2009 Oliva Serie V Liga Especial Lancero

[jrfoxx]

Specifications:

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper Color: Colorado Maduro

Wrapper type: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Binder: Nicaragua

Vitola: Lancero (7x38)

Manufacturer: Tabacalera Oliva S.A.

Humidimeter Reading: 68%


Environment:

Temperature: 73 degrees

Humidity: 31%

Wind: 5mph with 20mph gusts


Setting:
Outside on a fairly comfortable bench under huge tree, providing partial shade.

Paired with:
Iced coffee

Another from @Ljutic

Cigar Aficionado’s number 6 ranked in the 2019 Top 10 Cigars of the year, with a score of 94.
Described as being predominantly earthy, with a finish of pistachios, nutmeg, and chocolate covered almonds.

Lets see how it turns out for me after 13 years total age, and 10 years older than the one they reviewed and ranked.

A medium feel, very veiny texture with a smooth, medium sized cap and slightly visible seams.
Bunch is firm and fairly lumpy.

Overall, a somewhat attractive appearance and feel.

Cold draw was very tight, so used the PerfecDraw through both ends, and it seemed to open up a little.

Had a razor sharp even burn, typical, mottled gray ash, a perfectly flat coal, which may not indicate what it think, but to me it signifies good construction, proper burn, and a good smoking pace.

Draw was tight even after very timidly running the PerfecDraw through both ends after having tested the cold draw and finding it very tight, so it did improve, but not to where I would want it to be.

Took a few puffs to get there, but had ample smoke volume, and a very faint, subtle aroma that was too light to describe the smell, even though retrohaling.
Not a big deal for me personally, as I rarely catcth more than the occasional, rare hint of aroma of cigars I’m smoking for some reason, yet others have told me they knew I was smoking a cigar outside, from 50 yards away.

Guess it comes from familiarity and being a recently reformed 30 years cigarette smoker.

Had ample richness, generous body, and a perfect balance of generous flavors of predominantly earth, with a hint of toasted nuts and a little bit of spiciness.

Finish was modest, and more of the exact same flavors.

Surprisingly to me, a very light sweetness, which I have never detected in anything I have smoked before, no bitterness, sharpness or saltiness and a very light burn on the tongue.

Here's where things get a little different than usual, where the overall summary catagories are in line with the final score. This time I felt the score didn’t really reflect the overall character and scale, as it scored only 1 point below perfect in each section, except for 2 in the smoke/burn category due to the tight draw, and the appearance and construction category where it lost 4 points.

While I love an attractive looking cigar, its really all about the taste, construction and ease of draw, almost exclusively. I’m sure I’m not alone in this, so that is why I called the character and overall summary both "Excellent", with a final score of only 90 out of 100, which certainly isn’t bad, but not really excellent in my opinion.

90 is my cutoff point as to whether I would buy something (assuming anything I reviewed was actually for sale, as all are long discontinued, blends changed, or just aged well beyond the point I have the space, budget, and willingness to, so kind off irrelevant)



I friggin love cigars