Serie V is the cigar that made Oliva Cigar Co. a critic's brand. The family introduced it in 2006, and it had its trade-show debut in 2007. Rolled at Tabolisa in Estelí, it is a Nicaraguan ligero blend, with fermented Jalapa leaf under a Habano sun-grown wrapper. A Serie V torpedo posted a 94 in Cigar Insider in 2007.
In 2012 Oliva added Serie V Melanio, named for patriarch Melanio Oliva, who started growing tobacco in Pinar del Río in 1886. Melanio uses an Ecuador Sumatra-seed wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler, a step smoother than the original. The Melanio Figurado was Cigar Aficionado Cigar of the Year in 2014, at 96 points. Melanio Maduro is the darker line. NUB and Cain are separate Oliva sub-brands on the same factory floor. Serie V is the flagship. Vandermarliere has owned Oliva since 2016. The blend and the factory stayed in Estelí.
Industry Connections
Notable Cigars & Product Lines
Find These Cigars
As an affiliate I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.