- Size: 5 x 52 (Robusto)
- MSRP: $102.25 (box of 10)
- Wrapper: San Andreas Maduro
- Binder: Nicaraguan
- Filler: Nicaraguan
- Body: Medium / Full
- Humidor Time Prior to Review: 4+ months
- Cigars smoked prior to review: 8
This is the last day of my Christmas vacation so I figured I would end it with something good. I bought a box of these Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduros a few months ago, and have been trying my best not to devour them all at once.
I love the chocolate flavors that this cigar produces. At it’s debut this was a $10+ stick, and still is according to the MSRP. But these days if you shop around you can find the robusto size on sale for $5-6 a stick, and a little more for the larger vitolas. Since it’s a relatively large factory, a lot of stuff by Oliva finds its way on sale, which is great news for budget conscious cigar smokers like me.
I don’t want to spoil the review, but for $5 you are going to be hard pressed to show me a tastier stick.
Construction and Pre-Light Aromas
This is a beautiful box pressed cigar with a milk chocolate colored wrapper, tight seams, and minimal veins. The wrapper is glove soft and slightly oily. There is a double cap. Pressing my fingers along the stick I note a firm and even pack to this cigar.
For our pre-light aromas I get cedar and earth from the wrapper. Cedar and pepper from the foot. I clip the cap and once again forget to test the a pre-light draw.
I start toasting and light her up.
First Third
Immediately I’m treated to a blast of spicy pepper. That quickly subsides and I’m left with a chocolate after taste. The draw is just a smidge on the tight side, but I’m getting plenty of smoke output.
The flavors settle into earth, cream, chocolate, and pepper with wood and pepper on the retrohale. The room note on this cigar is wonderful chocolate and bready smell. I am smoking outside and today there is minimal wind so I’m able to savor it.
I’m getting a light raisin now.
The burn is excellent with a relatively even char line, and a fine almost white ash. The cigar has a decently long finish, and if I poke my tongue around I’m detect some dark tobacco and chocolate flavors.
25 minutes in and we have burned up about an inch of this stick and most of the first third. I’m getting a sweet raisin or date flavor, chocolate, cream, malt, and spice on the finish and retrohale. Chocolate covered raisins, not a bad combination.
The burn line is razor sharp. I’ve had close to a box of these now and the construction has always been top shelf, even without much rest. The slightly snug draw is the only anomaly, but it’s not that bad and the cigar produces plenty of smoke.
The aroma reminds me of a chocolate malted milkshake. It is awesome. We are about a quarter inch away from the first band. I get up to take a photograph and ready myself for the second third.
Second Third
Smoke time so far: 30 minutes.
The first band tugs away easily. I take a puff and the ash immediately falls into my lap. It glances off my pocket and rolls onto the ground. Good thing I’m smoking outside.
I couldn’t ask for better cigar smoking weather this long weekend. Blue skies dotted with fluffy white clouds, minimal wind, and a balmy 77 degrees. We have been blessed.
The flavors from this second third are consistent with the first third. Sweet raisins, cream, chocolate, spice, and earth. A little woodsy note on the retrohale with the spice.
I take another puff and notice a new flavor: coffee. A nice addition to the mix offering a slightly bitter contrast. The breeze shifts and I’m treated with another whiff of that heavenly aroma.
I’ve relocated my smoking setup to a new corner of the back yard. The patio table has been temporarily commandeered by my girlfriend’s orchid collection. I like moving around occasionally and typically smoke one one of those folding zero gravity chairs. I keep one in the garage for smoking at home, and one in the trunk of my car.
The coffee has picked up and is now the most dominant flavor. Raisin, chocolate, cream, and pepper all follow not too far behind. This is a nice smooth smoke.
Time passes quickly with the Melanio Maduro. Before we know it I’m at the second and final band. This band pulls away as easily as the first. I take a draw and receive a sweet flavor on my tongue. I would describe it as a malty caramel flavor.
As quickly as the caramel sweetness came, it left and was replaced again by coffee. Raisins and chocolate on the finish. The cigar continues to smoke beautifully.
Final Third
We have hit the hour mark.
More clouds have rolled in and there is quite a bit of gray on the horizon. Welcome to Florida. Probably no rain while I finish out this smoke, but it’s anyone’s guess.
The flavors I am getting are bitter chocolate, coffee, earth, raisin, and black pepper. Cedar and spice on the retrohale. Slightly harsher than the first and second third as the oils concentrate in this stick and the body ramps up. Not much in the way of nicotine however.
In the nude this cigar resembles a smouldering fun size candy bar.
The pepper has picked up considerably. It hits me on the front of the palate, coats my mouth, and burns my nose on the retrohale. Bakers chocolate and coffee join forces with it. The cream and sweet flavors have fallen away, but I am still getting raisins on the finish.
Gray clouds roll overhead, and a flock of ducks flap hurriedly by. A small half inch chunk of ash falls into the ash tray. Smoke pours effortlessly from the Melanio Maduro.
10 minutes later and the smoke has grown warmer. It also wafts more gently from the nub. It seems like it’s about to go out on me. As if on cue it stops smoking. I’ve got a little over an inch left, and decide to give it a relight to coax out a few more minutes. I think this is the first relight I have had to do in a box of 10 cigars. We are just short of the 1 hour 30 minute mark.
The flavors are darker. More bitter and muted. Still enjoyable, but it’s apparent we are nearing the end.
The final puffs are bitter and intense. Gray clouds drift high overhead. A drop of rain falls on my leg. Time to put this one away.
Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro Review – Final Thoughts
This is a cigar I reach for when I don’t want to risk a poor experience. Good from the first puff to the last drop and consistent from stick to stick. I smoke slowly and routinely get 1.5 hours plus out of these robustos.
I may be in the minority here, but lately I have been preferring this off the regular Serie V Melanio. I love the malty room note, and the rich chocolate flavors. This cigar has been meticulously rolled and it smokes wonderfully. It’s a beautiful experience.
That said, there is not a whole lot in terms of flavor transitions. By my palate you get the chocolate and raisin throughout this stick. Like a lot of Olivas I have smoked, you start out with cream, and end with coffee. I’m not complaining, as I enjoy these flavors, but this cigar lacks the complexity and transitions that I might reserve for the rarefied air of a 95+ stick.
But don’t let that criticism dissuade you. This is a delicious and excellent cigar. I would rate this a “2” on the 0-2 scale. Box worthy. I bought a box without ever trying this stick based on the price and other reviews. I’d buy another box without reservation at $5-6 a stick. Not sure I would pay full freight for them, but I’m cheap and can sniff out a deal like a shark can smell blood in the water.
I’d give this a 4 out of 5. On that scale, a 3.5 is good. This is well beyond good in my book. Not sure it reaches the heights of a 4.5, but it’s getting close. I really enjoy it.
There is a core of flavors here that stays throughout the cigar. Chocolate, raisin and spice. It begins with a nice cream, and ends with coffee and bitter chocolate. If you enjoy those sorts of flavors I think you will love this cigar.
Final Score: 4.0/5.0
Final Smoke Time: 1 Hour 45 Minutes
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