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| Oliva Serie V Maduro 2011 |
The Oliva Serie V Maduro is an annual limited production release that is a maduro version of the popular Oliva Serie V (which uses a Nicaraguan Habano Sun-grown wrapper) . The Serie V Maduro is done in a single vitola, and the blend has varied from year to year. The 2011 edition marks the fourth year in a row that Oliva has released a Serie V Maduro. The first three editions leveraged different maduro wrappers, but all had a common bond in that they were torpedo-shaped vitolas. The Oliva Serie V Maduro 2011 marks a major change in the series in that this is the first toro in the Maduro series. Overall, this cigar was nothing short of a home-run and ranks up there as one of Oliva’s best releases ever.
Typically, the Oliva Serie V Maduro releases are made available to the top Oliva retailers in the country. They are sold in boxes of 10. Let’s take a closer look at this cigar and see what it brings to the table.
Blend Profile and Vitolas Available
Normally these are separate components to the assessments done on this
web-site, but in this case they will be combined as it will be easier to
contrast the Oliva Serie V Maduro 2011 to some of the other releases. The Serie V Maduro 2011 uses a San Andres Mexican maduro wrapper as did the 2010 edition. As mentioned above, only one vitola is done per year – and this year is the first year a toro was selected. It also represents the thinnest ring gauge (50) that has been done in the series.
The Oliva Serie V Maduro 2011 is as follows:
Oliva Serie V Maduro 2011
Wrapper: San Andres Mexican Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Vitola: 6 x 50 (Toro)
For historical purposes, here are the other cigars that have made up the Oliva Serie V Maduro. In general, there have been blend variations year to year.
Oliva Serie V Maduro 2008
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Vitola: 6 1/2 x 52 (Torpedo)
Oliva Serie V Maduro 2009
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Vitola: 6 1/2 x 52 (Torpedo)
Oliva Serie V Maduro 2010
Wrapper: San Andres Mexican Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Vitola: 6 1/2 x 54 (Torpedo)
Appearance
Being the both use San Andres wrapper, the Oliva Serie V Maduro 2011 has some similarities to the Serie V 2010. Both have a classic chocolate color to it as well as a sandy and rough feel when touched. They also have visible wrapper seams and are not toothy. Finally, both use the classic Oliva Serie V band – with no noticeable differences from the core Oliva Serie V band.
Preparation for the Cigar Experience
As I usually do when cutting a cigar, I placed a straight cut into the cap of the Oliva Serie V Maduro 2011. When I commenced with the pre-light draw, I was treated to a combination of cedar and cherry sweetness. I would not categorize the dry draw notes as complex, but they were still very satisfying. It was now on to toasting the foot of the Serie V Maduro 2011 and see what was in store.
Flavor Profile
The initial flavor notes of the Oliva Serie V Maduro 2011 continued the cherry and cedar notes that were present on the pre-light draw. This was also joined by notes of coffee. The cedar notes had more spice than on the pre-light draw. The cherry notes moved out in front early on. There were a couple of bitter spots in the early stages, but for the most part the Serie V Maduro started smooth.
Around ten percent into the cigar experience, the cherry sweetness dissipated. The flavor profile switched to more of a coffee and espresso flavor. There were also some notes of wood and the cedar spice became more peppery. By the end of the first third, the coffee/espresso notes switched again into a classic chocolate flavor.
In the second half of the Oliva Serie V Maduro 2011, the chocolate took on more of a cocoa flavor. It was in the second half where I noticed the depth of the flavor notes decrease somewhat. The flavors got a little more muted, but did not completely dissipate. Some of the flavor profile became more woody toward the end. The finish to the cigar featured the cocoa and wood notes. The finish was not spicy (although I could detect pepper through the nostrils) and was rather smooth. The resulting nub was outstanding – cool in temperature and firm to the touch.
Burn and Draw
The Oliva Serie V Maduro 2011 does very well scoring wise for burn and draw. The burn remained razor-sharp throughout the smoke – with minimal touch-ups. The burn temperature and burn rate were ideal. Throughout the smoke of this cigar, the ash remained tight and white. As for the draw, I found it better than the 2010 version. It didn’t surprise me that the 2011 was better in draw because I think many times torpedo vitolas fall short in the area – so I think this being a toro vitola helped. The draw itself was flawless – one of the best in the Oliva Serie V Maduro line.
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| Tight white ash of the Oliva Serie V Maduro 2011 |
Strength and Body
The Oliva Serie V Maduro 2011 seemed to have less strength from a nicotine standpoint than the 2010 edition. While the 2010 was more at full strength, the 2011 was more in the medium strength range. On the other hand the 2011 edition had more body than the 2010 version for most of the cigar. I assessed the 2011 version to be medium to full in body – although toward the end, I thought the depth of the flavors fell back into the medium range.
In the Oliva Serie V Maduro 2010, the strength seemed to have an edge over the body. With the Oliva Serie V Maduro 2011, it does a better job at balancing strength and body.
Final Thoughts
This is another cigar that was not sampled in time for the 2011 Cigar of the Year countdown. If it was, it probably would have done very well in the Top 30. Overall – even with some of the muted flavors that occurred toward the end of this cigar, this was still one of the best of the Oliva Serie V Maduro line that I have had. I think the change to a toro worked for the better. While this is a cigar I would recommend to an experienced cigar enthusiast, I would definitely encourage a novice enthusiast who wants a special smoke to give this a try. I personally would consider a box purchase of these.
Summary
Burn: Excellent
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: Medium
Strength: Medium
Body: Medium to Full (Medium toward end)
Finish: Excellent
Assessment: Memorable
Score: 93
Source: The cigar for this assessment was gifted to me.
