Today, we look at the Oliva Serie V Melanio Edición Año 2023 Figuriño. This is a limited edition cigar introduced by Oliva Cigar Company at the 2023 Premium Cigar Association (PCA). Since its inception in 2012, the Melanio has seen many limited edition releases. The Figuriño is a 5 1/2 x 54 perfecto. Fred Vandermarliere, owner of Oliva’s parent company, Vandermarliere Family of Cigars, designed this size. It’s not the first time Oliva has released the Figuriño. The Figuriño has seen a release before as a part of a limited edition Elie Bleu Humidor offering.
Oliva Serie V Melanio Edición Año 2023 Figuriño – Agile Cigar Review
SPECIFICATIONS
The Oliva Serie V Melanio blend consists of an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder and fillers. The cigars are presented in ten-count boxes with a projected production of 14,500 boxes.
- Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
- Binder: Nicaraguan
- Filler: Nicaraguan
- Country of Origin: Nicaragua
- Factory: Tabacalera Oliva de Nicaragua S.A. (TABOLISA)
- Figuriño: 5 1/2 x 54 (Perfecto)
PERFORMANCE
The Oliva Serie V Melanio Edición Año 2023 Figuriño opened up with wood, clove, earth, natural tobacco, and citrus notes. There was no dominant note early on, but as the cigar burned past the tapered foot, the natural tobacco and citrus notes became primary. There were notes of wood and clove on the retro-hale. The second third saw the citrus diminish and the clove notes increase. By the last third, the clove notes took over as the primary note. There still were notes of wood and citrus as the cigar experience came to a close.
In terms of strength, the Oliva Serie V Melanio Edición Año 2023 Figuriño fell into the medium range. There was a slight increase in strength, but the strength level remained in the medium range. The flavors started out medium-bodied, but by the second third, progressed to medium to full-bodied. The body continued to increase but remained in the medium to full range. The burns did require multiple touch-ups to maintain a straight burn path and straight burn line. As for the draw, it had a touch of resistance to it – making it ideal in my book.
OVERALL ASSESSMENT
Final Thoughts
I’ve had many incarnations of the Oliva Serie V Melanio. Some sizes perform better than others. I liked the Petit Corona, Churchill, and JR 50th sizes. The Figuriño size started out fantastic in the first third but steadily declined after that. By the final third, I found the flavors got unbalanced by the clove notes and were not enjoyable. Priced at $20.00, the Oliva Serie V Melanio Edición Año 2023 Figuriño did not live up to a cigar in that price range. The Figuriño is a size I don’t see myself coming back to – especially with other suitable sizes out there.
Summary
Key Flavors: Natural Tobacco, Clove, Citrus, Earth, Wood
Burn: Very Good
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: Medium
Strength: Medium
Body: Medium (1st Third ), Medium to Full (Remainder)
Finish: Very Good
Rating
Value: Not Recommended
Score: 86
REFERENCES
Previous Assessment: Oliva Serie V Melanio 4 x 60 (BP)
News: Oliva Serie V Melanio Figuriño to Get Limited National Release at 2023 PCA Trade Show
Price: $20.00
Source: Purchased
Brand Reference: Oliva
Photo Credits: Cigar Coop
Note: Agile Cigar Reviews are cigar assessments using a lightweight, shorter format. These will never take the place of our comprehensive reviews. They are only used on blends we have previously assessed. This might be a blend we are re-scoring or giving a score for the first time or a blend we are looking at in a different size.
