Oliva Serie V Lancero Review

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(My first lancero!)

Oliva Serie V Lancero (7" x 38 rg)

Thanks, yet again, to @sparky426 for bombing me with this fine stick!

Presentation: I really like the classy band they chose for this cigar. It's a bit larger than your typical band, but the colors they chose just work really well. The wrapper itself is very veiny and the seams are very visible. I don't know if this is just because of the vitola, or maybe they chose a thicker wrapper (I know Connecticut shade wrappers are really fragile and thin). The cigar burned very well though, no runners as a result of the veins.

Pre-light: The foot has a sweet smell, with the obvious tobacco notes as well. The pre-light draw is the same. There's something else there, but I am apparently not experienced enough to pin a name onto it.

Light 'er up!

Right away I get leather and that sweetness that I smelled on the foot and pre-light draw. Perhaps it's a fruity sweetness? I'm not sure.

A few puffs later and I start getting a bit of spice, and also some cream.

The ash holds on for about an inch at a time, and is very very white, with tiny flecks of grey. It reminds me of high quality french vanilla ice cream, where there are tiny little black flecks of vanilla seed in it.

As the first third ends I start to pick up on a new flavor that joins the leather and sweetness. It's about equal with those other two flavors, but it takes me almost the whole second third to figure out what it is! It's like a creamy mocha chocolate! I think my tongue/nose/brain were confused because it wasn't just "chocolate" or "milk chocolate" it was more complex.

At 85 minutes with two inches to go I call it quits. I'm starting to get dizzy, and I am not enough of a sadist to force myself to keep smoking. Later on I see that Cigars International rates this blend as a solid "Full" strength. I don't feel like such a nicotine lightweight anymore :)

Random notes:

Lanceros are neat, but definitely more of an advanced vitola. I was experimenting with taking much slower and longer draws, to avoid flaring up the cherry, and it was working well for the most part...but it still went out on me a couple of times. When I went to taking more forceful draws, I could taste it getting harsh (which is the problem I suspect I have been having. Palate exhaustion plus over-heating the cherry).

Good review! I love all the Vs and the the lance is no exception. I think you nailed the chocolate flavor description.

I also think lanceros tend to just go out a little more often than other vitolas, so all you can do is purge, relight, and purge. Keep smoking slow, and I think a good lancero is worth the occasional hassle.