Oliva Serie V Torpedo

📌 Brand: Oliva
📌 Line: Serie V
📌 Size: Torpedo (6" × 56)
📌 Weight: 19.2 g
📌 Age: 9 years
📌 Origin: Nicaragua

Tasting Notes

• Dark Chocolate – Rich, bittersweet depth

• Espresso – Strong roasted backbone

• Black Pepper – Firm spice on the retrohale

• Earth & Cedar – Solid, grounding balance

First Impressions

The Oliva V Torpedo has a dark, oily wrapper with a handsome appearance and tight seams. Pre-light aromas are cocoa, espresso, and earth. Cold draw is noticeably tight, raising concerns about airflow.

Smoking Experience

• First Third – Dark chocolate and pepper lead the way, though the tight draw restricts smoke output.

• Second Third – Espresso and cedar appear, adding balance, but the draw remains firm, muting complexity.

• Final Third – Earth and pepper intensify, chocolate lingers faintly, but the restricted draw limits the finish.

Pairings

• Alcohol – Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon, caramel and oak providing sweetness to balance the cigar’s darker tones.

• Tea – Keemun Black Tea, malty and smooth, aligning with the espresso and chocolate notes.

Music Pairing

“Round Midnight” – Thelonious Monk,

complex and brooding, reflecting the darker tones.

Final Thoughts

The Oliva Serie V Torpedo offers bold flavors of chocolate, espresso, and pepper, with strong Nicaraguan character. Unfortunately, the overly tight draw throughout prevents the cigar from showing its full complexity.

Final Score: 8/10
Why not a 10?
The tight draw limited smoke output and muted flavor transitions, keeping it from reaching its potential. Also there is slight uneven burn which correct itself.

Only cigars that deliver flawless draw, balance, flavour evolution, construction and satisfaction get a 10.