Oliva

Oliva is the "King of Complexity and Balance" in the world of Nicaraguan cigars. Founded in Cuba in 1886 by the Cuban-born Oliva family, it moved to Nicaragua after the revolution. In 1995, Gilberto Oliva Sr. and his son Gilberto Jr. (the current president) officially established the modern Oliva Cigar Co., headquartered in Estelí. All cigars are 100% handcrafted in their own factory in Tabolasa, Nicaragua. The family controls over 500 hectares of black soil farms in the Estelí, Condega, and Jalapa regions, producing all their own tobacco leaves. All filler and wrapper are naturally aged for at least 4-8 years, resulting in remarkable stability and exceptional value, making it one of the top three non-Cuban cigar empires in global sales.

All tobacco leaves (wrapper, binder, and filler) are 100% grown, harvested, fermented, aged, rolled, packaged, and quality inspected in-house—no outsourcing, no third-party tobacco leaves, no shortcuts. Each batch of tobacco leaves is naturally aged for at least 4-8 years, with the top-grade Melanio batches aging up to 10 years, ensuring zero unripeness and ultimate smoothness. Rolling is entirely done by hand by senior torpedoists at the Tabolasa factory, ensuring consistent, globally recognized top-tier quality.

Oliva's main lines have distinct styles and can be divided into the following four categories:

1. The top-tier flagship line (Oliva Serie V Melanio): Launched in 2012, it uses a 1920s Ecuadorian Sumatra seed wrapper, paired with an 8-10 year aged Nicaraguan filler, and features a Tupo pressing technique. It received 98 points in Cigar Aficionado's Cigar of the Year award in 2014 and again in 2022 with 97 points, making it Oliva's most highly regarded pinnacle. Representative sizes include: Figurado, Robusto, Toro, Churchill, Torpedo, and the Maduro version.
2. Oliva Serie V (Classic Full-bodied Line): In 2007, the Ligero tortilla design was first introduced, including Serie V, Double Robusto, Belicoso, Lancero, etc., with a full-bodied taste and a long-lasting sweetness.
3. Everyday elegance and rich lines:
   • Serie G (Cameroonian wrapper, prominent aromas of vanilla and nutmeg)
   • Master Blends 3 (A blend of top-grade tobacco leaves from three countries, limited edition)
   • Serie O (with multiple wrapper options including Habano, Maduro, and Sun Grown)
   • Connecticut Reserve (Silky Connecticut Coat, Gentle Version)
4. Limited and special editions: Oliva Gilberto Reserva, Nub series (the world's best-selling short and thick cigarette), Cain series, Baptiste, 135th anniversary edition, etc.

Oliva positions itself as "the perfect embodiment of Nicaraguan richness," ranging in strength from medium to full. Its flavor profile is dominated by rich coffee, dark chocolate, cedar, roasted nuts, leather, and lingering sweet spices. It offers a silky smooth entry, a clean finish, a straight burn, and a snow-white ash. The reason to choose Oliva is simple: the Serie V Melanio is the only active cigar to have won the Cigar of the Year award twice, yet it offers the richness and balance of top-quality Nicaraguan cigars at a significantly lower price than comparable brands. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned enthusiast, you'll find a Oliva cigar you'll want to keep smoking—stable, enjoyable, and reliable.