Let's unpack this Nicaraguan stunner - the Oliva Serie V Melanio Toro comes in a box of 10 sticks priced around $151. Measuring 6"x52 ring gauge, this box-pressed parejo wears an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper with visible oil sheen. Its medium-full body stems from Jalapa Valley ligero leaves that spent 2-3 years fermenting. I grabbed one resting at 65% RH for six weeks - let's see how this Cigar of the Year winner from 2014 holds up.
The cold draw hits with raisin sweetness before flame meets foot. Initial puffs deliver dark roast coffee and black pepper through nose-retrohale. Burn line stays sharp, ash holding 1.5" before dropping. Slight nicotine tingle develops by the 15-minute mark.
At 30 minutes, the core shifts to walnut and unsweetened cocoa. Retrohale brings hazelnut creaminess that coats the palate. Smoke output increases noticeably - perfect for smoke rings. The box-press shape starts showing advantages with cooler combustion.
Entering the last 2", charred oak emerges while pepper fades. Cream transitions to salted butter texture. Watch for tar buildup around the 75-minute mark - my cut needed minor correction here. Full-bodied without being harsh, though newbies might feel the ⚡⚡⚡⚡ strength.
Grown in Nicaragua's volcanic soil around Estelí, the Cuban-seed tobaccos undergo extended fermentation in pilones. The Sumatra wrapper adds sweetness to balance Jalapa Valley's earthy ligero. Unlike Dominicans that focus on smoothness, this blend celebrates Nicaraguan terroir's robust character.
