Cigar Review: EloGio Serie LSV

Bonitas (Petite Corona), 5" x 42 ring gauge / $7.75, UPtown's

Several months ago I posted a review of te EloGio Serie Habano; I liked it a lot and am still a little bummed that the closest shop to me that carries them is UPtown's in Nashville. While I'm sure Scott has no problem with me stopping in to buy cigars, it is still a 2.5 hour drive each way, so it just doesn't happen very often. On a recent trip I picked up a couple samples of the other Elogio, the Serie LSV. This is a more limited production cigar due to limits on the amount of wrapper, but the price is still very reasonable. It is a Nicaraguan puro with a sungrown Oscuro wrapper leaf. It was grown by Carlos and Armando Robaina on a small farm in Somoto and the cigar it adorns is said to be medium-to-full in body with plentiful amounts of flavor. This review sample was my first Serie LSV.

When I think "oscuro" I think "dark," and this cigar's wrapper actually meets that criteria. The LSV was dark brown with even darker mottling; it had a very oily touch and fairly large veins. The wrapper leaf had a faintly sweet aroma to it--almost dried fruit or licorice; the foot had more of the same, combined with a more barnyard aroma. My Xikar MTX cut a surgically thin slice of cap from the head and I got a smooth, open draw that had sweet flavors.

Despite the sweet hints prelight, the initial puffs were earthy and fairly bitter, with coffee and baker's cocoa. Blowing smoke out through my nose, I got a cedar note along with a peppery burn. I was surprised at that start, but even more surprised when it continued to get more earthy and dark as the first third developed more fully. I was getting some pepper on the palate, too, but mostly just a ton of earth.

As the second third started, the LSV mellowed a bit. While still undeniably very earthy, I got more of a smooth, dark roast coffee note that was very nice and a bit of sweetness to balance out the bitterness. Construction was superb, with no draw or burn issues to report, and the body was definitely in the lower end of the full range.

The final third was really just a continuation of what started in the second--a slow, steady mellowing of flavor while maintaining a fairly full body. While I enjoyed this first exposure to the Serie LSV, I think I prefer the Habano which just seems to have more flavor to me. I will try the LSV again, though, probably in a different vitola just to see if I end up enjoying it more. For experienced smokers, this cigar might be just up your alley; I would advise newer smokers to start with the EloGio Habano, though.

Body: 8/10

Strength: 6/10

Complexity: 6/10

AFP Scale

Prelight: 2/2

Construction: 2/2

Flavor: 4/5

Value: 1/1

Total: 9/10

Agree, disagree or have something to add? Please leave a comment below...