Oliva Serie V 135th Anniversary Edicion Limitada review by Don José
Hey team, Don José here back with another review.
Today we have the
Serie V 135th Anniversary Educuin Limitada
by Oliva
If this is your first time here, my reviews rate each cigar on 10 factors and each factor gets a rating out of 10 giving me an overall out of 100. The 10 factors are: Construction, Draw, Burn, Flavour, 1/3 overall, 2/3 overall, 3/3 overall, Journey (how well it flows), Complexity & Value for money.
Overview
So since Oliva was founded in 1995 (as Gilberto Oliva) It might seem odd for them to release a 135th Anniversary cigar... but this cigar was created to celebrate not the registering of the Oliva brand, but the beginning of the Oliva family in the cigar industry. Melanio Oliva first grew tobacco in in 1886 at Cuba’s Pinar del Río.
Blend-wise, the 135th Anniversary Edición Limitada is made up of the same blend as the regular Serie V, specifically an Ecuadorian wrapper covering a binder and filler tobaccos grown in Nicaragua.
This cigar is limited to 15,000 boxes of 12 cigars.
Details:
Brand: Oliva
Size: 5 1/2 x 54 perfecto
Factory: Tabacalera Oliva de Nicaragua S.A.
Wrapper: Ecuador (Habano Sun Grown)
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
About the wrapper.
Habano cigar wrapper is a leaf grown from a Cuban seed, hence the word “Habano” or “Havano,” referring to Cuba's capitol. Habano tobacco wrapper is darker in colour, has a much spicier flavour, a richer aroma, and has been grown in Nicaragua's Jalapa Valley and Estelí since the 1990's.
More important than the pronunciation are the reasons we like Habano cigar wrappers. Mainly we like the Habano wrapper’s flavour. It’s spicy, rich and the colour is generally dark. Chocolate is commonly tasted in Habano wrappers. And the Habano cigar wrapper is going on many of your favourite cigars.
While Nicaragua Habano is less common than Ecuador Habano, the varietal can be found on a handful of stronger cigars.
let's get into the review.
First thoughts
Classic Oliva look band wise but a new look in the perfecto shape. Cold draw gives off a lot of Cocoa and a hint of leather.
Construction
Slight damage to the very foot of the stick but otherwise perfect construction. Nice dark oily wrapper with a smooth finish.
Burn & Draw Good burn and draw, a couple of small correction to the burn but nothing major. Draw produces plenty of thick smoke.
Flavour & Complexity Spice, leather and pepper on the first third moving into coffee, wood and cocoa through the second and third. A good balance and building as the cigar progresses.
Strength 90% - Full
Enjoyment / Journey It's been a while since I've had a good, solid, full bodied cigar like this, and damn is it a treat! Progression through the thirds is amazing and the overall smoke it great.
Overall Oliva never disappoint and this cigar is an epic, classic example of their brand. Highly recommend.
I rate this cigar 91 points.
A look at the numbers.
Construction -- 9/10
Burn -- 8/10
Draw -- 10/10
Flavour -- 9/10
Complexity -- 9/10
First 1/3 -- 8/10
Second 1/3 -- 9/10
Third 1/3 -- 10/10
Journey -- 10/10
Value -- 9/10
About the author
Joe Murdie aka Don José has been reviewing cigars in New Zealand for over 10 years now, originally as a writer for NZBlokes, a mens magazine.
Outside of Cigars Joe is an international award winning film-maker based in Wānaka, OTA.
