Oliva Serie V Melanio Edición Año Staff Review
I’m smoking an Oliva Serie V Melanio cigar called Edición Año in an impressive 5.5-by-60 Gran Toro, a limited edition for 2024. This oily and succulent smoke is drawn from the same tobaccos that go into the original 96-rated Oliva Serie V Melanio, the ‘#1 Cigar of the Year’ in Cigar Aficionado in 2014. An alluring Ecuador Sumatra wrapper leaf harbors Nicaraguan long-filler tobaccos assembled in a bursting format that is round versus the box-pressed shape of the original.
What I appreciate most about Oliva is their ability to make excellent cigars on a large scale. The Oliva family sold their brand to Fred Vandermarliere, owner of a large machine-made operation based in Europe, in 2016. Vandermarliere has not only maintained the Olivas’ high standards for quality and consistency, but he has increased production substantially, adding capacity to the company’s factories and farms and doubling its output from the time he bought the company in 2016 to over 40 million cigars today.
For Oliva Serie V Melanio Edición Año, just 10,000 boxes of 10 cigars were produced in the Gran Toro size for the U.S. for 2024. The box itself stands out for its thick cedar lining with an image of a piano inside the lid. Each box comes with a QR code that links to a 45-minute composition by French composer Paul Montag. The cigars are sheathed in sheet music inside the box and a bright red band reading “2024” adorns each cigar.
When I extract a dark and delicious-looking Gran Toro from a fresh box, its woody aroma emanates as I inspect the cigar closely. You can tell the cigars have been assembled by a roller with much experience and that they were extra-selective in choosing the most attractive wrapper leaves. An intriguing bouquet of cedar and fresh coffee mingles with a touch of pepper when I clip the cap and take a few cold puffs. The draw is spectacular.
After lighting this big-ring gem, a creamy and concentrated profile of malted cocoa and spice mingles with hints of raisin and fresh espresso. The Gran Toro is a bit zesty to start, but its nutty foundation creates balance within the first five to seven minutes. The cigar’s extra girth imparts a cool and easy draw replete with all the smoothness you would expect from the original Melanio. Notes of raisin and hickory introduce a sweet component in the first third of the cigar.
Sip on a Macallan 12 Year Scotch with Edición Año. The luxurious taste of the cigar fits in with Macallan’s profile of toffee and vanilla notes. Because the Gran Toro is a slow-burning smoke, it’s perfect for savoring with premium Scotch. You’ll encounter lots of nuances by being patient and allowing the tasting notes to sink in gradually and linger with their complex aftertaste as they recede.
After fifty minutes of smoking, the final third of the cigar shifts into a moist profile of cedar and raisin with touches of salted caramel coming into focus. This intricate smoke maintains its composure with a firm ash and balanced flavor right down to the nub, which I’ve fully devoured after an hour of smoking.
Oliva Serie V Melanio Edición Año bears plenty of resemblance to the award-winning Serie V Melanio blend, but it offers more than enough distinction to deserve your attention, especially if you prefer big ring cigars. It’s easily one of the finest Oliva cigars you’ll encounter. Add this rare specimen to your next order before they’re sold out!
