Oliva Cigars Serie V Melanio

Oliva Serie V Melanio Toro

Cigar Aficionado · Jan 1, 2024

A considerably complex cigar from a company that appears to be improving each year. The Oliva Serie V Melanio Toro is emblematic of Oliva’s serious commitment to quality. After Oliva Cigar Co. was acquired by Vandermarliere Cigar Family in 2016 (then known as J. Cortés), Fred Vandermarliere vowed to maintain the tradition of excellence established by the Oliva family. It was no empty promise. The company recently opened a massive new facility in Nicaragua dedicated to the proper fermentation, aging and processing of tobacco. Oliva has also doubled its rolling capacity and expanded its agricultural operations. All this growth would mean nothing if the quality of the product suffered as a result—which it didn’t. In fact, just the opposite happened. Throughout the year, Oliva has turned in one high score after the next, but none quite as impressive as the Serie V Melanio Toro. With its Sumatra-seed wrapper grown in Ecuador and blend of Nicaraguan tobacco, the smoke brims with earth and spice, offering everything from cumin and cardamom to ground clove and allspice. An underlying thread of cedar brings balance and structure.

Toro · 6.00″ × 52 · Medium-Full · Nicaragua

Oliva Serie V Melanio

CigarCzars · Jul 12, 2025

The Oliva Serie V Melanio in the Figurado vitola (6½ x 52) was named the Cigar Aficionado Number 1 cigar of 2014. This is a review of the same cigar, but in the Robusto (5 x 52) size. This cigar was named after Melanio Oliva, who began growing tobacco in Cuba during the late 1800's. The cigar is made in Nicaragua with a blend of Nicaraguan ligero filler tobaccos, and an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. This is a box pressed cigar available in seven shapes/sizes, with the Robusto size selling at around $120 for a pack of 10 cigars, and a 10-pack of Figurado's priced at about $160 (as of July 2025). My sample Oliva Serie V Melanio Robusto was full bodied with a deep, rich and full flavor that jumped out right from the start. The explosion of flavors included earth, leather and cocoa along with some background notes of spice and a subtle sweetness. After about 15 to 20 minutes, the texture of the smoke became smoother and creamy with just a bit less spice. The strength of the cigar also started to become more noticeable, but not to the nthdegree. Although this was a well balanced smoke, I do not recommend it for beginners nor newer cigar smokers. The cigar was very well made, had a very good draw, held a long ash, and burned relatively slowly and evenly. Only a couple of minor touch-ups lights were applied during the impressive 70 minutes that it took me to smoke this Robusto size cigar down to just under two inches remaining. The Oliva Serie V Melanio is an exceptional cigar, and deserves a stellar rating of 4.75 points on a 5-point scale. This was one of the best cigars that I have smoked during the last couple of years, and surpasses the original Oliva Serie V that I enjoyed for the first time back in 2007. If you are an experienced cigar connoisseur, I recommend trying at least one of these cigars (if you haven't already). Beginners should start with an Oliva Serie G, then work their way up to fully appreciate what the Serie V Melanio has to offer. Quick Review of Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro Robusto Cigar The Maduro version of the Oliva Serie V Melanio cigar debuted in 2013, one year after the original Sumatra wrapped cigar was introduced. Both cigars have similar flavors with only subtle differences. The San Andres Maduro wrapper does not add any more fullness to the already full flavor blend, but seemed to be a bit smoother than the original with only slight hints of a Maduro sweetness. The cigar burned evenly, held a long ash, and had a good draw. However, it took me “only” 50 minutes to smoke the Robusto (5 x 52) cigar down to two inches remaining, compared to 70 minutes for the Sumatra wrapped Robusto with the same dimensions.I rate the Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro Robusto cigar with the same stellar rating as the original: 4.75 points on a 5-point scale. You can't go wrong with either one, so why not try them both! Oliva Serie V MelanioSumatra and Maduro Cigars

Figurado · 5.00″ × 52

Oliva Serie V Melanio Edición Año

Holt's Staff Reviews · Dec 8, 2023

I’m smoking an Oliva Serie V Melanio cigar called Edición Año in an impressive 5.5-by-60 Gran Toro, a limited edition for 2024. This oily and succulent smoke is drawn from the same tobaccos that go into the original 96-rated Oliva Serie V Melanio, the ‘#1 Cigar of the Year’ in Cigar Aficionado in 2014. An alluring Ecuador Sumatra wrapper leaf harbors Nicaraguan long-filler tobaccos assembled in a bursting format that is round versus the box-pressed shape of the original. What I appreciate most about Oliva is their ability to make excellent cigars on a large scale.

