Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro Robusto Review

Some cigars come with a reputation, and the Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro is one of them. Built with tobaccos from Nicaragua’s Jalapa region, this blend is the bolder sibling to the original Serie V Melanio Natural, the cigar that famously won Cigar Aficionado’s Cigar of the Year in 2014.

Anytime you talk about Nicaraguan cigars, bold San Andrés maduro wrappers, or award-winning blends, the Melanio Maduro shows up in the conversation. In fact, if you search for top-rated maduro cigars, this one almost always makes the list. And after smoking my Robusto, I can totally see why.

On the day I smoked the Robusto (5" × 52), the weather nearly kept me from lighting up at all. It rained steadily all morning and most of the afternoon, the kind of gray drizzle that makes you think you’ll be stuck inside. Finally, around 3:30 pm, the rain stopped.

The air cooled, the clouds broke, and by 4 pm, I was outside with this box-pressed beauty in hand. That break in the storm felt like a small gift, and it set the stage perfectly for this cigar review.

The Breakdown

• Profile: Full-bodied cigar

• Wrapper: San Andrés Maduro wrapper (Mexico)

• Binder: Nicaraguan

• Filler: Nicaraguan Jalapa Valley ligero

• Factory: Tabacalera Oliva de Nicaragua S.A. (TABOLISA)

• Sizes Available: Robusto (5" × 52), Toro, Churchill, Figurado, Double Toro

• Notable Feature: Part of the award-winning Serie V Melanio line

• Flavor Highlights: Espresso, dark chocolate, cedar, leather, black pepper, white pepper, earthy sweetness

• Price Point: Around $12–$14 per cigar; available in singles and boxes

Heritage & Awards

Oliva cigars trace their roots back to Cuba’s Pinar del Rio region, where Melanio Oliva first cultivated tobacco in the late 1800s. Today, that heritage continues in Nicaragua, with the Serie V Melanio Maduro standing out as one of the most respected cigars in the Oliva collection.

Compared to the original Serie V, the Maduro offers a richer, darker profile with more chocolate and spice.

Appearance & First Impressions

Sliding the cigar out of the cellophane, I noticed a strong aroma of cocoa and wood. My sample stick was a sharply box-pressed Robusto with a firm, even feel in the hand. The San Andrés wrapper had a dark chocolate color with a slight oily sheen that looked great in the afternoon sun. The seams were tight, nearly invisible, and the wrapper had that toothy texture you often find on maduro cigars.

When I clipped it and checked the cold draw, I picked up cocoa powder, a touch of leather, and faint spice. The air was crisp and fresh after the storm, the kind of setting that already made this cigar feel promising.

First Third – Espresso & Sweetness

Right from the first light, my sample poured out thick, creamy smoke. The first flavors were bold: espresso and dark chocolate leading the way, with cedar and a natural sweetness rounding it out. On the retrohale, I picked up black pepper and even a touch of white pepper, enough spice to remind me this was a full-bodied cigar, but still smooth.

The draw was open and effortless, and the flavor on the palate felt sharp and clean, almost amplified by the fresh air after the rain.

Second Third – Complexity Builds

By the second third, my Robusto shifted gears. The espresso mellowed into mocha, cedar stayed steady, and I started noticing nuttier undertones along with more sweetness and earth. The pepper stepped back, giving the cigar more balance.

Construction was flawless,  a razor-straight burn line, tight ash that didn’t want to drop, and plenty of dense smoke. Sitting outside in the daylight, watching the smoke rise into a sky that had been gray just an hour earlier, I was reminded why I love these moments. Cigars aren’t just about tobacco; they’re about timing, place, and the ritual itself.

Final Third – Strength & Spice

By the final third, the Melanio Maduro leaned harder into strength. Flavors of leather, oak, and espresso returned with more intensity. Pepper came back with more bite, leaning black on the retrohale, with just a hint of white pepper on the finish.

The smoke warmed up a little, as you’d expect toward the end, but it was still smooth. With the late afternoon sun shining after a long, rainy day, this finish felt earned.

Construction and Burn Performance

My Robusto burned nearly perfectly from start to finish. The draw was dialed in, the ash stacked in neat layers, and the wrapper held firm without a crack, impressive considering how humid the day had been. The tobacco burned evenly the whole way through, showing off the quality of Oliva’s rolling and leaf selection.

Price & Value of Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro Cigars

At $12–$14 per stick, I think the Melanio Maduro Robusto punches above its price point. It delivered the complexity, strength, and construction I’d expect from cigars that cost quite a bit more.

When you look at cigar prices across the premium market, the Melanio Maduro stands out. At around $13, the Robusto smoked like something I’d easily expect from the $18–$20 range. That kind of performance makes it a cigar I want to keep stocked in my humidor, whether as singles or a full box.

Final Verdict: Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro Robusto

My time with this cigar reinforced something simple: timing matters. After a gloomy morning of steady rain, smoking the Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro Robusto at 4 pm when the sun finally broke through made the experience feel like a reward.

My sample delivered everything I hoped for: the taste of espresso, cocoa, cedar, leather, spice, and that classic maduro richness from the San Andrés wrapper. It was bold, complex, and smooth from start to finish, not to mention it burned flawlessly.

Other reviewers usually rate the Serie V Melanio Maduro in the high 80s to low 90s. My score of 9.0/10 lands right in that same range,  which feels spot on for a cigar that has earned its place among the best maduro cigars available today.

The Melanio Maduro Oliva Serie Robusto I smoked is a sign of why Oliva continues to earn respect across the cigar world.

Ratings Breakdown

(Equivalent to about a 90/100 on the traditional cigar scale, right in line with Cigar Aficionado and other critics.)

A bold, complex maduro that proves why Oliva cigars remain one of the most respected names in the industry.

Buy Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro Cigars

If you’ve been waiting for the right time to try the Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro, the Robusto is the place to start. My sample showed off everything this line is known for: rich flavor, flawless construction, and a memorable smoking experience.

Ready to experience a modern classic? Add a few to your cart and shop the Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro Robusto at After Action Cigars. See why this blend continues to be a staple in humidors worldwide.