Oliva Serie V Lancero

Wrapper: Habano Sun Grown
Filler: Jalapa Valley Ligero
Size: Lancero
Strength: Medium-Full

Bigger is better! To keep up with my true American way of life I have to have the big things. This includes a big million dollar house, next to my big powerful red 69 Camaro, protected by my big Rottweiler, and I need to smoke a big fat cigar: Oliva V. The only problem is I do not have the house, car, dog, and well… to go with the flow I’ll ditch the big cigar too (in terms of ring gauge).

Allow me to introduce you to the Oliva V Lancero. Seven inches in length and with a ring gauge of 38 this tasty Oliva cigar brings a slightly different taste to the “V” series of cigars. The reason is simple: There is more Habano Sun Grown relative to the Jalapa Valley Ligero filler.

Construction: The wrapper is a dark brown in color with a hint of oils on the wrapper (as this should describe any full-bodied cigar).  I would say this cigar is not as firm as other Serie V in larger sizes, but at the same time this was not a “loose” cigar. It was packed just right for the size.

Draw: Many people have expressed concern when I inform them of my intentions to smoke a lancero because sometimes you may get that “dud” that just wont draw. I think this only happens on the lower quality sticks. The V has given me no problems, ever. I have complete confidence in this stick as the draw has always been perfect.

Burn: My favorite quality about the lancero, especially one constructed as well as the Oliva V, has got to be the burn factor. I always have grate luck with this cigar burning even and at just the right rate. Obviously your cigar ash will not be as large/long as the fuller sized brothers - but I don’t care.

Taste: First puffs on the Serie V brings about a nice prominent woody profile with some very enjoyable nutty tones. You will also notice that this stick packs a great spiciness that really ties everything together.

The second third of the Oliva looses much of the spice, nut, and woody profiles.  Coffee and cocoa kick in that make the middle the most enjoyable (in my opinion).  A sweeter type of spice is still in the mix with the woody/nut hints protruding every so often.  Again this happens to be my favorite part of the cigar - and lets be thankful this section is so long.

The final third of the cigar is when the body really becomes “full“. You still have the great cocoa, woody, spice - just kind of hidden.  I want to go out on a limb and say that I was getting leather flavors but I’m not sure that was the case for every cigar. Oliva V is a quality cigar that ends very well and you will have no problem nubbing the smoke all the way down.

Verdict Is: Buy this. As stated in the introduction to this cigar you have more Habano Sun Grown wrapper relative to the Jalapa Valley Ligero filler. This means that the taste is somewhat different than what you might know as the “V” taste, or cigar profile.

So give this a shot and see where it fits with you. You may think it has that same V taste or maybe you will side with me and think of it as a whole new cigar that has its appropriate time to smoke. EITHER WAY: you are going to love this cigar - just get over the “ring gauge” issue . I took the liberty of going down to my local B&M and picking up a whole box to age (just to see how the cigars change).

Partagas Limited Reserve Decadas 1997 No. II

Wrapper: Cameroon
Filler: Dominican Republic
Size: Robusto
Strength:Medium

Partagas Limited Reserve Decadas 1997 No. II is a mild bodied, limited edition, aged cigar created from very fine Cameroon wrapper leaves. The wrapper leaves are carefully grown and maintained (aged) in Spanish cedar rooms. Partagas Reserve Decadas wrappers are then individually chosen from the bails - on average only 3 of every 1,000 leaves will be used.

The finished product is beautifully marketed to correspond with the cigars interesting story. Partagas Limited Reserve Decadas ship in a light colored box. The outside of the Decadas box is stamped with a cool looking metal Partagas emblem. On the inside you will find a hand signed authenticity card that will give you the year of the cigars and other various cigar history. Two trays sit below this card with slightly cut grooves - this allows the glass tubes to sit perfectly. The glass tubes are thick and have a metal tag attached to the top stamped with the year of the cigar.

A lot has gone into creating this cigar. A lot has gone into marketing the Partagas Limited Reserve Decadas.

