Posts Tagged oliva cigar family

Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro

Cigar Review by Steve Royston (guest)
Cigar Photography by Jay L (cigarphoto.net)


Jay’s Notes:

This week we are photographing and reviewing the Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro – the latest project from the Oliva Cigar Company and a follow-up to well received Oliva Serie V Melanio (ecuadorian sumatra wrapper). 

Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Mexican maduro from San Andrés Valley
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Length: 6.5”
Ring: 52

 

Steve’s Review:

For starters, this cigar is aesthetically gorgeous. A smooth, dark chocolate wrapper with minimal veins and a beautiful box press. A sniff of the foot gives off a rich, sweet tobacco aroma. I used an angle cut, taking off about a 1/3 of an inch. Too snug. Took off about another 1/8 of an inch. We’ll see how it works out. Putting the cigar in my mouth to take a cold draw was instantly like chocolate hitting my lips. Very mild flavor on the cold draw, but a sweet richness is definitely there. Let’s put some fire to this stick.


Right away I’m hit with a boldness that I was not expecting. I can already tell that this is vastly different from its regular Melanio counterpart. A very smooth, but slightly gritty, feeling coats my palate. A powerful spice comes through on the retrohale. The aftertaste, crazy as it might sound, reminds me of Andes mint chocolates. Now don’t go taking this seriously. I don’t mean it literally tastes like chocolate mint. Just a subtle, rich, cocoa undertone with a slight effervescence to it. This combination makes me reminiscent of the holidays at my parent’s house as a kid eating handfuls of those candies. About 3/4 of an inch in, a slightly woody note comes through. I can’t quite pinpoint it. Sometimes it tastes like cedar and sometimes like oak. Both are enjoyable. At the inch mark, the burn has gone slightly crooked but has been almost razor straight up until now. Nothing to cry about. (side note: The draw has been perfect for me. Just enough tug for my liking.) That woody note I mentioned has gone full blown cedar, which I love. And the richness has gone the route of a slight mocha flavor. The retrohale spice is still present, but very toned down.


At the 1/3 mark, a strong, roasted coffee bean note has popped up with just a touch of cream in the aftertaste. Pretty consistent coming to the halfway mark. But now, a very slow and steady retrohale gives off a subtle, sweet clove spice. Into the final 1/3, the upfront flavor has turned to a dark, bitter espresso with a spice that tingles the tip of my tongue. The smoke has gotten very chewy and that prominent richness has taken a backseat in the aftertaste. This is pretty consistent through the finish with the exception of a smokey, toasty characteristic.


Final thoughts:
I was very pleased, overall, with this cigar. Much more so than when I first smoked the original Melanio, which had to grow on me. I think the finish could benefit from a little age, but I’d certainly recommend this cigar. Happy smoking my friends.

 

Please consider the following posts:

* Oliva Master Blends 1
* Oliva Master Blends 2
* Oliva Serie V Maduro 2011
* Oliva Serie V No4
* Oliva Cain F lancero 

- click on photographs (slideshow)-
 
 
 

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Studio Tobac 2012 Event-Only Release

This week, CigarPhoto is displaying, not reviewing, Studio Tobac’s 2012 Event-Only releases. Below is the outcome of a commissioned assignment CigarPhoto did for Studio Tobac back in May of 2012.


During 2011 Studio Tobac Tour, attendees at each event had a chance to participate in a raffle with one custom Studio Tobac Scrimshawed Xikar Xi3 cutter body (* made by Rick “HutcH” Hutchings) as the grand prize. There was also the infamous and relatively strong ‘Donkey Punch’ upon “special” request. 2012 Studio Tobac World Tour, in addition to the Studio Tobac Limited Edition Sampler 2012, brought two event-only releases: Cain NUb Daytona 460 & Cain Special Release 550. Those were given out to the two winners of the grand prize at each event.

