If you enjoy a fine smoke, chances are you're well acquainted with Oliva Cigars.
They're famous for their award-winning blends, smoothness, and rich flavors.
But did you know their story starts in Cuba?
The brand's journey began in Cuba over 135 years ago when the Oliva family started growing tobacco.
Melanio Oliva first cultivated the fields in 1886, and his skills were passed down through generations.
However, political turmoil in the 1960s forced the family to leave Cuba.
After searching across countries, they eventually found the perfect growing conditions in Nicaragua.
By the 1990s, the Oliva family began producing their own cigars and founded Oliva Cigar Co.
Despite early challenges in the competitive cigar market, the quality of Oliva cigars helped them thrive.
Today, Oliva Cigars are among the most sought-after, with the Serie V line earning top spots in Cigar Aficionado’s rankings year after year.
The 5 Best Oliva Cigars
This isn't your typical "best of" list.
Instead of giving you our opinion, we thought you might be more interested in finding out the 5 best Oliva Cigars according to you, our customers.
So, we put together a list of our most popular Oliva cigars. Enjoy!
1. Oliva Serie V 135th Anniversary Edicion Limitada Perfecto
Shape: Perfecto
Size: 5 1/2 x 54
Strength: Medium - Full
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sungrown Habano
Binder / Filler: Nicaraguan / Nicaraguan
Color: Colorado Maduro
Grade: Hand Rolled / Long Filler
Blender: Oliva Cigar Co.
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
The Oliva Serie V 135th Anniversary Edicion Limitada is a fine choice and our most popular Oliva Cigar. If you are searching for the best Oliva Cigars, this is one you will want to try first.
The Ecuadorian Sungrown Habano wrapper gives this cigar a dark, silky appearance. A favorite amongst cigar makers, this wrapper is known for its rich flavors and versatility.
When combined with the Nicaraguan binder and filler, the cigar produces a range of tastes. You will notice notes of dark chocolate, espresso, and spicy pepper.
2. Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado
Shape: Perfecto
Size: 6 1/2 x 52
Strength: Medium
Box Pressed: Yes
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder / Filler: Nicaragua / Nicaragua
Color: Colorado Maduro
Grade: Hand Rolled / Long Filler
Blender: Oliva Cigar Co.
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Another cigar we highly recommend you try on your search for the best Oliva cigars is the Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado.
Put simply, this is a superb smoke.
And, the cigar experts at Cigar Aficionado agree.
2014's Cigar of the Year, Cigar Aficionado gave the Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado a rating of 96 points. This cigar is named after Melanio Oliva, the first member of the Oliva family to start growing tobacco.
The Oliva Serie V Melanio has an excellent draw, delivering notes of leather, spice, coffee, and woody notes in a deliciously creamy texture.
3. Oliva Serie V Double Toro
Shape: Gordo
Size: 6 x 60
Strength: Medium - Full
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sungrown Habano
Binder / Filler: Nicaraguan / Nicaraguan
Color: Colorado Maduro
Grade: Hand Rolled / Long Filler
Blender: Oliva Cigar Co.
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
The Oliva Serie V Double Toro is another highly-regarded cigar that's popular with our customers. With a larger ring gauge of 60, the Double Toro from the Serie V line extends your smoking time, allowing the flavors to fully develop and evolve throughout the experience.
Cigar enthusiasts often describe the Oliva Serie V Double Toro as a complex smoke that begins with a peppery taste, that then evolves into a woody flavor with notes of espresso.
With flawless construction, you'll enjoy a smooth and even smoke.
4. Oliva Master Blend 3 Maduro Double Robusto
Shape: Robusto
Size: 5 x 54
Strength: Full
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Maduro Habano
Binder / Filler: Nicaragua / Nicaragua
Grade: Hand Rolled / Long Filler
Color: Maduro
Blender: Oliva Cigar Co.
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
The Oliva Master Blend 3 Maduro Double Robusto is a modern classic that our customers love. The Master Blends 3 is a special release by Oliva in a series of limited artisanal blends.
The limited-edition series showcases Oliva's commitment to creating high-quality cigars using the finest tobacco.
The dark Ecuadorian Maduro Habano wrapper adds a touch of sweetness to this otherwise spicy flavor profile. You'll notice notes of dark chocolate, espresso, and spices throughout.
This complex and well-balanced cigar is a very enjoyable smoke. With a fantastic draw, even burn and firm ash, the Oliva Master Blend 3 is one that every cigar lover will want to try.
5. Oliva Flor De Oliva Gold Churchill
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Shape: Churchill
Blender: Oliva Cigar Co.
Strength: Mild - Medium
Size: 7 x 50
Grade: Hand Rolled / Long Filler
Color: Colorado Claro
Binder / Filler: Nicaraguan / Nicaraguan
Wrapper: Connecticut Shade
The final cigar in our top 5 best Oliva cigars is the Oliva Flor De Oliva Gold Churchill. Hands down, this cigar is one of the best values you can find.
Each cigar is handmade with Nicaraguan filler and binder that is aged to perfection. The Flor de Oliva line is known for excellent cigars at an affordable price.
The Flor de Oliva line offers a variety of wrapper choices including Sumatra, Connecticut shade, Corojo, and Maduro. The golden Connecticut shade wrapper used in the Flor De Oliva Bundles Gold is smooth and mild.
Cigar lovers describe the Oliva Flor De Oliva Gold Churchill as a rich, smooth smoke with a mild-medium body.
The cigar begins with notes of earthy flavors, which develop in complexity throughout the smoke. As the flavors become more complex, you will also notice hints of coffee and pepper.
Enjoy Your Search for the Best Oliva Cigars
Over 135 years after Melanio Oliva began cultivating tobacco in Cuba, Oliva Cigars has grown to become one of the largest producers of Nicaraguan tobacco and most well-respected cigar makers in the world.
The Oliva family's commitment to producing fine tobacco and premium cigars has never wavered.
So, when you're searching for top Oliva cigars to try, you really can't go wrong.
Now that you have our recommendations, it's time to start your own taste test!
About the Author:
The Atlantic Cigar Staff is a team of seasoned cigar aficionados with over 25 years of experience. As part of the Atlantic Cigar family for decades, our experts know cigars inside out. We share our passion for premium, handmade cigars with enthusiasts worldwide. Our friendly and knowledgeable team guides both seasoned smokers and curious newcomers to the perfect smoke. We're always eager to share our love of cigars with you.