Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Toro
Size : 6 x 50
Wrapper : Mexican San Andres maduro
Filler : Nicaragua
Binder : Nicaragua
Hand-Made
Price : ~$10 each
Note: I did a guest cigar review for the Serie V Maduro Especial 2011 a year back on another website. I noticed that the owner of that site has now removed all references to Cigar Inspector from that review and basically published it as his own. Not a gentleman’s move, but unfortunately this happens in the blogosphere. I’m illustrating this redux review with the original pictures so you can see who’s the real reviewer.
Anyway, I thought this was an opportunity to revisit this cigar and see how it fares one year later. As a reminder, Oliva releases Oliva Serie V Maduro cigars since 2008 and the 2011 edition was a 6 x 50 toro featuring a Mexican San Andres Maduro wrapper.
Appearance : Rating: 
The Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial 2011 features a beautiful, dark brown wrapper with a reddish tint and a few prominent veins running through it. It is firm but not hard, with no noticeable soft spots. A nice triple cap and a very elegant band add the finishing touches to an exceptional appearance.
Construction : Rating: 
Solid construction was a nice surprise here, considering that earlier releases in this series were plagued by problematic draws (especially the 2008 and 2009). The draw on the 2011 is awesome, and the burn is even. It didn’t need any touch-ups, and the ash held on nicely. Oliva has made a great deal of improvement in this respect!
Flavor : Rating:
This is a dark, earthy cigar, which you’ll distinguish right from the start with the pre-light aroma: espresso with notes of hay and leather. The first third is dominated by earthy dark chocolate notes and bitter coffee. You can pick up some black pepper on the retrohale, but it stays in the backdrop. During the second half, the flavor profile morphs, and the quantity of smoke increases. The earthy and chocolaty notes take a back seat, and are replaced by cedar and nuts. The coffee notes become stronger, and the draw opens up a bit more (which is a good thing; it was still a little tight in the beginning). Despite the strong, dark flavors, I would call this a medium-bodied cigar.
Value : Rating: 
At about $9.00 a stick, these are not cheap cigars, but they are definitely one of the best releases in this line. This is a great dessert cigar, and I look forward to treating myself to one now and again.
Overall Rating : Rating:
The Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial 2011 is a solid offering in the Oliva cigar line, correcting tight draw problems that the line suffered from in the past. The flavors and aromas are excellent, and fans of coffee will love this stogie. Furthermore, it smokes extremely well at the moment, so try to locate one.
This post was written by Denis aka Inspector, who founded CigarInspector.com back in 2007. Click here for his latest articles and more information.