From Bryan “The Show” Scholle – Studio Tobac’s Ambassador:

  • The Cain Special Release 550 cigar was designed with a small rare batch of Ligero we had in the factory. We did not have enough to use for a normal production cigar or even a small batch release. We had enough to make 800 cigars total.
  • Both Cain NUb Daytona 460 & Cain Special Release 550 will never be available as regular production.
  • There are no more boxes of these cigars available. We used them all during events.
  • We are currently working on new stuff for 2013



The following are makeup / specs of each cigar:

Cain NUb Daytona 460 (4 x 60)
amount available – 800 cigars / 80 boxes
wrapper – Ecuadorian Sumatra
binder – Nicaraguan
filler – Jalapa Valley Ligero, Nicaragua

Cain Special Release 550 (5 3/4 x 50)
amount available – 800 cigars / 80 boxes
wrapper – Nicaraguan Habano
binder – Nicaraguan
filler – Nicaraguan Ligero (small rare batch)

 

- click on photographs - 
 
 

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Studio Tobac Limited Edition Sampler 2012

This week we are photographing, not reviewing, the latest project from Studio Tobac’s stable – ‘Studio Tobac Limited Edition Sampler 2012.’ This is the sequel to last year’s ‘Studio Tobac Limited Edition Sampler 2011.’ Studio Tobac LE samplers are available exclusively at Studio Tobac events during Studio Tobac World Tour. It is unknown at this point if any cigar out of the 2012 sampler will ever see the ‘regular production’ light but I wouldn’t be surprised if we see Cain F lancero Déjà vu. I have yet to sample the content of the Studio Tobac Limited Edition Sampler 2012 to pick my favorite but I do have a specimen lined up for near future review. Stay tuned !


Although slightly delayed but honest Thank You goes to Bryan Scholle and Studio Tobac family for sending over this Studio Tobac Limited Edition Sampler 2012 !


The following are makeup of each cigar (* thanks for Bryan Scholle) and dimensions:


NUB USA (4×60)  / FULL
– undisclosed (made with “USA tobacco”)

Cain F Maduro (5 x 50) / FULL
– wrapper – San Andreas maduro
– binder – Nicaragua
– filler – Nicaragua ligero

ST – EFG01 (5×50) / MILD-MEDIUM (Concept Blend)
– wrapper – Ecuador Connecticut
– binder – Nicaragua
– filler – Nicaragua

Cain Daytona Maduro Figurado (6×60) / MEDIUM
– wrapper – San Andreas maduro
– binder – Nicaragua
– filler – Nicaragua Jalapa ligero

ST – 002 (6×50) / FULL (Concept Blend)
– wrapper – Habano
– binder – Nicaragua
– filler – Nicaragua

Cain Daytona lancero (7×38) / MEDIUM
– wrapper – Ecuador Habano
– binder – Nicaragua
– filler – Nicaragua Jalapa ligero

 

 

- click on photographs (slideshow / EXIF)- 
 
 
 

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Bryan Scholle of Studio Tobac

This week we are placing Bryan Scholle of Studio Tobac in focus.


This photoshoot was executed back in 2011 in Montclair, NJ during 2011 Studio Tobac Tour. I have contact Bryan via Twitter and asked if he would be interested in few simple, without studio lights, camera clicks. We were both game ! The Studio Tobac Tour is about Bryan Scholle and The Car (2011 – Special Edition 2011 Touring Corvette Convertible), like Michael Knight and the K.I.T.T. Despite limited parking and working space (* I was literally crouching on the 2-way busy street), we got few good frames worthy Bryan’s wall. The highlight of the photoshoot had to be the ‘flipping bird’ LOL ! Imagine: North Jersey attitude, jealousy, sick Corvette, two young cats (Bryan and I) posing in front of the car, Dave Wagner (Oliva’s VP of Sales) standing in the middle of the street with an iPhone taking pictures … it only made sense to ‘Flip a Bird’ toward our way, right ? Yep … it happened. We laughed it off and continued smoking Studio Tobac’s latest releases.


2012 Studio Tobac Tour is now in full swing. Check Studio Tobac’s website for latest updates.

Bryan “The Show” Scholle – Bryan has been enjoying fine cigars since 2006, which started as an occasional hobby but quickly formed into a very strong passion. Bryan started with Oliva family in February 2010 as an account executive covering the West Florida Territory. Bryan started his sales career for Coca-cola following in his grandfathers footsteps. He was inducted into the Top Performers Club in 2004 for being Salesman of the year for Florida. Then in 2008 Bryan followed his passion and went to work for a Tampa based cigar shop named Tampa Humidor, which also is 1 of 2 Oliva Lounges in the USA. Bryan’s passion and knowledge for cigars grew during his years that he worked there. Bryan grew up with a very supportive family and group of friends that always told him to “aim for the stars…” , with this support he has been able to accomplish many great things in his short life. Bryan is very excited to be named Studio Ambassador for Studio Tobac, and can’t wait to get out on the open road and to a tobacconist near you very soon. – Studio Tobac website




 

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