Cigar Review: Oliva Serie V Melanio Churchill
17 Oct 2012
This addition to the line that introduced many smokers to Oliva comes after years of rumors. There’s a lot to live up to for a stick that bears the name of the 19th century patriarch of the storied tobacco family, in addition to that of the highly regarded Serie V moniker.
Melanio does the job. It’s a fairly strong cigar that’s both tasty and smooth, combining an Ecuadorian-grown Sumatra-seed wrapper with a mix of Nicaraguan filler in a Nicaraguan binder. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better constructed cigar, from the sharp burn to the excellent draw. Two standout components are massive smoke production and a fine, lingering finish to treat the palate.
Another job the Melanio accomplished was to get me smoking an Oliva again after a long, long layoff. I like and have smoked many of its offerings, but it’s been a while. Much of the company’s focus and attention seems to have gone into other projects, such Nub and Cain, and I think that’s helped divert me as well.
One criticism I have for the Melanio is Oliva’s decision not to use cellophane. The wrapper is delicate and seems to be easily banged up. In fact, selecting a stick from the boxes of ten, featured for the five Melanio vitolas, can be a challenge.
Perhaps reflecting the trend toward larger ring gauges, the rectangular-pressed Churchill is a 50 rather than the more traditional 48, though it is the standard seven inches in length.
I found this size a good showcase for the Melanio’s offerings. I probably shouldn’t say this because I don’t really have enough experience to make a competent observation but, hey, we’re all friends, right? This cigar struck me as a great, old-fashioned smoke, one your grandfather would have enjoyed and you will, too.
At around $12, this cigar is higher-priced than many Olivas. I think you’ll find it worth the extra money. It earns four stogies out of five.
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I've only had one, after which I said "meh". Surprising, as I've been a fan of a number of Oliva offerings (I accidentally ended up w/ 4 boxes of the first V maduro after one retailer wrongly said my order had gotten waylaid…after smoking one, I cackled like a madman, posted an armed guard at my biggest humidor and commenced Plan Hoard. They are now AMAZING. Also have some of the old "toilet seat" maduros…named after the box shape, not the taste. Will give the Melanio another try, hoping I just was having an off day or something.
) Damn, I hate it when I forget the one paranthesis and can't go back and edit to fix.
47 is traditional. 48 is very common, but not really traditional.
Schuyler – I think you're correct, especially with Cuban cigars. I was thinking more of non-Cubans, but I probably should have said simply that the Melanio's 50 ring gauge is a tad larger than that of the traditional Churchill and let it go at that.
Tried a couple of these in the Corona size. I also would be right around the 4 out of 5 stogies. It was good, had some decent complexity for a corona, but it sure did have a little ligero kick in the final third of the cigar. The final third definitely brought up the intensity just into the fuller body in my opinion. So if you like your cigars to build in strength, this little corona size might be a good one to try!
I just can't like Oliva's. There's a certain earthiness about them that I can't stand on the palate.
I love Oliva cigars, cant wait to get my mitts on this one- albeit the higher price.