My Weekend Cigar: Apr. 30, 2018 – Oliva Serie O Perfecto
MY WEEKEND CIGAR: Oliva Serie O Cigar Review
By Gary Korb
A Nicaraguan Cigar That’s “Perfect” in More Ways than One
Aaah. . . the double perfecto cigar! So classic. Often seen dangling from the mouths of the “high-society” types in the movies they play on TCM. Being a nostalgia nut, myself, I’ve been drawn to this pudgy little biscuit since I began smoking cigars. I’m also a big fan of Oliva Serie O cigars, and because this Nicaraguan puro line includes a 5″ x 55 Perfecto that comes at a pretty reasonable price, it’s all the more appealing.
OLIVA SERIE O PERFECTO
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Size: 5″ x 55 (tapered at both ends)
Strength: Medium-Full
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Sun Grown Habano
Filler & Binder: Nicaraguan Habano
My Experience: On this particular weekend, rather than smoking it with my usual coffee, I paired my Oliva Serie O Perfecto with a glass of Offley Tawny Porto, an affordably-priced, medium-bodied Port with a rich, savory character.
Due to the Perfecto’s tapered foot, it’s a snap to light, but I used a single jet flame to avoid scorching any of the surrounding wrapper. The first act offers a medium-bodied start with notes of cedar, leather, a suggestion of sea salt, and peppery notes on the finish. As the burn crawls toward the mid-section, things begin to pick-up. The body moves well into the full-range with the cedar still dominating, as flavors of ground coffee and hearty Nicaraguan spice nudge their way in. This is not a sweet cigar, which I’m normally drawn to, but the flavors are well balanced, and the Porto contributed some nice fruity notes to the experience.
As the Perfecto rolled over the bulge into the final third, the smoke took-on some charry notes as the cigar began to narrow again toward the head. Here again, the Porto added just the right mix of sweetness and spice, making it all a very rewarding experience.
Suffice it to say. . . the Oliva Serie O Perfecto is a cigar you want to smoke nice and s-l-o-w. For one, sometimes perfectos tend to burn crooked; secondly, if you hit on a perfecto too often, you risk it cracking. Plus, there’s a certain “coolness” factor to this zeppelinish treat which bears admiring as you’re smoking it. So, let the cigar smoke itself and you’ll be in good company.
As the Oliva Serie O selection goes, the Perfecto is different from the rest of the line, not only because of its shape. Its flavor profile is much sharper, issuing lots of Nicaraguan spice. If you love the dark, savory character of Nicaraguan tobacco the Oliva Serie O Perfecto will be a very welcome delight.
If you’ve had an experience with this cigar, please share it by leaving a comment.