Cigar Review: Oliva Serie V Lancero

When I think of tasty, consistent, well-constructed cigars that don’t break the bank, a few choice brands come to mind. Oliva is always near the top of the list.

The Oliva Cigar Co. has only been around for less than two decades but, in that relatively short time, it has built a well-deserved reputation for quality and affordability (even though it also sells a higher-priced line called Master Blends). The brand’s foundation consists of lines like the Cameroon-wrapped Serie G, Connecticut Reserve, and the Habano-wrapped Serie V. All are highly-rated blends that are also wallet-friendly.

The Oliva Serie V boasts a sun-grown wrapper around a Nicaraguan binder and Jalapa ligero filler. “This cigar is blended to deliver full body taste while maintaining an unparalleled smoothness,” reads the Oliva website. “This flavorful blend exhibits complex tobacco with rich coffee and dark chocolate tones. A subtle and well-balanced spice is present throughout.”

Serie V is available in seven sizes: Churchill Extra (7 x 52), Special V Figurado (6 x 60), Double Toro (6 x 60), Torpedo (6 x 56), Belicoso (5 x 54), Double Robusto (5 x 54), and Lancero (7 x 38). The latter has a caramel-colored, somewhat reddish wrapper with minimal veins and a fair amount of oils. It sells for around $6-7.

The flavor of the Lancero, even at the outset, is strong. Not the full-bodied blast of pepper strong that’s common these days. But rather an intense nicotine strong coupled with an old-school taste of warm tobacco. Mind you, with a ring gauge of 38, the ratio of ligero filler to wrapper/binder in each puff is smaller than any of the other vitolas in the line. That said, Lanceros can be bolder than thicker cigars of the same blend because of the density of their filler tobaccos. I’d wager that comes into play with this cigar.

In addition to nicotine strength and warm tobacco, the Serie V Lancero displays flavors of cocoa, leather, espresso, earth, and a touch of toffee sweetness. It also exhibits good construction, including a reliable draw and a straight burn, albeit with a gray ash that tends to fall off a bit prematurely.

In my experience, this cigar is best enjoyed after a hearty dinner with a serving of bourbon to complement its considerable power. It’s a solid choice if you’re looking for a bold Lancero but want to spend less than $7. For that, it earns four stogies out of five.

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–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys