First third was very smooth with a light touch of cocoa, vanilla cream and cedar. The cedar is very faint. The cigar looked good in my hand.
The second third was a bit more spicy but nothing harsh or powerful. The basic premise is, this a medium blend cigar with no edges or spikes.
The final third was similar in its overall taste. Received another hit of spice but not dramatic.
Smoking Characteristics: The cigar maintained a very even burn with a cool draw. However, it burned pretty fast which was not surprising as it is a lancero. It stayed lit throughout the smoke and did not give me any issues.
Conclusion/Overall Impression: I liked this cigar but would not classify it as top tier. It needed a bit more overall flavor as perhaps it could have had more spice. I don’t mind spice in a well made cigar as this adds more dash to the smoke.
Final Thoughts and Numbers: I would buy this cigar again, keep it in the humidor for more aging which might have kicked up the flavor a notch or two. Lancero’s are still a rare bird and would enjoy more in the market place.
Appearance/Construction: 4 out of 5
Flavor/Taste and Aroma: 3.5 out of 5
Smoking Characteristics: 3.8 out of 5
Conclusion/Overall Impression: 3.8 out of 5
Keep smoking