If you enjoy a fine smoke, chances are you're well acquainted with Oliva Cigars. Oliva Cigars are renowned for their award-winning blends, velvety smoothness, and delectable flavors.
This premium brand of cigars has played a pivotal role in the rising popularity of Nicaraguan tobacco.
So, you might be surprised to learn that the Oliva family's story begins in Cuba.
The Cuban origins and the Oliva family's dedication to exceptional tobacco are what shaped the Oliva Cigars we enjoy today. After learning a bit about the Oliva family's story, we'll share the 5 best Oliva cigars.
You might be surprised about how we came up with our choices!
If you prefer to skip straight to our top picks now, click the following link: 5 Best Oliva Cigars.
The Origin of Oliva Cigars
The Oliva family story begins as tobacco growers in Cuba over 135 years ago.
Now, Oliva Cigars is one of the largest cigar markers, and growers of Cuban-seed tobacco in Nicaragua.
Melanio Oliva Begins in Pinar Del Rio, Cuba
Melanio Oliva began growing tobacco in Pinar Del Rio, Cuba in 1886 to sell to cigar makers. It was there that the family's commitment to quality tobacco begins.
It's also where the story almost ends.
Twice.
In the late 1890s, Melanio Oliva left to fight in Cuba's War of Independence, ceasing operations for the first time. But, thankfully, Melanio made it back to his Cuban tobacco fields safely after the war.
Upon returning, Melanio quickly resumed operations. Melanio Oliva teaches his son Facundo the art of cultivating tobacco.
Facundo then teaches his son, Gilberto Oliva Sr. who becomes a highly skilled farmer himself.
But, in the 1950s and 60s, the political environment in Cuba once again threatened the Oliva family's future in the cigar industry.
The Oliva Family is Forced Out of Cuba
After decades of perfecting their proven methods for growing and curing fine Cuban tobacco, Cuba begins to change. The events leading up to the Cuban Revolution significantly impact the tobacco industry in Cuba.
By this time, Gilberto Oliva Sr is running the operations.
Gilberto Senior begins shifting into the role of a tobacco broker instead of a grower.
Eventually, in the 1960s, the rising pressures from the growing Communist presence in Cuba forced the Oliva family out of the region.
Oliva Discovers the Rich Soil of Nicaragua
The U.S. Trade Embargo on Cuba makes getting your hands on a delicious Cuban difficult in the United States. No cigar lover is happy about that.
But the politics in Cuba also help fuel the expansion of tobacco cultivation into different regions, leading to new and exciting smoking experiences.
After the Oliva family leaves Cuba, Gilberto Senior traveled from country to country searching for the right conditions to restart the family's growing operation. After trips to Mexico, Honduras, Panama, and the Philippines, the Oliva family finally makes a new home in Nicaragua.
There, Gilberto Senior realizes the rich, fertile soil and climate in Nicaragua are very similar to Cuba. So, Gilberto Senior sets up shop in Nicaragua, bringing his family's knowledge and expertise in tobacco cultivation with him.
Gilberto Senior continues the family tradition and teaches his sons Gilberto Junior and Jose the business. Over the next few decades, Gilberto Senior and his sons laid the groundwork for Oliva Cigar Co.
The Oliva Cigar Co
In the 1990s, after over 100 years of perfecting the craft of growing tobacco, the Oliva family began making their cigars for the first time. It was then that Oliva Cigar Co was born.
Oliva Cigars are known for their superior construction, rich flavors, and smooth smoking experience.
Each cigar is constructed with the same commitment to quality that Melanio Oliva began with over 135 years ago.
Oliva Cigars' Evolution Into a Premium Brand
Oliva Cigars are among the top cigars on the market. However, it did not begin that way. As the cigar market saw rapid growth in the mid-90s, smaller cigar makers like Oliva were forced out of business by larger producers.
For the third time, the Oliva family faces another major hurdle that threatens their survival. Thankfully, Gilberto Oliva Sr made sure the family was prepared.
Using a large stock of tobacco Gilberto Senior had built up in Nicaragua, Oliva Cigars was able to not only survive these first few shaky years, but emerge from them thriving.
When Oliva is forced to shift to using all Nicaraguan tobacco, these Nicaraguan purosimprove the quality of Oliva's cigars.
Despite a slow start in the 1990s after beginning to manufacture cigars, Oliva Cigars have been surging in popularity since that time.
The Anatomy of Oliva Cigars
Oliva Cigars are meticulously hand-rolled. They are predominantly made in Nicaragua at the Tabacalera Oliva de Nicaragua S.A factory.
The tobacco used is grown by Oliva on their family farms in Esteli, Condega, Jalapa, and Somoto Nicaragua. Much of the tobacco they grow is Cuban seed tobacco.
The seeds have been passed down through generations. When paired with the rich Nicaraguan soil, the Cuban seeds produce similar characteristics to flavors found in Cuban cigars.
According to Gilberto Senior, "Nothing compares to Cuba like Nicaragua." Northern Nicaragua enjoys all the natural blessings for great Habano."
The filler and binder in Oliva Cigars today are mostly Nicaraguan blends.
However, the wrappers come from a variety of regions, including Cameroon, Mexico, Indonesia, the United States, and Ecuador.
Ecuadorian wrappers are the most common in the best Oliva Cigars. Ecuadorian tobacco is grown in the shade, creating a thinner, silkier, and more delicate tobacco leaf that's ideal for wrappers.
During the past 20 years, the popularity of Ecuadorian Wrappers has skyrocketed, becoming a popular choice of many premium cigar brands.
Oliva Cigars Awards and Accommodations
When searching for the best Oliva cigars, you have tons of options.
Oliva's cigars are consistently featured in Cigar Aficionado's Top 25 Cigars of the Year, adding to the notoriety.
Each year since 2004, Cigar Aficionado reviews, then ranks the top 25 cigars. From 2005 to 2022, Oliva Cigars appeared 17 times in the top 25 list.
The Oliva Serie V line, their flagship brand is responsible for 15 of those 17 appearances. In 2014, the Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado was named the Cigar of the Year by Cigar Aficionado.
Top 5 Best Oliva Cigars in 2022 According To Our Customers
The Oliva Cigar Co has grown into a world-renowned, and well-respected cigar maker since the company began producing cigars in 1995.
However, the journey was not easy.
The Cuban War of Independence, Cuban Revolution, and a major shakeup in the 1990s all could have been the end of the Oliva family's journey in the cigar world.
Instead, each event has a major impact in shaping the Oliva Cigars we enjoy today.
The cigars are known for excellent construction, full flavor, and a fine smoking experience. The best Oliva Cigars use the finest tobacco leaves grown on Oliva's farms and follow a strict process to ensure quality control throughout production.
Here are the top 5 best Oliva Cigars. But, this isn't your typical "best of" list.
Instead of giving you our opinion, we thought you might be more interested in learning the 5 best Oliva Cigars according to you, our customers.
These are the top 5 most popular selling Oliva Cigars on AtlanticCigar.com in 2022.
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 in 2022. 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 the best 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!