Cigar Review: Oliva Serie V Melanio Robusto

Initial Thoughts:

The Oliva Serie V Melanio Robusto should be a true, luxury smoke. After all, it's a blend that won some “Cigar of the Year” awards a few years ago.

The version of this cigar with the natural wrapper (as opposed to the Melanio Maduro) has a Nicaraguan binder and filler underneath an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper that's marbled and quite attractive.

After punching the end, the draw is impeccable. The flavors on the cold draw are grassy.

It's worth noting that I've had some Oliva Serie V Melanios that had flavors of chocolate and caramel, while others have been mediocre in flavor. Consistency seems to be an issue with these cigars, and I plan on letting most of the ones I have left age for at least a couple of years.

CigarScore:

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Brand: Oliva
Line: Serie V, Melanio Natural
Size: 5 x 52
Cut: Punch
Light: Torch
Price: $10.60
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua


Whereas the first third of the cigar had flavors that were just okay, the middle third is where the robusto started to shine. It was at about the halfway point where I started to get flavors of cream and caramel, even if they were just faint traces.

Final Thoughts:

I'm a little conflicted with this cigar because I know what amazing flavors of caramel, cocoa, coffee, and vanilla the Melanio blend can deliver. I've had it on the Churchill vitola, but, I didn't have it today.

However, the Oliva Serie V Melanio Robusto that I reviewed today doesn't quite live up to what I know a Melanio can deliver. This robusto's draw was great, the flavors were good, and I had an even burn the entire time, but… I know it can do better. The first third of the cigar was not as good as the middle and final thirds, which are where the draw opened up and the flavors improved.

Overall, this Oliva Serie V Melanio Robusto was pretty dang good, but not perfect, so it earns a CigarScore 4.

The CigarScore Rating System Explained

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