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The Oliva Serie V Melanio Churchill is a 7 x 50 box-pressed Churchill from Nicaragua with an Ecuadorian Sumatra-seed wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and Jalapa-heavy filler. Cigar Aficionado placed it No. 8 on both its 2018 and 2020 Top 25 lists, and we sell it as singles.
21 in stock
Description
The Oliva Serie V Melanio Churchill is a 7 x 50 box-pressed cigar made in Nicaragua, with an Ecuadorian Sumatra-seed wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder and filler weighted toward Jalapa Valley leaf. It is the longest size on Oliva’s Melanio chart.
What It Tastes Like
Cigar Aficionado has published at least five ratings of this exact size. In August 2026 (90 points, medium-full) tasters found earthiness, coffee roast and dried fruit on a base of oak and spice. December 2024 (90, medium-full) brought almond, brown sugar and tropical fruit against tart cherry, cedar and a rum-like edge. Earlier verdicts were medium: 92 in April 2018, 93 at No. 8 on the Top 25 of 2018, and 95 at No. 8 on the Top 25 of 2020, when chocolate and almond took the lead.
Who It’s For
- Smokers with a free evening who want the longest Melanio.
- Box-press fans who like a flatter cigar in the hand.
- Ratings followers who track Top 25 cigars.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- No. 8 on Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 lists for both 2018 and 2020
- Five Cigar Aficionado scores from 90 to 95 between 2018 and 2026
Cons
- Recent scores (90 in 2024 and 2026) trail its 2018-2020 peak
- A 7-inch length asks for plenty of time
About the Serie V Melanio
Cigar Aficionado dates the Melanio’s launch to 2012, and halfwheel’s 2012 launch report places production at the TABOLISA factory in Estelí. Cigar Aficionado credits much of its character to the aged Ecuador Sumatra wrapper and noted that J. Cortès acquired Oliva in 2016.
Pairing and Storage
Coffee and chocolate notes point to espresso, a medium-cigar pick in our cigar pairing guide, while the rum-like note from 2024 makes aged rum worth a try.
Compare Similar Cigars
- Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro Churchill: the same size in San Andrés leaf, 96 points from Cigar Aficionado (October 2023).
- Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado: the 6 1/2 x 54 shape behind Cigar Aficionado’s 2014 Cigar of the Year.
- Oliva Serie V Melanio Robusto: a 5 x 52 for a shorter sitting.
- Oliva Serie V Melanio Double Toro: a thick 6 x 60 in the same wrapper.
Oliva Serie V Melanio Churchill FAQ
How strong is the Oliva Serie V Melanio Churchill?
Sources differ. Cigar Aficionado rated it medium from 2018 to 2021 and medium-full in 2024 and 2026; Holt’s says medium-full, Neptune medium.
Is the Melanio Churchill box-pressed?
Yes. Cigar Aficionado’s reviews of this size and Holt’s both describe it as box-pressed.
How does it compare with the Melanio Maduro Churchill?
Both measure 7 x 50 per Cigar Aficionado, and Oliva lists Nicaraguan binder and filler for each. The wrapper is Ecuadorian Sumatra-seed here and Mexican San Andrés on the Maduro.
Who is the Melanio named after?
Melanio Oliva, Gilberto Oliva’s grandfather, whom halfwheel describes as the patriarch of the Oliva tobacco operation.
Mix this Churchill with other singles from our Oliva Cigar Co. selection.
Additional information
| Packaging Type | Single |
|---|---|
| Strength | Medium-Full |
| Origin | |
| Wrapper | Ecuadorian Sumatra |
| Binder | Nicaragua |
| Filler | Nicaragua |
| Length | 7" |
| Gauge | 50 |
