Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial 2012

The Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial 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).  Each year, the Serie V Maduro is done in a single vitola, and there have been blend variations over the years.  The Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial 2012 marks the fifth consecutive year this cigar has been released.  Like the previous two years, the Oliva Serie V Maduro 2012 uses a San Andres wrapper from Mexico.  Also like the previous year, it comes in a toro vitola.   From a blend composition and vitola size standpoint, the Oliva Serie V Maduro 2012 appears very similar to the Oliva Serie V Maduro 2011.  From a smoking experience, I found the Serie V Maduro 2012 to be very different from the Serie V Maduro 2011.  While the Serie V Maduro 2012 is a solid smoke, it does fall a little short to last year’s release.

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 2012 to the other releases.  

Like the 2010 and 2011 editions, the Serie V Maduro 2012 uses a San Andres Mexican maduro wrapper.  It also is a toro vitola identical to last year’s in size.  The blend compositon appears to also be similar.  While we don’t have specifics on whether the blend changed or not, we do feel the 2012 provided a different smoking experience from the 2011 edition. 

The Oliva Serie V Maduro 2012 is as follows:

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.  

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)

Oliva Serie V Maduro 2011
Wrapper: San Andres Mexican Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Vitola: 6 x 50 (Toro)

Appearance

As mentioned above, in addition similarities to the blend composition and vitola size, there are similarities in appearance between the Oliva Serie V Maduro 2012 and the 2011 edition.  The Serie V Maduro 2012 has a classic chocolate color to it as well as a sandy and rough feel when touched.  It also has visible wrapper seams and some visible veins.   The Serie V Maduro 2012 seemed to have a very tight pack to it.

Like the previous editions the Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial 2012 uses a similar band to the Oliva Serie V band .  It features the same brown, red, beige, and gold color scheme.  The one difference to the core Serie V line is that it says “Maduro” and “Especial” in brown script to the left and right of the “V” logo.
Preparation for the Cigar Experience
For my cigar experience of the Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial 2012, I went with my usual straight cut into the cap of the cigar.  After the cap was clipped, I proceeded to begin the pre-light draw.  The pre-light draw seemed to offer more than the 2011 edition.  I detected notes of chocolate and leather as well as a little cherry sweetness and a little cedar spice.  Overall, I considered this a positive pre-light experience.  At this point, I was ready to light my Oliva Serie V Maduro 2012 and see what the cigar experience would bring to the table.
Flavor Profile
As mentioned above, while the Oliva Serie V Maduro 2012 was similar to the 2011 edition, the smoking experience greatly differed.
The Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial 2012 started out with a quick shot of pepper.  Once the pepper subsided it was joined by notes of chocolate, leather, mocha, earth, and cherry.  The cherry was present in the background while the other flavors were all in the forefront.  
By about the five percent point, the pepper took a slight edge over the leather, mocha, and earth notes.  The cherry flavor became a tertiary flavor.  At this point, the Oliva Serie V Maduro 2012 had a feel of what I term a “chewy maduro” (I consider that a positive).
Throughout most of the first half there pepper and mocha took turns alternating as a primary note. At times both notes were present in the forefront.  I noticed some of the pungent (sharp) spiciness I tend to get from San Andres Maduro wrappers surface from time to time.  At times I felt it was overwhelming at the expense of the rest of the flavor profile.  The cherry, leather, and earth notes remained secondary.
By the last third of the Oliva Serie V Maduro 2012, the pepper took over as a primary note.  The mocha, leather, and earth were still present in the background and the cherry notes had dissipated.  I found the pepper spice to still be on the pungent side.  Toward the end, the spice did get harsh.  The resulting nub was soft to the touch and cool in temperature.

Burn and Draw

As mentioned above, the Oliva Serie V Maduro 2012 had a tight pack.  This seemed to have an impact with the draw. While I normally like a little resistance on the draw, I found this draw was a little tighter than I prefer – especially in the first half.  Things did open up a little more in the second half.

The tighter draw did not have any adverse effects on the the burn – which was excellent from start to finish.   The Serie V Maduro 2012 burned sharp with minimal touch-ups needed.  The ash was a tight, white ash with minimal flaking.  The burn rate and burn temperature were ideal.

Burn of the Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial 2012

Strength and Body

When looking at both the strength and body of the Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial 2012, I found this to be on the most full when compared to the other two San Andres wrapper releases from 2010 and 2011.  I found this cigar to be both a full strength and full-bodied cigar.  The strength and body of this cigar balanced each other well with neither attribute overshadowing the other.  I’m curious to see if time will mellow both of these attributes.

Final Thoughts

Overall the Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial 2012 did have some positive qualities.  However, things like the pungent spice and tighter draw did impact my smoking experience.  When compared to the previous two San Andres wrapper Serie V Maduro cigars, it does fall a notch lower.   As mentioned above, I am curious to see what age will do to this blend.  Given this is a full strength, full-bodied smoke, I would steer this cigar to a more seasoned cigar enthusiast.  As for myself, there are still more positives than negatives.  While I would reach for this cigar from time to time, I’d still prefer to smoke a Serie V 2010 Maduro or a Serie V 2011 Maduro.

Summary

Burn: Excellent
Draw: Good
Complexity: Medium
Strength: Full
Body: Full
Finish: Fair
Assessment: Nice to Have
Score: 89

Source: The cigars for this assessment were purchased from Outland Cigars in Charlotte, North Carolina.