Oliva Serie V Melanio DeSocio

Halfwheel · Oct 26, 2015 · Dec. 18, 2013

I was impressed with the Oliva Serie V Melanio DeSocio the first time I smoked it and almost two years of age has only made it better. The profile is sweeter overall with the age, with a distinct maple syrup note that makes a great backbone to a rich profile that includes a strong and creamy cedar and peanut notes. Construction was excellent, and the strength was noticeable without being close to overwhelming at any point. This cigar has really aged into something wonderful, and I only wish I had more of them to smoke when I am looking for a full-flavored, medium-bodied smoke to last almost two hours.

Toro Extra · Nicaragua

Oliva Serie V Melanio

Cigar Coop · Sep 7, 2012

Oliva Serie V Melanio The 2012 IPCPR Trade Show saw Oliva Cigar Company showcase a new line as a part of its popular Serie V family – the Oliva Serie V Melanio.  With a lot of new releases in the cigar industry over the past twelve months, Oliva has been pretty quiet.  However, for 2012, […]

Torpedo · 7.00″ × 50 · Medium to Full

Oliva Serie V Melanio in Robusto - Cigar Review by Kaplowitz

Kaplowitz · Jul 12, 2018

"Why not Kaplowitz?" Pungenday Confusion 47th, YOLD 3184 Oliva Serie V Melanio WRAPPER: Ecuadorian BINDER: Nicaraguan FILLER: Nicaraguan FORMAT: Robusto, box-press ORIGIN: Tabacalera Oliva S.A., Nicaragua STRENGTH: Medium-Full PROFILE: Spice/Bitter-Sweet DELIVERY: Meaty/Toasted COMBUSTION: ok CONSTRUCTION: excellent Dark overtones of a toasted bitter-sweet nature, steered by a savory & oft dusty spice. Undertones are a brighter and slightly roasted salted sourness with a healthy dose of its own

Robusto · Tabacalera Oliva S.A., Nicaragua

Oliva Serie V Melanio JR 50th Anniversary

Blind Man's Puff · Dec 15, 2021 · September 2021

Throughout 2022, JR Cigar has been celebrating it’s 50th Anniversary. As a part of that celebration, the company has collaborated with many different companies for a special cigar release. One of the biggest names on that list is Oliva, and together they came out with the Oliva Serie V Melanio JR 50th. This is not just a new size of the V Melanio, it is a tweaked version of the blend. This cigar was reviewed blind (no bands) by a panel of at least 4 reviewers. They did not know what they were smoking beforehand. The scores are an average of all the reviewers' scores with outliers removed. All of our cigars reviewed are shipped to the panelists with Boveda packs to ensure optimal smoking experience. The Olve Serie V Melanio has been on the market since 2012, and all of the cigars in the line are box-pressed, until now. The Oliva Serie V Melanio JR 50th is the first round version of the cigar. It is made in one size, a 6 x 50 parejo toro. Like the rest of the line, it is rolled at Tabacalera Oliva de Nicaragua S.A. The blend uses an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, and the binder and filler are Nicaraguan. The cigar come in 10-count boxes. The companies have not said how many boxes were produced, but it is limited and still available here. Each cigar runs $15.00 and they are only sold at JR Cigars.

Toro · 6.00″ × 50 · Medium · Nicaragua

Oliva Serie V Melanio Limited Edition 2021 4 x 60

Cigar Journal · Dec 24, 2022 · Top 25 of 2022: The Complete List (Rank #10)

The aromas of coffee and roasted, lightly salted almonds dominate the first few draws of this cigar. In addition, it offers some pepperiness, leather, cloves, and the gentle sweetness of dried fruit.

4.00″ × 60 · 6 (of 10) · Nicaragua