It’s not as if the Oliva Serie V Melanio needed improvement. With its Sumatra-seed wrapper and bold blend of Nicaraguan tobacco, the cigar was already a complex smoke that was both critically and commercially successful. This didn’t stop Oliva from taking it to the next level, which it did when it came out with the same cigar in a maduro version. Changing the Sumatra wrapper to a dark leaf of Mexican San Andrés turned an already extraordinary cigar into an absolute blockbuster. The Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro Churchill is powered by its core of Nicaraguan tobacco but the Mexican cover leaf adds a new dimension resulting in a complete work of balance and substance. The cigar is made in Nicaragua at Oliva’s Tabolisa factory and shows a luxurious procession of rich, regal character starting with notes of German chocolate cake that segue into a smoke of baking spices, malted chocolate and lively, cedary accents. Polished and precise, the large Churchill is a bit of a commitment, but we urge you to take that time. Since purchasing the company in 2016, Belgian owner J. Cortès has proven to be a worthy, respectful steward of the brand, maintaining the high standards that continue to put Oliva on the Top 25 list year after year.