Oliva Serie V Especial Maduro Double Toro: Twice the pleasure?

The Oliva Serie V cigars have been a long term favourite of mine. When I was gifted a couple of the Especial Maduro Double Toros, a cigar that has not been available in the UK market, I was understandably excited to sample and review this new vitola with a maduro wrapper. Having recently smoked a few Oliva Serie V cigars, including the amazing Melanio Robusto, I was keen to know just how this one would stack up.

As I removed the cigar from its cellophane I was both amazed and delighted by the look and feel of it. Toffee, cream and hints of cocoa tickled my nose and the maduro wrapper glistened in the light like the softest Italian leather. Tiny hairs of oil left a rich moisturising feel on both my fingers and lips. The cold draw was easy and further enticed me to light up.

My first draws were rich and full bodied. There was a hint of red chilli at the back of the mouth, and a slight sweetness on my lips. Smoking my way through the first third I found that the profile changed twice. Having packed a punch at the start, with coffee notes joining the peppery heat of a barbeque, these flavours were replaced by a more gentle and creamy almond pastry.

Smoking my way through the middle third, I couldn’t help but admire the construction of the Oliva Serie V Especial Maduro Double Toro. I tried to roll the ash off twice, but it was determined to hold on. I was halfway through before it finally decided to make its home very neatly in my ashtray. The wrapper oozed a rich oil that gave the smoke a rich and oleaginous texture.

Taste wise, the profile changed again during the middle third. The flavour grew very long with a rich meatiness at the front of the flavour, followed by a sweet but slightly sharp balsamic glaze, finishing off with fresh cookie dough at the tail end. Given the full bodied, strong flavour of the cigar, I didn’t retrohale much, but when I did, I got a rich peppery cream.

As I entered the final third, the flavour only got richer. Hints of nuts joined the party and I found myself smoking slower and slower in order to savour every mouthful of this delicious cigar. By the time I finally laid it to rest in my ashtray, it was nearly three hours since I slid the cigar out of its cellophane. The Amarula Martini cocktail that I had chosen to pair with it was the perfect balance. The Angostura bitters taking the edge of the creaminess which enhanced the flavours in the cigar.

Comparing this to the Oliva Serie V Melanio Robusto they are both full flavoured, full bodied cigars. The Especial Maduro Double Toro is a lot more forthright with its flavours and profile changes, the Melanio was a lot more subtle. I would very happily make a permanent home for both of them in my humidor, but as for which one is the best, I think that will come down to the mood that I’m in and what I’m looking for in my cigar at that moment. Moreover, additional samplings of both cigars is surely required!

If you want to watch my review of this amazing cigar, head over to my video channel and check it out.

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Oliva Serie V Especial Maduro Double Toro Cigar Details