Oliva Series V Melanio Cigars

The Oliva Cigar story began in the late 1800s, when Melanio Oliva started growing cigar tobacco in Cuba. His heirs carried on the family tradition in the fields, but it was his grandson Gilberto Oliva Sr. who began making cigars.

As with so many cigar stories, Gilberto Oliva Sr. faced a difficult road. He left his native Cuba in 1964, and eventually started working for the Plasencia family in Honduras. In 1995 he and his son Gilberto Jr. created a cigar within Plasencia’s factory called Gilberto Oliva. A year later, they set out to open a factory of their own, and shortened their brand name to Oliva.

Business was tough in those days, and Oliva struggled. Faced with dwindling reserves of cash, in a cost-cutting move they turned to Gilberto Sr.’s robust stocks of Nicaraguan tobacco, which changed the flavor profile of Oliva cigars at a time when the interest in Nicaraguan flavor was increasing.

Nicaraguan tobacco helped Oliva survive. The cigar that brought it to the attention of connoisseurs debuted in 2006: Oliva Serie V. Made by a small group of rollers and blended for strength and style, the Serie V line was an immediate hit. In 2012, to pay tribute to the first man in the family to grow cigar tobacco, Oliva added the Melanio version, which is distinguished from the original by its Sumatra-seed wrapper grown in Ecuador.

Rated 90. Wood and floral notes dominate this long, well-made cigar, which has a silky-wrapper. The burn and draw are both even and consistent.

Rated 90. Wood and floral notes dominate this long, well-made cigar, which has a silky-wrapper. The burn and draw are both even and consistent.

Rated 92. A gorgeous, box-pressed toro gorda with a superb wrapper. This cigar is complex and flavorful offering floral notes and hints of rich, malted nougat.

Rated 92. A gorgeous, box-pressed toro gorda with a superb wrapper. This cigar is complex and flavorful offering floral notes and hints of rich, malted nougat.

Rated 96 and Cigar of the Year #1 of 2014. The Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado has rich, big notes of leather framed by a range of coffee, caramel and woody intonations. It’s a classic smoke.

Rated 96 and Cigar of the Year #1 of 2014. The Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado has rich, big notes of leather framed by a range of coffee, caramel and woody intonations. It’s a classic smoke.

Rated 89. Notes of semi-sweet chocolate and caramel come through this tiny, box-pressed cigar. The draw is sub- stantial and the finish imparts notes of walnut.

Rated 89. Notes of semi-sweet chocolate and caramel come through this tiny, box-pressed cigar. The draw is sub- stantial and the finish imparts notes of walnut.

Rated 94 points and #8 Best Cigar of 2016. Many will remember that the Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado was named Cigar of the Year in 2014. The brand continues its trajectory of excellence with the Robusto. It’s a far more compact format, and perhaps more approachable, as not everyone is inclined to light up a large double figurado as their everyday smoke. The blend is centered around a Sumatra-seed wrapper grown in Ecuador paired with Nicaraguan tobacco. This combination isn’t terribly common in the premium cigar world, but the Oliva Cigar Co. seems to understand the tobaccos and how they fit together for harmony and balance. The smoke is silky, sweet and, at times intense with toast and cedar. The brand name commemorates Melanio Oliva, who first grew tobacco in Cuba in the 1800s.

Rated 94 points and #8 Best Cigar of 2016. Many will remember that the Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado was named Cigar of the Year in 2014. The brand continues its trajectory of excellence with the Robusto. It’s a far more compact format, and perhaps more approachable, as not everyone is inclined to light up a large double figurado as their everyday smoke. The blend is centered around a Sumatra-seed wrapper grown in Ecuador paired with Nicaraguan tobacco. This combination isn’t terribly common in the premium cigar world, but the Oliva Cigar Co. seems to understand the tobaccos and how they fit together for harmony and balance. The smoke is silky, sweet and, at times intense with toast and cedar. The brand name commemorates Melanio Oliva, who first grew tobacco in Cuba in the 1800s.

Rated 89. Spicy notes of leather and dried citrus complement this cigar’s strong mineral base. The wrapper is oily, and the draw is full.

Rated 89. Spicy notes of leather and dried citrus complement this cigar’s strong mineral base. The wrapper is oily, and the draw is full.