The Oliva Serie V is a cigar that I come into this review fairly familiar with. I have never smoked the No. 4 size/shape though! I ordered it for my shop because I thought it might be handy to have some shorter smokes on hand for my customers. It has worked out very well and the feedback has been great. Since my customers are loving it, I figured I should find out how it smokes with a smaller gauge and a little bit shorter.

Blend Profile
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: No. 4, 5×43

Appearance & Smell
The wrapper has a deliciously dark and toothy wrapper. Some noticeable veins are on the wrapper. The pre-light smell gives me some notes of cocoa and earthiness. The label is simple but elegant,

Smoke Preparation
I used a Xikar Xi to put a flat cut on this cigar. The cold draw gave me some earthy richness. The cocoa notes are very subtle.

Burn & Draw
I couldn’t ask for more from a cigar in terms of the draw and burn! The draw was the fantastic middle ground between too tight and too easy. The burn was very nice as well. I love when I get a cigar that is rolled perfectly so that the draw and burn both combine to make a great smoking experience. The smoke had a creaminess to it that was just a delight with every puff.

Strength & Body
There is no denying that even in a smaller size, this cigar can pack a punch. The Broadleaf wrapper really lends itself to add that extra kick of strength. With the smaller gauge, I can really taste more of the wrapper. Which changes the overall taste of the cigar by quite a bit. The flavor an body are great. That earthiness and cocoa stay consistent throughout but it doesn’t become stagnant. Some of the other notes include pepper, cream, and leather.

Final Thoughts
I knew that I had liked this blend in the past but I had always smoked a bigger ring gauge. This cigar was a really pleasant surprise in the smaller/shorter shape! The No.4 still packs the strength of some of the bigger gauges but it also brings more of the wrapper flavor into the blend. I really enjoyed the flavors and the time that it took to smoke it. It took me approximately 30 minutes to smoke this (Side Note: I was outside and it was windy). I would consider this cigar blend in this size to be a medium plus in terms of strength. If you happen to see this size of the Oliva Serie V in a shop near you, I strongly suggest giving it a try if you enjoy medium to full-bodied cigars!

Source: Purchased Locally
Brand Information: Oliva Cigars