Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Torpedo
Size : 152 x 22 mm
Ring : 56
Wrapper : Nicaragua
Filler : Nicaragua
Binder : Nicaragua
Hand-Made
Price : $7 each
Oliva Serie V Torpedo was probably the cigar that I was expecting the most. Not only because it was rated 94 by Cigar Aficionado, but also due to the fact that it has received a lot of positive press among bloggers (you can check out this great review by lucky7) and it was described just like a cigar that I might fall in love with – something between medium- and full-bodied, with rich flavors of pepper, wood and coffee. And, indeed, I found this stick close to perfect.
Appearance : Rating: 
A very beautiful cigar, with one of the prettiest bands that I’ve ever seen and with a natural brown wrapper which is a little toothy and sports a few visible veins. Aesthetically impeccable.
Construction : Rating:
I cut most of the torpedo cap and immediately obtained a perfect draw. Furthermore, I can say that the Oliva Serie V Torpedo has the most exquisite pre-draw that I’ve ever experienced. It’s quite hard to describe, the best I could come up with is a mix of nutty and caramel flavors. This baby produced fragrant clouds of white smoke.
Flavor : Rating:
The first few puffs are tingling, full of black pepper and nicotine. Five minutes later, the smoke becomes smooth yet strong, with a distinctive woody taste. In the second third, coffee and chocolate. The spice is still present in the background. The finish is quite leathery with roasted coffee. Fabulous.
Value : Rating:
At $7 each, it’s a no-brainer for me as good Cuban torpedos cost around $13 per stick.
Overall Rating : Rating:
My high expectations were met. Oliva Serie V Torpedo is one of the best cigars I’ve smoked this year and I’m really starting to appreciate Nicaraguan smokes (you can have a look at Padron cigar reviews or my review of the Cumpay Robusto).
This post was written by Denis aka Inspector, who founded CigarInspector.com back in 2007. Click here for his latest articles and more information.
