Cigar Review: Oliva G Maduro

Presidente, 8" x 52 ring gauge, $4.75
Oliva's Serie G is quickly becoming an "old favorite" in the cigar industry. It was named one of Cigar Aficionado's Top 25 Cigars of 2006 and the maduro version has been one I have turned to many times, especially for the great price of admission. The G has Nicaraguan Habano for the filler, a Cuban-seed Habano binder, and a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper (the regular G features the same blend with a Cameroon wrapper).

The G is aromatic and striking in appearance when removed from the cellophane--when they say box-press, they apparently mean it: the cigar is almost a perfect square with edges that are almost sharp. The wrapper is dark and mottled with areas that are almost black. The aroma from the body is rich tobacco with a little barnyard; from the foot the barnyard is stronger, along with a whiff of chocolate.

The prelight draw was just a little tight. The flavor on the cold draw had some maduro sweetness and something else that I had trouble putting a finger on. After lighting, the smoke was cool and somewhat thin. The flavors were slightly sweet, creamy coffee. So far the impression was that the cigar would remain in the mild-to-medium category.

After about a third, the flavor and body remained mild to medium. The big issue I had was with construction. The draw was tight since the beginning and the first attempt to open it up did not last long. When cutting the cigar, the cap had split and before the first third finished, it came completely off. Disappointing to say the least.

To start off the second third, I recut the cigar a bit to help it open up. It did not have the desired effect, though; instead it exacerbated the crack where the cap used to be. Said crack was now beginning to creep down the side of the stogie. The flavors were good, though, picking up hints of cocoa along with the coffee. It had also moved up to a solid medium-body by the end of the second third. It was during the second third, too, that the G Maduro started getting interesting. The body crept past the mid-way mark and the flavors changed to more of a black coffee and roasted nuts.

In the final third, the G showed some body at last and even a bit of nicotine kick because of the extra-long vitola--I'd hate to think what a V would be like in this size! The flavors of coffee and nuts dominated the last segment and provided for a satisfying end to a cigar that did not always behave. All things considered, a good smoke and a great deal, but I have been more satisfied with smaller vitolas and will stick with those in the future when I smoke a G.

Body: 7/10
Strength: 7/10
Complexity: 7/10

AFP Scale:
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 1/2
Flavor: 3.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 7.5/10