When Oliva released their latest big release, the Oliva V series, it turned out to be an instant hit and due to popular demand Oliva decided to create a V Maduro. The only problem was finding enough maduro wrapper leaf that would fit with the V blend and passed the Oliva quality control. Due to a lack of that wrapper only a limited amount of Oliva V Maduro could be made and only in one vitola, a 6.5 x 52 torpedo.
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I tried to buy a few of the original release V Maduro but I failed miserably. However, on my American road trip I was gifted a few by some generous BOTL's and that is the reason why I am able to write this review.
The Connecticut broadleaf wrapper is quite oily and looks like leather with some veins. The cap looks quadruple capped. The cigar has a barnyard and hay aroma, which is quite nice to smell. The construction feels great and the predraw is fine. I can taste a lot of pepper.
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I can taste a peppery coffee, full flavored and after half an inch I taste some chocolate on the background. The flavor is mainly pepper. After an inch I discover some wood underneath the pepper and the pepper flavor sticks to the back of my throat and makes me thirsty.
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Halfway the pepper is almost gone and I taste wood with some herbs and an aftertaste I never discovered or expected in a cigar, something that reminds me of raw carrots. Weird but interesting and pleasant.
After ⅔ the pepper disappears completely, both from the palate and from the nose, the smoke smelled peppery up till this moment. The cigar makes my mouth feel sticky. The wood and herbs disappear and I can taste the carrot flavor and something I don't recognize but I like it. Soon after the pepper returns while the carrot grows stronger. Near the end I also get a fresh, mint like, flavor.
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In the one hour and 40 minutes I enjoyed this cigar I got a lot of smoke that had a peppery aroma to it. The draw was fine and the burn was phenomenal, never had a cigar with a burn this straight. The firm ash is light colored, light gray to white. This cigar is full flavored and full bodied.
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Would I buy this cigar again? The original release was sold out quickly, I hope the 2009 release is just as good as I have a box of those sitting in my humidor.
Appearance: 7 / 10
Construction: 7 / 10
Draw: 7 / 10
Burn: 9 / 10
Smoke & ash: 8 / 10
Aroma first part: 7 / 10
Aroma second part: 8 / 10
Aroma third part: 8 / 10
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