This year, Oliva released the much anticipated Oliva Serie V Melanio at the 2012 IPCPR.  This is a limited edition that differs from the core Serie V by adding extra Jalapa ligero to the blend as well as changing the wrapper from Nicaraguan Sun Grown Habano to an Ecaudorian Sumatra wrapper.  I went this year to IPCPR this year with my local shop, The Cigar Shop in Biloxi, MS, to help them with ordering and new product purchasing.  One of the stops was to stop by the Oliva booth, mainly to restock what we already carry in Oliva, which is considerable, as its one of the shop’s top selling brands.  While there, the owner and I was able so sampled the Melanio in the petit corona #4 size.  Needless to say, we were enamored with the new cigar.  Even in the little cigar, the flavors were full and the power much more than I expected.  With that sample, we ordered as much as we could.  Over the past couple of weeks, the Melanio started showing up at the shop.  I was eager to try the other sizes.  A few of the customers mentioned to me they really liked the torpedo the best so, naturally, I tried that one first.  The larger ring gauge really lets the blend shine.  To me, the large ring gauge had a more rounded, lush flavors over the smaller powerhouse #4.  All the sizes I tried were great, but the torpedo was tops for me.  Check out my video review for more detail.

Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube Channel.