he Oliva Cigar story began in the late 1800s, when Melanio Oliva started growing cigar tobacco in Cuba. His heirs carried on the family tradition in the fields, but it was his grandson Gilberto Oliva Sr. who began making cigars.

Nicaraguan tobacco helped Oliva survive. The cigar that brought it to the attention of connoisseurs debuted in 2006: Oliva Serie V. Made by a small group of rollers and blended for strength and style, the Serie V line was an immediate hit. In 2012, to pay tribute to the first man in the family to grow cigar tobacco, Oliva added the Melanio version, which is distinguished from the original by its Sumatra-seed wrapper grown in Ecuador. The No. 1 Cigar of the Year 2014, Oliva Serie V Melanio Figuarado has rich, big notes of leather framed by a range of coffee, caramel and woody intonations. It’s a classic smoke.

YEAR OF THE SNAKE 2025

Oliva Cigar Co. are celebrating the Lunar New Year with the release of the limited edition Oliva Year of the Snake. These 7 x 50 Churchill cigars have been specially crafted to mark the occasion, catering to aficionados seeking a unique & culturally significant smoking experience.

The cigars are hand rolled at the Oliva factory in Esteli & are specifically blended to deliver the richest characteristics of Nicaraguan ligero fillers and Broadleaf Sun Grown wrappers. These complex cigar which will satisfy the most experienced smoker.