Oliva Serie V Ligero Q

[CORoller55]

It seems to me that this blend is all Jalapa Ligero filler? If this is the case, do you think that the Jalapa Ligero is varied in any way to make it more complex (ie; different ageing times) or is at all just 100%, straight, Jalapa Ligero?... I imagine if it were, it would only smoke so smooth after a lot of time on it.

Anybody else want to also share their experiences/observations with one Ligero type or a variety of Ligeros in an all Ligero cigar?

 

[deluxestogie]

"...aged Nicaraguan ligero from the Jalapa Valley of Nicaragua..."

Jalapa is a location in which a number of tobacco varieties are grown. The variety, "Jalapa," comes from there. My guess is that the Oliva cigar is made from Nicaraguan Habano variety that is grown in the Jalapa region, rather than being Jalapa variety.

The Jalapa variety that I've grown produces a ligero that would probably peel the pain off a road sign. It's wonderful in tiny amounts, when added to less robust filler. I don't think I could smoke straight Jalapa ligero. But then, I can't smoke straight Nicaragua Habano ligero either.

Bob

 

[CORoller55]

Hey Bob, thats what I figgered as well, but I thought I saw somewhere that it was an all Ligero blend. Maybe what i read was just worded strangely, and that threw me off...

Nonetheless those are good sticks, and they come with a fairly hefty Nic Punch... Ive thought before about dissecting a premium store bought cigar, then wrapping each part of leaf on its own, identifying the flavor/origin, and then trying to make something similar on my own. Am I just crazy, or have any of you ever done this before?

 

[webmost]

Hey Bob, thats what I figgered as well, but I thought I saw somewhere that it was an all Ligero blend. Maybe what i read was just worded strangely, and that threw me off...

Nonetheless those are good sticks, and they come with a fairly hefty Nic Punch... Ive thought before about dissecting a premium store bought cigar, then wrapping each part of leaf on its own, identifying the flavor/origin, and then trying to make something similar on my own. Am I just crazy, or have any of you ever done this before?

Done it. No success.

 

[CORoller55]

Ah, well, I guess if it was that easy then everybody would be doing it

Any experiences with pure Ligero sticks? The most I ever tried was 1/2 Nic Seco 1/2 Nic Ligero, and after some age, i was impressed, although it packed a punch!

 

[SmokesAhoy]

I've made a few pure ligero only cigars. Tastes like what I think drinking a juice extract would be like, good if diluted.

A great ratio for my tastes is 1 part ligero, 2 parts viso, 3 parts seco, no low primings. Apparently that's not a proper cigar though, but I like it.

 

[deluxestogie]

Twenty years ago, "full-body" cigars contained an extra measure of ligero. An exception then, were the Camacho cigars, which were always far too strong. Today, the very same "full-body" blend would likely be rated medium or medium-to-full.

The trend of making cigars ever stronger (more ligero) seemed to begin with Partagas Black. The ligero only went up from there.

Even though I've smoked cigars (sometimes a half-dozen a day) for over 40 years, I really prefer moderation in the blending recipe. My home-grown cigar leaf generally tends to be somewhat milder than the commercial equivalent. Even then, I don't particularly like my own tobacco, when rolled as all ligero filler. It's just too damn strong. It makes me queasy.

Bob

 

[Old#12]

Tell me if I'm wrong Bob. All ligero cigars seem to have a pretty significant nitch in the premium cigar market but if what I'm reading about them is correct a large portion of the cigars are made with shade grown Ligeros. For example Ecuadorian shade leaf looks like it's getting a lot of use in these cigars. #12

 

[deluxestogie]

I don't really know.

Ecuador shade tobacco may or may not be grown beneath shade cloth. Many parts of Ecuador (higher elevations) are a type of tropical forest biome known as "cloud forest." Easterly wind currents from across the Amazon basin have to rise rapidly along the eastern face of the Andes, and their moisture is condensed into clouds that are nearly constant. (A similar situation is present in some tobacco growing regions in Sumatra.) The persistent cloud cover produces "shade grown" leaf.

Bob

 

[deluxestogie]

[quote="Cigar Aficionado, Jan/Feb 2014" ]
“Filler tobacco needs body,” Oliva says. “Because the sun’s rays are filtered by the clouds, the tobacco [in Ecuador] never thickens, never gets strong enough for a viable filler.”

The clouds temporarily clear, allowing the sun to come out for a moment or two. This is rare sight for the region. Most of the time, the cloud cover is so thick and constant that the nearby Andes are completely invisible. Now, through a light haze, the verdant mountains appear large and spectral.

http://www.cigaraficionado.com/webfeatures/show/id/17576[/quote]
Bob

 

[Old#12]

Thanks Bob. When we think of ligero we typically think of the high octane sun grown version. I'm curious to know if they make a Nicaraguan all puro with all sun grown ligero. Based on my experience that would be enough nicotine to blow your head off. I know they say you can age some of that out but I don't know how they do it. 12

 

[deluxestogie]

I've smoked 23 year old Henry Clay cigars. They seemed to retain every bit of their original nicotine--as I recall them from decades earlier. So, I would make the leap to conclude that, while you may tone down some of the volatiles in a cigar by aging, the nicotine doesn't go anywhere.

Bob