Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial 2014

For the seventh year in a row, Oliva has released its limited Serie V Maduro Especial, this year in a massive 6 x 60 gordo.

It is the largest in the series date to date, with the only other releases coming close being 2010 and 2013, which were both 54 ring gauge. Though the size is the largest yet, it won’t be the biggest as far as quantity made, as Oliva has indicated 2014 production is less than last year’s 80,000 cigars. Other than the size and release numbers, things have stayed the same as the last four years, as the cigar uses a Mexican San Andrés maduro wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler and packaged in 10-count boxes.

• Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial 2008 (6 1/2 x 52) — Connecticut Broadleaf — 5,000 Boxes of 10 Cigars (50,000 Total Cigars)
• Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial 2009 (6 1/2 x 52) — Nicaraguan Habano — 5,000 Boxes of 10 Cigars (50,000 Total Cigars)
• Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial 2010 (6 x 54) — Mexican San Andrés Maduro — 5,000 Boxes of 10 Cigars (50,000 Total Cigars)
• Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial 2011 (6 x 50) — Mexican San Andrés Maduro — 5,000 Boxes of 10 Cigars (50,000 Total Cigars)
• Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial 2012 (6 x 50) — Mexican San Andrés Maduro — 5,000 Boxes of 10 Cigars (50,000 Total Cigars)
• Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial 2013 (5 x 54) — Mexican San Andrés Maduro — 8,000 Boxes of 10 Cigars (80,000 Total Cigars)
• Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial 2014 (6 x 60) — Mexican San Andrés Maduro — Release numbers n/a

• Cigar Reviewed: Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial 2014
• Country of Origin: Nicaragua
• Factory: Tabacalera Oliva de Nicaragua S.A.
• Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés Maduro
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua
• Size: 6 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 60
• Vitola: Gordo
• MSRP: $9.50 (Boxes of 10, $95.00)
• Release Date: October 21, 2014
• Number of Cigars Released: n/a
• Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 2

The wrapper is a beautiful dark chocolate color with seamless construction. While the cigar is pretty hard, there is the slightest amount of give, just enough to keep me from calling the cigar solid. The wrapper has a bit of a rough feel to it—though it’s nice and oily—as to be expected with a Mexican San Andrés wrapper. A rich, sweet barnyard aroma comes off the wrapper tinged with leather and a bit of spice. The cold draw is more hay along with a peppery kick, some cocoa and a bit of cinnamon. The cold draw leaves a bit of heat on my lips and tongue reminiscent of a jalapeno’s kick.

The first third starts out with lots of tantalizing peppery heat on my tongue, a healthy amount of Red Hots cinnamon, a touch of sweet cocoa and some black pepper. After only a quarter of an inch the peppers take on a roasted pepper taste. There is plenty of smoke pouring off the foot in between puffs and the draw is ideal, with just enough resistance; any looser and I think the smoke production would be overwhelming. Though I had some trouble lighting the 60 ring gauge monster, save for one little waver the burn is quite straight and even. The ash holds on for a solid inch before I roll it off in the ashtray. After an inch and a half the profile has developed into less of a black pepper and roasted pepper assault, to more of a sweet roasted pepper along with the previous cinnamon and cocoa.

As I move into the second third of the V Maduro the profile sweetens up even more, losing more of the pepper bite and developing the cocoa notes into more of a creamy mocha note. A touch of leather and a bit of remaining cinnamon stick around in the background. The burn had gone off course for a short moment, but by the time I decided to touch it up it had corrected itself. Another inch in and the profile continues much the same with whatever pepper notes that remained gone.

The final third starts out with a bit of an issue: a small crack that formed close to the head was finally close enough to the burn line that it bulged and blew out. Luckily the cigar hasn’t completely unraveled, though the burn isn’t as perfect as it had been. The black pepper that had disappeared has reared it’s head again, taking a bit of the sweet edge off the mocha, cinnamon and leather.

Final Notes

• Using a single flame torch to light the first sample took forever to get it lit, I realized my mistake and used a triple flame for the second one.
• I find it odd that they’ve disclosed release numbers every year but didn’t for this year’s release. I also find it odd that they wouldn’t disclose the release numbers, but they did confirm that this release was less than last year’s number of 80,000.
• This year’s size was originally planned to be the same as last year’s, but those plans were abandoned in favor of the 6 x 60 size.
• While this is the seventh year in a row the Maduro Especial was released, it’s only the fifth year to use Mexican San Andrés Maduro for the wrapper. The first two years used different wrappers with the V Maduro debuting in a Connecticut broadleaf and second year a Nicaraguan habano.
• The cigars for this review were purchased by halfwheel.
• Final smoking time averaged two hours and 15 minutes.