Construction: Partagas Reserve wrappers will slightly vary in color from year to year. This 1997 Reserve was dark enough to know you would get some flavors but not dark enough to make anyone intimidated. The wrapper of the Limited Reserve has only small slight veins. In the glass tube the cigar may appear super oily but once removed I would say this has a medium sheen. Partagas usually creates a good stick - so I was not surprised when there were no soft spots and everything felt firm.

I don’t want to be too picky from the beginning but the Limited Reserve construction did not have the quality of VSG, Opus, Oliva, or even J. Fuego.

Draw: Draw has always been perfect with the Reserve. It doesn’t matter if you use the punch or cutter.

Burn: I am going to say that this is the only thing the cigar DID NOT really do well in. From my box of Decadas I would say a lot (for a $18 +) of them tend to burn uneven. Midway through the stick is when the miss burn happens but eventually the cigar will correct on its own.

Taste: This is a Cameroon wrapper aged in a Spanish cedar room for ten years. Of course you will get the woody, somewhat spicy, and maybe I taste a bit of nut in the stick. The beginning is my favorite part of the smoke - but oddly enough this cigar isn’t “memorable“. It remains like this for most of the cigar.

The smoke is smooth, its enjoyable, but it never left me craving it like I know some cigars can do (think CG4).

Eventually the cigar tends to get more leathery and a bit more full in body as you smoke.

You will also notice you have no ash. For some reason it tends to fall off every 2 inches.

Verdict Is: You might be able to tell by the lack of information from the “Taste” section that I wasn’t too impressed with this stick. The only reason I wasn’t impressed is that it cost upwards of $18.

I can name ten sticks off the top of my head that you will enjoy more, that will make you crave a second, and make the evening perfect and all cost less.

Lets think about it: Opus X (if you buy at retail) is less than this stick.

The only reason I bought this box of cigars is because I got a good deal on it.

J. Fuegos Delirium

Wrapper: Brazilian Maduro
Filler: Honduran and Nicaraguan Corojo
Size: Robusto
Strength:Medium

J. Fuego’s Delirium review was I was greatly anticipating due to my love of the Natural and the Corojo. When hearing about the education and research (this will be another article later) that J. Fuego has gone you can only expect great cigars. Another great quality about this cigar is the wrapper. It happens to be the “youngest” component with 5 years of aging.

Construction: The maduro cigar has the typical looking maduro wrapper sitting right in the middle of the “color scale”. Veins will consist of one or two that will run the length of the cigar (or just about) and you can just see a hint of the oils on the wrapper. Overall I would say this is a “no thrills” looking stick that you might walk by in the humidor. J. Fuego Delirium is a cigar that’s packed with great smelling tobacco making the cigar firm and impossible to unravel while smoking.

Draw: The pictures I have posted show the Delirium cut: the draw is perfect. When I punch this cigar: the draw is perfect.

Burn: From the construction and the draw descriptions would you expect the burn to be anything else but … perfect? The ash stays on just as well, if not better, than any other expensive “premium” cigar.

Taste: J. Fuego’s Delirium was bursting with coca flavors from the get go - this stick is a piece of cigar heaven. The first part of this cigar also brought great sweetness and maybe a mild hint of leather to the pallet.

As you continue to smoke the Delirium the cocoa flavors seem to take back seat to a woodsy, not so sweet flavor (this pushes the cigar in a medium-full category). The smoke became even creamier. The flavors worked well together because it was a smooth transition.

Now as you are finishing the cigar it will have a bitter coco taste, but still a good finish (keep in mind most cigars will get this way). I nubbed it.

Verdict Is: You need to buy this cigar. Delirium is a cigar anyone can, and will, enjoy. The price point of this stick sits around $8.50 if you buy them individually. What does that mean to you? – Just buy a box and get a discount.

Los Blancos Maduro

Wrapper: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Size: Toro (6×52)
Strength: Medium

The Los Blancos Maduro cigar comes packed in a bright yellow box banded with the bright yellow Los Blancos bands. The color compliments the dark oily wrapper so well I almost hate lighting the tasty maduros. The box sits well in any humidor, smoke room, or lounge and will catch the eyes of many.

