The Oliva Serie V has long been a staple release for the Oliva brand and in its seven-year existence has become one of the most notable lines to come out of the Nicaraguan company as well.

Released with much fanfare for the first time in 2007, the Nicaraguan puro has grown to include multiple blends including various Serie V Maduro Especials, Serie V Melanio and Melanio Maduros; some regular production and others limited. In total, there are 18 Serie Vs, six Serie V Maduro Especials, 11 Serie V Melanios and three Serie V.

Oliva Serie V Toro Tampa Humidor 10th Anniversary.png

(Via Facebook/Tampa Humidor.)

Last year, of Florida-based retailer, Tampa Humidor announced that Oliva would make a unique Serie V vitola in commemoration of its 10th anniversary. The 6 x 54 toro was first released at the retailer’s annual Tampa Cigar Bash on Oct. 26, 2013. Only 2,400 cigars were produced, and they were sold in boxes of 12 for $90.

 

Oliva Serie V Tampa Humidor 10th Anniversary 1

  • Cigar Reviewed: Oliva Serie V Tampa Humidor 10th Anniversary
  • Country of Origin: Nicaragua
  • Factory: Tabacalera Oliva de Nicaragua S.A.
  • Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Sun Grown
  • Binder: Nicaragua
  • Filler: Nicaragua
  • Size: 6 Inches
  • Ring Gauge: 54
  • Vitola: Toro
  • MSRP: $7.50 (Boxes of 12, $90)
  • Date Released: Oct. 26, 2013
  • Number of Cigars Released: 200 Boxes of 12 (2,400 Total Cigars)
  • Number of Cigars Smoked for Review: 2

The Oliva Serie V Tampa Humidor 10th Anniversary looks identical to any other Oliva Serie V other than a different size: a dark mocha brown wrapper that is smooth to the touch with virtually no oil present at all. There are some veins noticeable, but they are not big enough to be distracting and it is just a little more spongy when squeezed than average. Aroma from the wrapper is a strong musky earthiness mixed with a slight sweetness and pepper, while the cold draw brings flavors of leather, barnyard, nuts and earth along with a tiny amount of spice.

The Oliva Serie V starts out with strong flavors of barnyard, leather, earth and cedar, along with a slight creamy nuttiness that is gets stronger as the first third burns down. There is some very nice maple sweetness on the finish which combines well with the rest of the profile. The smoke production coming from the foot is massive from the start, like a house on fire. The overall construction is good, with a burn that wavers a bit and a great draw that has just the right amount of resistance. Strength-wise, the Oliva Serie V ends the first third below the medium mark, but it is still rising.

Oliva Serie V Tampa Humidor 10th Anniversary 2

Coming into the second third, the Tampa Humidor 10th Anniversary features many of the same dominant flavors of nuts, cedar, gritty earth and espresso, but the maple sweetness has changed a bit and gotten stronger, ending up as more of a vanilla bean flavor that I can taste on the finish as well as the retrohale. The burn has evened out nicely and the draw continues to impress, and while the smoke production has receded a bit, it is still well above average. The strength has risen to a point just below medium, but is still increasing noticeably.

Oliva Serie V Tampa Humidor 10th Anniversary 3

The final third of the Oliva Serie V Tampa Humidor 10th Anniversary does not change much compared to the first two thirds, with flavors of espresso, earth, nuts, anise and cedar leading the way. The vanilla bean sweetness is still very much present, but noticeably reduced from the second third, and is mostly relegated to the finish by the end of the cigar. Construction-wise, both the burn and draw are excellent until the end, with a very nice burn line and smoke production that remains quite high. The strength finally punches through the medium mark, but stalls there, and the nub is nice and cool when I put it down with a little over an inch left.

Oliva Serie V Tampa Humidor 10th Anniversary 4

Final Notes

  • The band on this release is just a normal Oliva V band, with no indication at all that it is a limited edition. In fact, other than the box they come in, there is no way to tell it is a special release other than the fact that it is a unique size in the Oliva Serie V line.
  • The extremely rare Oliva Serie V Culebra is not only the best Oliva I have ever smoked, it remains one of the best cigars from any time, brand or country that I have ever smoked.
  • The smoke production is massive on these cigars, almost as bad as a Liga Privada in that regard, although the smoke smells better than a Liga Privada, a combination of cedar and sweet nutmeg.
  • The final smoking time for the samples I smoked averaged one hour and 45 minutes.
  • The cigars smoked for this review were purchased by halfwheel from Tampa Humidor.
  • If you would like to purchase any of the Oliva Serie V Tampa Humidor 10th Anniversary, Tampa Humidor still has a few in stock here.
87 Overall Score

I have always been a fan of the Oliva Serie V line, but with the exception of the Culebra, I generally find them to be very similar. The Tampa Humidor 10th Anniversary is no different in that regard, with a profile dominated by cedar, earth and a nutty creaminess. I did notice more sweetness in this size than many of the other vitolas in the line. While distinct, the flavor profile is not overly complex, but it is still a great example of a Nicaraguan puro that remains consistent year after year.

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Brooks Whittington

I have been smoking cigars for over eight years. A documentary wedding photographer by trade, I spent seven years as a photojournalist for the Dallas Morning News and the Fort Worth Star Telegram. I started the cigar blog SmokingStogie in 2008 after realizing that there was a need for a cigar blog with better photographs and more in-depth information about each release. SmokingStogie quickly became one of the more influential cigar blogs on the internet, known for reviewing preproduction, prerelease, rare, extremely hard-to-find and expensive cigars. I am a co-founder of halfwheel and now serve as an editor for halfwheel.