Tweet
Oliva Serie V
Size: 7 x 38 ? Lancero
Origin: Nicaragua
Smoke time: 1hour 15mins Source: G-Mans outwardly mobile cigar service.
This is the smallest of the Lancero in this review series be just slightly shorter than the rest and at the lower guage end at 38. My apologies for the lack of more pictures, I did take more but for some reason the didn?t happen on the card.
Appearance: Beautifully rolled and perfectly cylindrical with a smooth textured, deep ochre, sungrown habano wrapper with some light veins. The cigar was handsomely offset by the colour co-ordinated Serie V band.
Construction: A nicely balanced, firmly packed stick with a neatly finished cap. The pre-draw was fine to slightly loose. The smoking draw however was spot-on. The burn started straight and never altered. The ash was crisp and compact and needed little in the way of tapping off. No relights, no corrections.
Flavour: The pre-draw aroma was hay with just the slightest trace of mint. The body started exceptionally well, woody and leathery over something sharper and vaguely citric almost like pineapple, and which for the first third of the smoke coated the roof and back of my mouth with a delicious sugariness. Into the third and the flavour base was joined by a warmer, creamier flavour which put me in mind of Devon toffee. The dry/sweet flavours were enhanced by the quality of the smoke which had an almost sodalike lightness and softness. Into the second third and the flavour began to switch, the wood and leather remained to be joined by a light, peppery spiciness and by grass, which whilst retaining its sweetness, slowly evolved into something still vegetal but earthier and more akin to rocket or watercress. Moving towards the final third and the flavour became slightly more bitter edged with the addition of coffee/americano. And then suddenly, as if someone had poured in some milk, the flavour softened and became more creamy. In the final third the flavour became richer and darker with strong chilli/chocolate flavours joining the base, the spiciness also increased and just for a puff or two I thought I could detect a taste similar to peppermint. The end when it came was earthy chocolate and totally delicious. Unfortunately, prior to the last inch the cigar began to ?tar? at the foot and that?s where I stopped.
Overall: A very, very good cigar. Great flavour, very relaxing and most certainly a smoke I will be buying again. A great little contender in a very close run thing, but lacking the extra Cuban touch of finess and flavour character to separate it from the Monte.
Montecristo Especial v Oliva Serie V.
Montecristo E No1 ? by a points decision.
Next man up. Cohiba Lancero
Size: 7 x 38 ? Lancero
Origin: Nicaragua
Smoke time: 1hour 15mins Source: G-Mans outwardly mobile cigar service.
This is the smallest of the Lancero in this review series be just slightly shorter than the rest and at the lower guage end at 38. My apologies for the lack of more pictures, I did take more but for some reason the didn?t happen on the card.
Appearance: Beautifully rolled and perfectly cylindrical with a smooth textured, deep ochre, sungrown habano wrapper with some light veins. The cigar was handsomely offset by the colour co-ordinated Serie V band.
Construction: A nicely balanced, firmly packed stick with a neatly finished cap. The pre-draw was fine to slightly loose. The smoking draw however was spot-on. The burn started straight and never altered. The ash was crisp and compact and needed little in the way of tapping off. No relights, no corrections.
Flavour: The pre-draw aroma was hay with just the slightest trace of mint. The body started exceptionally well, woody and leathery over something sharper and vaguely citric almost like pineapple, and which for the first third of the smoke coated the roof and back of my mouth with a delicious sugariness. Into the third and the flavour base was joined by a warmer, creamier flavour which put me in mind of Devon toffee. The dry/sweet flavours were enhanced by the quality of the smoke which had an almost sodalike lightness and softness. Into the second third and the flavour began to switch, the wood and leather remained to be joined by a light, peppery spiciness and by grass, which whilst retaining its sweetness, slowly evolved into something still vegetal but earthier and more akin to rocket or watercress. Moving towards the final third and the flavour became slightly more bitter edged with the addition of coffee/americano. And then suddenly, as if someone had poured in some milk, the flavour softened and became more creamy. In the final third the flavour became richer and darker with strong chilli/chocolate flavours joining the base, the spiciness also increased and just for a puff or two I thought I could detect a taste similar to peppermint. The end when it came was earthy chocolate and totally delicious. Unfortunately, prior to the last inch the cigar began to ?tar? at the foot and that?s where I stopped.
Overall: A very, very good cigar. Great flavour, very relaxing and most certainly a smoke I will be buying again. A great little contender in a very close run thing, but lacking the extra Cuban touch of finess and flavour character to separate it from the Monte.
Montecristo Especial v Oliva Serie V.
Montecristo E No1 ? by a points decision.
Next man up. Cohiba Lancero
Comment