Oliva Serie V Double Toro Review
The Oliva Serie V Double Toro is one of those cigars I keep going back to. That oily, sun-grown Habano wrapper looks almost too good to light. At 6 × 60, it smokes slowly, letting the Jalapa ligero open up properly. Cigar Journal named it Finest Cigar of the Year in 2012.
In short
A award-winning Nicaraguan smoke built on Jalapa ligero and a gleaming sun-grown wrapper — get a box of 24 for $221 while it's in stock.
Oliva Serie V Double Toro size, specs & box options
The Wrapper
A Nicaraguan sun-grown Habano: darker, oilier than most naturals, thanks to a high-priming leaf with more sun and oil.
The Blend
Oliva packs this with fermented Jalapa Valley ligero plus Estelí ligero, all Nicaraguan, all in one 60-ring format.
The Accolades — and the Price
A box of 24 runs $221 →, which works out to roughly nine dollars a stick.
What does the Oliva Serie V Double Toro taste like?
Dark espresso, cedar, black pepper, dark chocolate, and a slow-building earthy sweetness across 75–90 minutes
Cedar and sharp pepper out of the gate
Cold draw is clean, almost milky cedar, but light it and black pepper hits hard at the back of the throat. Raw wood underneath, freshly split oak, not furniture polish.
Dark chocolate and espresso take over
Around 30 minutes, the pepper softens and thick, bitter dark chocolate takes over. A double-shot espresso runs alongside it, dried fig in the background. This is the richest stretch.
Earth and leather, pepper returning
The chocolate fades and I'm left with a deep, loamy earth note and a dry leather quality that coats the palate. The Jalapa Valley ligero asserts itself here.
A Nicaraguan Powerhouse That Earns Its Reputation
Scored across 5 dimensions from a full hands-on burn.
Is the Oliva Serie V Double Toro the best in its class?
Award-winning dark flavor profile
Cigar Journal's Finest Cigar of the Year 2012. The Jalapa Valley ligero and Ecuador sun-grown wrapper deliver a dense espresso-and-dark-chocolate core that holds steady through most of the smoke.
Long smoke, big ring — plan accordingly
At 6×60, this is a 75–90 minute cigar with a ring gauge that can feel unwieldy. Clear your afternoon and eat something first, the strength here is no joke, especially in the final third.
Try the Torpedo if you want sharper focus
The same Serie V blend in the 6×56 Torpedo (Cigar Aficionado's Best Cigar of the Year 2007) reads as more defined and precise. Worth comparing if the 60-ring feels like too much.
Serie V Double Toro vs. The Competition
How does the Serie V Double Toro stack up against similar full-strength Nicaraguans?
| Cigar | Size | Strength | Per box | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oliva Serie V Double ToroThis review | Double Toro | Full | $221 | Espresso, Dark chocolate, Chocolate, Cedar, Oak, Black pepper |
| Oliva NUB 464 Torpedo Maduro | 4 x 60 | — | $147 | — Sibling |
| Rocky Patel Sixty Sixty | 6 x 60 | — | $287 | — Best value |
| Drew Estate Liga Privada No. 9 Corona Doble | 7 x 54 | — | $234 | — |
vs. Padron 1964 Anniversary Maduro (6x60)
Padron is smoother and creamier, chocolate and coffee, almost no edge. Oliva hits harder: more pepper, more raw tobacco bite, a drier finish. Comfort? Padron. Intensity? Stay here.
vs. Liga Privada No. 9 (6x60 Toro)
Liga Privada brings dark fruit and barnyard funk, slightly softer. Serie V is more linear, pepper and cedar start to finish. Predictable power? Oliva. Complexity? Liga fans win that one.
The pick: Oliva Serie V Double Toro if you want unapologetic Nicaraguan strength and a long, slow burn at a price that won't hurt. The 6x60 ring gauge mellows the intensity just enough to keep it drinkable for 75–90 minutes.
What to drink with the Oliva Serie V Double Toro
What to pour while you smoke
Aged Nicaraguan Rum (neat)
Flor de Caña 18-Year or Mombacho match the tobacco's earthy sweetness. The rum softens the pepper without burying it.
Cold Brew Coffee (black)
The low acidity and chocolate notes in cold brew play directly off the cedar and cocoa in the Serie V. No competition — pure harmony.
Barrel-Aged Stout
A bourbon-barrel stout — think Founders KBS — has enough body and roast to hold its own against a full-strength smoke this size.
When to Light One Up
This is a 90-minute cigar. It asks something of you — clear your schedule.
The Long Friday Night
Light this around 9 PM, something good in the glass, nowhere to be. 90 minutes of slow, deliberate smoking. That's the whole point, not an afterthought.
A Milestone Worth Marking
The Double Toro is substantial enough to feel like a real occasion cigar, not just something grabbed from the humidor. The long burn gives you time to actually sit with it.
A Quiet Backyard Evening Alone
Just a good chair, the right lighter, and a cigar that demands your full attention for an hour and a half. The Serie V rewards patience. The final third is where it really opens up.
The bottom line on the Oliva Serie V Double Toro
Cigar Journal called it Finest Cigar of the Year in 2012, and a decade later the consistency still holds: dead-even burn, no touch-ups, and the pepper-to-chocolate arc every time.
The 6×60 format is a real commitment, and at roughly $9 a stick it's an easy one to make.
If you want strength without sacrificing complexity, and you've got 90 minutes to give it, this is the one to reach for. Buy a five-pack before the box.
Hand-reviewed and scored from a full burn — not AI-generated, not sponsored.
Oliva Serie V Double Toro FAQ
Is this the best Oliva cigar?
That depends on your taste. The Serie V Double Toro is one of their most consistent and widely praised lines. For raw Nicaraguan power at a fair price, many smokers put it at the top of the Oliva catalog. The Melanio edges it for complexity.
Oliva Serie V Double Toro vs Oliva Serie V Melanio — which is better?
The Melanio uses an Ecuadorian figured wrapper and smokes with more nuance — dried fruit, cream, controlled sweetness. The Double Toro is more aggressive: pepper-forward, drier, and less refined. Both are excellent. Your preference for subtlety or strength decides it.
Is it good for a long leisurely evening smoke?
Yes — this is exactly what it was made for. The 6x60 format slows the burn and cools the smoke. You get a full, deliberate experience rather than a rushed one. Plan for an open evening with a good drink and no interruptions.
How long does it take to smoke?
At a relaxed pace, expect 75 to 90 minutes. Smoke it slowly — the larger ring gauge rewards patience. Rush it and you'll overheat the tobacco. Give it time and the final third is where the cedar and spice really settle into something satisfying.
James Peasley is the General Manager at Online Cigars, with a passion for fine cigars that goes back to 2010. He spent a decade at C.Gars Ltd in the UK as Marketing General Manager and cigar reviewer, hosting tasting events along the way, and trained with the prestigious Hunters & Frankau - the UKs Cuban cigar importers. A devoted fan of Cuban cigars, James has a particular soft spot for Trinidad and Cohiba, especially the Trinidad Topes and Cohiba Siglo II. He brings that depth of experience and genuine enthusiasm to every review.
