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Pungenday Confusion 47th, YOLD 3184
Oliva Serie V Melanio
WRAPPER: EcuadorianBINDER: Nicaraguan
FILLER: Nicaraguan
FORMAT: Robusto, box-press
ORIGIN: Tabacalera Oliva S.A., Nicaragua
STRENGTH: Medium-Full
PROFILE: Spice/Bitter-Sweet
DELIVERY: Meaty/Toasted
COMBUSTION: ok
CONSTRUCTION: excellent
Dark overtones of a toasted bitter-sweet nature, steered by a savory & oft dusty spice. Undertones are a brighter and slightly roasted salted sourness with a healthy dose of its own spiced & smoked meatiness. Non-acidic and exceptionally balanced. Supremely complex & nuanced.
- Pepper (black, cayenne)
- Spice (cumin, smoked paprika, clove)
- Wood (cedar)
- Chocolate (dark & fudge)
- Meat (smoked)
- Grain (dark rye)
- Nuts (almond)
- Earth (smoked)
The body is a chewy beefy smoothness cut-some kindly by a nifty tingle. Heavy, rich & soft as a fat cat robber baron. Finish is a smoky view of the under/overtones flip-flopping positions. Ends clean & stay cool of temp.
Strength builds slowly but surely to a bit of a sweaty upper lip crescendo. Sits nicely warm in the chest.
Combustion bears the slightest of self-correcting waves. Mucho smoky both passive & actively-so. Aroma is a somewhat sharp beefy spiced bitterness. Ash grows a bit looser than tight but makes an inch of growth twixt my compulsive tappings. A tick of coning happens under there. Some fluting at char happens as the press rounds-some.
Strength builds slowly but surely to a bit of a sweaty upper lip crescendo. Sits nicely warm in the chest.
Combustion bears the slightest of self-correcting waves. Mucho smoky both passive & actively-so. Aroma is a somewhat sharp beefy spiced bitterness. Ash grows a bit looser than tight but makes an inch of growth twixt my compulsive tappings. A tick of coning happens under there. Some fluting at char happens as the press rounds-some.
A smooth even medium tension'd draw highlights the construction and an even roll sans hard/soft spots co-stars well. Seams hold tight There is a tick of sponginess to the 3/3.
FINAL GRADE: A-
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79 D 60-69 F 0-59
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FINAL GRADE: A-
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79 D 60-69 F 0-59
"The Oliva Serie V Melanio is hand rolled using expertly fermented ligero fillers, leaves known for their robust and rich flavor. Five years in the making, this special cigar is sure to exceed a premium cigar smoker's highest expectations. The Serie V is full flavored yet smooth. The long filler tobaccos are a blend of Oliva Nicaraguan Habano that emphasizes tobacco from the Jalapa region, an area known for a more nuanced leaf than the Esteli or Condega regions. This carefully aged Jalapa blend produces a particularly flavored smoke." - www.OlivaCigar.com
"Many will remember that the Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado was named Cigar of the Year in 2014. The brand continues its trajectory of excellence with the Robusto. It’s a far more compact format, and perhaps more approachable, as not everyone is inclined to light up a large double figurado as their everyday smoke. The blend is centered around a Sumatra-seed wrapper grown in Ecuador paired with Nicaraguan tobacco. This combination isn’t terribly common in the premium cigar world, but the Oliva Cigar Co. seems to understand the tobaccos and how they fit together for harmony and balance.
"Earlier in 2016, Oliva Cigar Co. was acquired by J. Cortez Cigars N.V., a Belgian tobacco company that wanted a premium cigar operation in its portfolio. Now they have one. Assurances have been made that nothing will change under the new ownership, and that J. Cortes will maintain Oliva’s high standards. We certainly hope so. With the Oliva Serie V Melanio, they now have an extraordinary cigar blend on their hands. The smoke is silky, sweet and, at times intense with toast and cedar. The brand name commemorates Melanio Oliva, who first grew tobacco in Cuba in the 1800s." - www.CigarAficionado.com (which ranked this vitola #8 of 2016)
s/o Bob
s/o Bob
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