Oliva V Melanio Churchill Natural

The Oliva Serie V Melanio Churchill Natural gives the blend behind Cigar Aficionado's 2014 Cigar of the Year its most expansive stage — a 7 × 50 Churchill that turns the Melanio's layered Ecuadorian Sumatra-over-Nicaragua profile into a nearly two-hour experience. Box-pressed and rolled in Nicaragua from long-aged fillers.

Construction

The Sumatra wrapper runs golden-brown and oily down the full length, seams invisible, box-press gentle and even. Cold draw offers raisin and cedar. Melanio construction is among the best in Nicaragua, and the Churchill holds the standard for the duration.

Flavor profile

Medium to full-bodied with exceptional pacing. The first third opens with cocoa, cedar, and toasted almond. The long middle is where the Churchill earns its keep — caramel sweetness, espresso, baking spice, and cream trading places over a slow burn. The final third deepens into dark chocolate and seasoned oak. A 90–110 minute smoke for when you have real time.

Pairings & occasion

A special-occasion evening cigar. Pair with a sherry-cask Scotch (Macallan 12), a wheated bourbon (Larceny, Maker's Mark), or espresso. The caramel notes love sherry and wheat sweetness.

How we ship

Every Serie V Melanio in our humidor is hand-inspected before shipping. Free shipping on orders over $50.