Bombed again? (Oliva Serie V)

[andyJH]

Included in a sampler pack was a robusto sized Oliva Serie V. It had a darkish wrapper and may have been a maduro. (I am a cigar newcomer and am still learning.)

I had put off smoking this one as everything I have read told me that it was probably the best stick in my humidor. However, last night here in Vancouver was sunny and as warm as a mid summer night. Perfect conditions for an evening smoke on my porch. Seeing as this could be the last such evening this year I decided to smoke the V.

I had a delicious BBQ's steak and some vegetables for dinner and after cleaning up the grill and dishes I poured myself a few fingers of Islay single malt over an icecube and settled into my chair out on the porch.

The V looked impecably put together and smelled incredibly rich before lighting. An image of the smoke can be seen here if you add the 3 w's: ajh.ca/images/oliva_serie_V.jpg . I lit it up and was immediately impressed with the "fullness" of its flavours. When a let a little smoke escape through my nose it literally sent a wave of shivers down my spine. What an experience!

Now for the bad news... About a 3rd of the way in, I began to feel shaky and a little nauseous. While I do have some health issues that may have played a part in this reaction, only one other cigar has caused anything close to this reaction. I should have put it out as soon as I started feeling a little dodgy but instead I hung in there till just over half the cigar had been smoked because I had really hoped to love this one.

I spent the rest of the evening stretched out on my recliner under a ceiling fan feeling like crap.

The Oliva Master Blends 3 was a far better experience for me. I guess my question is, is the V that strong? Should I stay away from them, give one another chance or stick to something more like a master blends 3?

[Royale Duke]

The V's have an amazingly well blended ligero filler that just sneaks up on you, I have a pretty high Nicotine tolerance but that cigar floored me pretty good(although I enjoy it more) but I still love smoking those sticks.

Next time you might want to eat something with sugar in it or drink something with sugar in it(unless you are diabetic) because from what I hear the sugar will combat the Nicotine.

[Pugsley]

Definite case of nicotine overload. Having sugar or something sweet handy is good advice.

[ca21455]

My experience has been that the Serie V is not much stronger then the Master Blends. Some of the V's are quite large cigars so they may have caused some of the problem. Sometimes nicotine has a greater effect on you then at other times so your next V may not provide the same reaction.

[Grammaton]

I had the same experience. I absolutely loved the "V" I had, and want to smoke the one I have left, but I'm waiting for the right circumstances because I know it's going to lay me out. I know it will be worth it.

[Sigarz]

Ditto, the series V figurado took me down hard. and I had was prepared I knew from other here that is was strong and had that reputation so I made sure I had a nice dinner and still. I had the lancero recently and I had no trouble with that one also a great cigar. but I think the larger RGs are the ones to be careful with. Also come to think of it I have been smoking more lately pretty much 1 per day so its possible my resistance was higher for the lancero, eitherway dont give up on them just be careful, dont smoke it as your first cigar in a while and make sure you have a big meal beforehand and the chocolate is also a good idea.

[andyJH]

Originally Posted by Sigarz

I had the lancero recently and I had no trouble with that one also a great cigar.

That is good news as I just ordered 5 of those.

[Tarks]

Originally Posted by Pugsley

Definite case of nicotine overload. Having sugar or something sweet handy is good advice.

Ditto. A wise man once told me to take a teaspoon of sugar and it did wonders. Only took about 15 mins to work too.

[Herf N Turf]

Originally Posted by Tarks

Ditto. A wise man once told me to take a teaspoon of sugar and it did wonders. Only took about 15 mins to work too.

+1 Jeff.

Let it disolve on your tongue.

Here's the thing. You just ate a big meal. 1 cal of food requires 1ml of water to digest. Alcohol dehydrates you. Smoking dehydrates you. Your tolerance for nicotine just fell through the floor. When you smoke powerful cigars, be sure youre well hydrated and have some sugar at the ready.

[andyJH]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Diabetes means the sugar is not an option. Hydration, on the other hand, is something that I will pay much closer attention to when preparing to light up.

[92hatchattack]

I dont know much about diabetes... but i was on a no sugar no carb diet for a while and i will tell you hands down.... When you have no sugars in your body cigar nicotien hits you MUCH harder. Ive had mild cigars get me sick when on the diet, but when off the diet i can smoke strong cigars with no issue.

With that being said, i have smoked the V and the MB3, and too me the V was much stronger than the MB3. I thought the V was an absolutly amazing cigar... but as i finished it i could feel that if i had smoked it for another 5 minutes it probaly would have kicked my ass!

The only thing that helped me tolerate cigras when i was on the no sugar diets was hgaving a few alcoholic beverages before i smoke the cigar. If i had two drink before i sat down with the smoke, and enjoyed a 3rd with the smoke, i was usualy ok to smoke just about anything. Hope some of this helps you.

You will also slowly gain a nicotien tollerance. Kepps moking some safe gars and try and revisit the V in a few months and hopefully you will have a much more pleasant experience.

[Delsana]

Alcohol and diabetes rarely goes well together due to dehydration complexities as well as the decreased blood flow (and diabetics need a high blood flow).

[andyJH]

The same sampler pack from Taboo that brought me the Oliva Serie V and MB 3 also contained a few Taboo stogies. Tonight I tried my first Taboo torpedo. Not too sure of what you would call this size, but it was about 52 ring size x about 6 inches in length. I snipped the foot at about 50 % maximum thickness and the cap at about 75 %.

This stogie tasted wonderful. It produced bountiful smoke from beginning till I put it down with about one fifth left. Loads of flavour. The smoke was cool until right at the end of the smoking. Very, very nice smoke with only a pleasant nicotine hit. This was one of my faves so far.

[Jimbo14]

I have smoked a few oliva v double toros. Im not man enough to handle this massive cigar. To strong, to big.