Oliva Serie 'V' Melanio Torpedo Review

Cigar: Oliva Serie 'V' Melanio
Size: Torpedo 6" x 52
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: MSRP ~$13.00

Initial Impression/Prelight
The Melanio is a handsome cigar, with a box press and smooth, golden brown Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. It is evenly colored and firm to the touch, with very little in the way of veins.

I smelled sweet tobacco and a little cedar from the wrapper, then hints of cocoa and baking spices from the cold draw.

This cigar has been in my humidor for about 9 months @ 65%.

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1st Third
I got more of of that sweet, rich tobacco taste right away, along with leather, spiciness, a touch of cedar, and very little pepper. About average smoke production, and a nice easy retrohale which brought enhanced baking spices. Medium flavor and strength so far.

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2nd Third
The profile is more creamy is the second section, and I taste coffee with milk, light chocolate, some saltiness and nuts, and beautiful spiciness around the edges, maybe cinnamon. Perfectly clean burn and an uptick in smoke, which became richer towards the middle of the cigar.

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Final Third
The Melanio ended with mellowed spices, and more nuts, toast, and a graham cracker sweetness to go along with the light coffee and milk chocolate flavors. I'd say it was medium+ flavor and medium strength at the end.

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Overall Impressions
I really enjoy the Serie 'V' Melanio line. I smoked my first one expecting a lot of power for some reason, but I found a more subtle, refined cigar than the regular Serie 'V' (which I also love). I find the baking spices especially nice, and on occasion I like a cigar without too much pepper. The profile is mainly creamy, and I find a lot of complexity from section to section, from leather to light coffee, then nuttiness and toast.

The price puts these beyond my regular smoking rotation, but I was lucky enough to be gifted a pair in my early pass days from @stonecutter2 and @Merovius , and then I picked up a couple boxes last year. I silently thank each of those guys each time I smoke one of these, because I might never have purchased one for myself given the rarity with which I buy $10+ cigars.

Clearly I'd recommend a box, or whatever you can get your hands on. This is a very nice special occasion cigar, or anytime you find yourself with the time and setting to really savor and take in a smoke.

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