Oliva Serie 'V' Melanio Churchill

The Oliva family first started growing tobacco in 1886 in Pinar Del Rio, Cuba. In the 1960s the Oliva family moved out of Cuba due to the country being overrun by communism, and they settled in the fertile grounds of Nicaragua. Today they are known for growing some of the finest tobacco crops in the world as well as being the second largest grower of Cuban-seed tobacco in the world. They also have some of the most skilled rollers and blenders to create their top-of-the-line cigars.

Introducing the magnificent, limited follow-up to the highly rated and sought-after Oliva Serie ‘V’: the Oliva Serie ‘V’ Melanio. This handmade stunner earned an impressive 96 rating and #1 Cigar of the Year from Cigar Aficionado in 2014 and we couldn’t agree more! Hailing from Nicaragua, this full-bodied stogie starts with a bold and flavorful blend of Oliva’s oldest and most prized leaves from Nicaragua’s famed Estelí and Condega as well as additional tobaccos from Jalapa. Securing that feisty blend is a Nicaraguan binder and a gorgeous, dark, thick, and oily Ecuadorian-grown Sumatra leaf. This powerhouse is brimming with complex flavors of fresh baked bread, caramel, black pepper, coffee, and unsweetened cocoa. Deliciously lip-smacking from beginning to end, try pairing it with an El Cafecito, a dark rum and coffee drink.

The Nicaraguan cigar industry originated when Cuban cigar makers escaped the revolution and re-established their livelihood in Nicaragua with Cuban-seed tobacco. Blessed with dark, rich soil, their new home was ideal for tobacco cultivation and Nicaragua quickly became known for cigars that rivaled Cuban quality. Unfortunately, revolution and war came to Nicaragua in the 1980s and devastated the industry, but it’s rebounded dramatically and is once again producing tobacco considered by many to be the finest in the world.

The Esteli Valley is in many ways the heart of Nicaraguan production and is known for its very powerful and spicy tobacco. The Jalapa Valley produces arguably the finest tobacco in the country: somewhat sweeter and less intense than Esteli, but extremely complex. The tobacco of the Condega Valley is often described as a blend of the other two regions.