Cigar Review: Oliva Serie V Melanio

The Oliva V Melanio has been on my review list for a while, so I was very happy to pick up a few of these at Hoboken Cigars. As you’ll read, this really is an exceptional cigar that will become a go-to for me when I want to taste a classic profile.

From the Oliva website:

Melanio Oliva first grew tobacco in Pinar Del Rio, Cuba in 1886. His growing operations were suspended while he fought in Cuba’s War of Independence. After returning from war Melanio resumed his operations. In the early 1920’s Melanio’s son Hipolito Oliva took over the growing operations. Hipolito cultivated the Oliva family fields for several decades. As Cuba became over-run by communist the tobacco landscape changed. Hipolito’s son Gilberto Oliva shifted from growing to brokering tobacco. In the early 60’s the pressure became too great and Gilberto traveled from country to country in search of the distinct Cuban taste. His travels took him to Honduras, Panama, Mexico and even the Philippines. Gilberto finally found fertile ground in Nicaragua. Today Gilberto along with his family are Nicaraguas second largest grower of Cuban-seed tobacco.

Blend Specifics

Wrapper: Ecaudorian Sumatra
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Size: Robusto (5×52)

Appearance & Construction

The box-pressed Oliva V Melanio features a gold, brown, and red double-banded scheme with a golden-brown Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. Gorgeously presented. Cutting and drawing reveals a nice evenly restrictive draw. The burn on this cigar is consistently straight, and the cigar delivers ample smoke.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

Before lighting, I take a whiff of the foot of the cigar and notice a nice mellow blend of coffee, caramel, and some woodsy notes. I strike a match, toast the cigar, and my first puff draws a great amount of smoke with strong notes of coffee, buttered toast, and a bit of wood. After about five minutes, the smoke has dropped a bit in body, but not in strength of flavor. Very, very enjoyable. Next, a subtle black and white pepper mix fades in on the retro-hale, well balanced with the slightly creamy texture.

By two thirds in, this cigar is a solid medium. Still lots of coffee, with wood and hints of leather coming through more and more. Moving in to the final third, the body on this cigar picks up substantially, with the wood and spice taking center stage. And interestingly, it ended much the way it began, body drawing down very nicely.

Conclusion

The Oliva V Melanio is a superb cigar. Great flavor, good complexity and balance, and awesome construction. Do yourself a favor and pick up five of these, or a box if you can swing it.

Final Grade: A-