#24: Oliva Serie V Melanio

The #24 Cigar on our the 2012 Cigar of the Year Countdown is the Oliva Serie V Melanio.  The Melanio was announced prior to the 2012 IPCPR and derives its name from the patriarch of the Oliva family, Melanio Oliva.   The Melanio line is positioned an ultra-premium line consisting of box-press vitolas.  The blend is different from the core Serie V line.

The Oliva Serie V Melanio marks the third time in four years that Oliva has landed on our Cigar of the Year countdown.  This marks the first time that a cigar with the “Oliva” name has landed on the countdown (as in 2009 and 2011 it was a the “Cain” line that landed on the countdown.  The Melanio marks the first all box-press line of cigars to land on this year’s countdown.

The Melanio delivers a nice combination of coffee, floral, and pepper notes.  There was some nice nuances to this flavor profile.  The flavors are medium to full-bodied for most of the cigar experience, but do progress to full-bodied toward the end.  The Melanio is medium to full strength – providing the right amount of pop throughout the smoking experience.

The burn wasn’t perfect as I did have an occasional uneven or warm burn.  The draw was outstanding.

Click here to read our assessment of the Oliva Serie V Melanio.

Blend Profile

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan

Vitolas Available

As mentioned above, all of the Oliva Serie V Melanio vitals are box-press.

Churchill 7 x 50
Figuardo 6 1/2 x 52 (Double torpedo)
Torpedo: 6 1/2 x 52
Robusto: 5 x 52
Petit Corona 4 1/2 x 46
Robusto 5 x 52

Recommended Vitola: Petit Corona