Why are they hard to find?

Nothing brings me more joy than kicking back with a phenomenal stogie; usually with friends and scintillating banter. Ever so often, the discussion veers into cigars and our favorite go-to smokes of all time. I always have an issue landing on just one. After all, the process of picking an all-time cigar rests on more than one attribute.
You may be wondering why I am droning on about my co-curricular activities. Patience.
It’s not every day that I get to review one of my very few all-time favorite stogies. But this bad boy has got it all.

Oliva Serie V

A Little History

Oliva Serie V is produced by Oliva Cigar Co. which was recently acquired by J. Cortes Cigars N.V. of Belgium.
Undoubtedly, there were some concerns about quality consistency. For this reason, J. Cortes Cigars kept Jose Oliva on to ensure that the Oliva Cigar Co. quality was maintained.

Oliva Serie V is the strongest, most full-bodied line in the Oliva Cigar Co. arsenal. We say it’s because it only rocks potent, delicately aged Ligero Tobacco from the Jalapa Valley in Nicaragua. So, yes; It’s a Nicaraguan Puro!

About Oliva Serie V

Oliva Serie V has been a permanent resident in the top cigar lists for the past decade. I am talking about a cigar line that was first released in 2007!
Let that sink in for a minute. It is hard enough for a cigar to maintain relevance for this long let alone to feature in the top cigar lists year after year consistently.

But Oliva Serie V does this effortlessly. In fact, since its release, the Oliva Serie V cigar line received almost 30 90+ ratings from top cigar reviewers.

These are the top accolades so far:

• Oliva Serie V Double Toro – 2012 Finest Cigar of the Year by Cigar Journal
• Oliva Serie V Belicoso – 2012 Best Cigar of the Year by Cigar Aficionado and again #3 in the 2017 Top 25 Cigars of the Year
• Oliva Serie V Figurado – 5 Star Rating from 2010 European Cigar Journal
• Oliva Serie V Double Robusto – 2008 Best Cigar of the Year by Cigar Aficionado
• Oliva Serie V Torpedo – 2007 Best Cigar of the Year by Cigar Aficionado

Not to mention the Oliva Serie V Melanio in Figurado. This decadent beauty was the 2014 Cigar of the Year by Cigar Aficionado. It also got a coveted 96 rating.

Oliva Serie V Blend

In Nicaragua, they call this blend a Ligero Especial. This is to say the blend consists of the thickest, darkest leaves taken from the tree’s top layer.

In a word, Oliva Serie V embodies specially fermented Ligero long-fillers from Jalapa Valley. These are then cloaked in a Nicaraguan binder and finally swathed in a high-priming, sun-grown Nicaraguan Habano wrapper.
Now, from the blend, you may be wondering why this stick is consistently one of the highest-rated stogies.

Here is why. 
Construction is sheer perfection with an expertly applied triple cap.
Wait until you see that flawless velvety Habano wrapper! You may be taken aback by the weight. This baby is densely packed, but the seam work is impeccable.
Further, the wrapper gleams with a slight oily sheen with a furry feel to it. It smells of rich leather, sweet molasses, sapid earth, and a skosh of spice.

How Does It Smoke?

Well, in my experience, it’s all in the wicked flavor notes and the perfect balance of power and body.
Every section of this stick is its own standalone mouth-watering experience. You will love the subtle yet distinct flavor transitions throughout the smoke.

Each draw is a symphony of delicately co-mingled nuances ranging from resounding mocha and dark chocolate savor to dainty cedar and pepper undertones.
Retrohale is alive with peppery notes, barnyard nuances, and a sweet disposition brought on by the decadent sun-grown wrapper. Admittedly, the smoke output is wanting, but it doesn’t diminish the smoking experience. From the first draw to the nub, this smoke is nothing short of transcendent.

Is Oliva Serie V in Limited Production?

If you are an ardent Oliva Serie V enthusiast, you may have noticed they’re out of stock, a lot! 
So, are they in limited production?
As it turns out, since Oliva Serie V got the #1 Cigar of the Year title, Oliva Cigars Co. has not been able to keep up with the demand of any of the Oliva Serie V cigars. Besides that, there are actual Limited Release Oliva Serie V cigars. These include the Oliva Serie V Maduro and the Oliva Serie V Melanio Edicion Limitada 2018.

Now, the good news is Oliva Serie V Maduro will no longer be a Limited Release cigar. Just in case you didn’t know since its release in 2008 the Oliva Serie V Maduro was released once every year. As of June 2019, this delectable number will be available all year round!
How awesome is that! It will be available in four Vitolas, namely; Double Robusto [5x54], Toro [6x50], Torpedo [6x54], and Double Toro [6x60].

What about Oliva Serie V Melanio?

Oliva Serie V Melanio was released in 2012. The name pays tribute to Melanio Oliva, the first Oliva family member to grow tobacco in Cuba in the late 1800s.
The Oliva Serie V Melanio is a gentle box-press stick featuring a proprietary Sumatra-seed wrapper grown in Ecuador encasing premium Nicaraguan long-fillers.

Oliva Serie V Melanio is a winner by its own right. Its Figurado clinched the 2014 Cigar of the Year title with a staggering 96 Rating. In 2016 and 2018 the Robusto came in at #8 in the Top 25 List.
The Oliva Serie V Melanio Edicion Limitada 2018 come in a Robusto [5x50] Vitola. Unlike the typical Melanio, this baby is a rounded Parejo. It remains a limited edition.

Are There Plans to Increase Production?

Yes. Oliva Cigars Co. is undergoing an extensive expansion. For one, there are ongoing renovations on their main cigar factory in Esteli. Also, they opened a new secondary factory in Esteli as well as a separate factory for making boxes. In essence, J. Cortes Cigars wants to increase the production of Oliva Cigars by 40%. Ultimately, they want to produce 30 million cigars a year, which will be a considerable upgrade from 22 million cigars produced in 2018.

Final Thoughts

It is such a relief to learn that the constant shortage of Oliva Serie V cigars is about to end. This way, we can enjoy this decadent stogie all year round.
Meanwhile, grab your Oliva Serie V whenever you find it in stock. It is positively criminal to ever be without this stick in your humidor. Please share your experiences and thoughts. We love to hear from you.