Looks are not the only thing this maduro cigar has going for it: It’s a great stick to smoke and brought to you at a reasonable price ($6)

Construction: Los Blancos makes one intimidating looking maduro wrapper - this is one dark cigar. “Chocolaty” might be the best way to describe this Los Blancos stick. The wrapper in it self looked very well constructed with not too many veins and just enough texture to know it’s a solid smoke. Upon the removal of the cellophane you will immediately notice the nice oils coming through the wrapper. It’s actually just enough to get you excited.

Los Blancos Maduro’s are consistently firm with no soft spots. Never once have I encountered any unraveling problems while smoking.

Draw: My method of opening the cigar is normally a punch. The punch was a perfect fit for this stick and the draw was just right. I have used the trusty XIKAR Xi3 every now and then and have not had a problem; a quality cigar will always have a great draw.

Burn: This area of the Los Blancos Maduro review might bring my only complaint. Of the many cigars I have smoked a vast majority of them have burned slightly uneven and a correction with my torch was always needed. On a good note the burn rate was perfect and the ash was always securely in place.

Taste: While the Los Blancos wrapper may make the stick appear strong - that was not the case. This maduro was a very pleasant smoke. I picked up some cocoa flavors from the light and the smoke slowly introduced a woody flavor that has a hint of spice. The smoke is creamy and creates a very well balanced medium cigar.

Verdict Is: As you can see from my pictures I have a box of the Los Blancos Maduro. This is a great medium bodied cigar that you can enjoy in the day time, night time, summer, or winter. The price point is excellent at around $6 a stick. Heck, this cigar would still be a good value even if it had run a few bucks more (please don’t raise the prices). So at least get this stick the next time your in a shop and looking for something good to smoke. I have a feeling you may just pick up a box.

Montesino Toro Maduro

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler:Dominican Republic
Size: Toro
Strength: Mild-Medium

The Montesino Maduro cigar review. Montesino Maduro cigars are part of the “Cigar Family”, in fact this is one of the first cigars that Carlos Fuente Sr. and his son Carlos Fuente Jr. produced in their new Dominican Republic factory (a house actually). The Fuente Family says they use “only the finest vintage tobaccos that are aged for exceptionally long periods of time” and like some of the more expensive Fuente products: This cigar is just as tasty.

Construction: The Montesino Maduro looks like it wants to sit in your shirt pocket all day while you work, and when you’re done you pull it out and the Montesino will still be in perfect condition. In other words: It’s ROUGH. The maduro wrapper is also dull with no oily sheen. Fuente has produced a really antique looking cigar.

Fuente’s Montesino had no soft spots in the cigar and are always wrapped just right. While smoking you will not encounter any unraveling problems.

Draw: I punched this specific Montesino and have smoked others with a cut end. The results are the same: A perfect draw that’s not too hard / easy.

Burn: At times this rough cigar can create a rough burn becoming a little uneven at some points. This is not an issue though because the Montesino will quickly correct itself. Overall burn was just a little slow.

Ash had no problem staying on this maduro but it wasn’t firm as I would have liked to see.

Taste: Montesino Toro maduro is not a cigar that is bursting with many complex flavors. Initially I think a hint a cedar was present and the smoke was somewhat dry. However after the first couple of puffs the smoke began to get creamier and the taste began to change.

Continuing to smoke I picked up was a bit of spice that just tickled my pallet wishing for more. Wood and… (Chocolate?) just something else that stayed with the entire cigar. Again all these flavors were very light, but expected for a mild cigar.

Nothing much changed as the cigar came to an end. The smoke might have gotten just a tad bit heavier and a bit creamier.

It’s a mild cigar.

Verdict Is: The Montesino maduro cigars (in general) are sticks that you should always keep in your arsenal. One of the main reasons: It’s a tasty, cheap $4 stick that is mild to medium in flavor. Meaning you will have no trouble handing this cigar out to new smokers who wish to join you.

I would like to say that if I had $4 to spend on a personal cigar this would not be it. I would prefer the JFR Maduro or even the Oliva G.

Other Cigars:
Higher Priced: Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story
Same Price: Oliva G
Lower Priced: JFR