Oliva Cigars

If you want to enjoy the complexities and richness of Nicaraguan tobaccos, look no further than Oliva Cigars. Although Oliva Cigars first hit the market at the height of the cigar boom in 1995, the Oliva family has a rich and deep history with Cuba and tobacco, and quickly became a major player in the world of premium handmade cigars into the new millennium.

Melanio Oliva first settled in the famed Pinar del Rio region of Cuba in 1886 to farm the top-shelf tobaccos that grew there. Oliva’s family farm passed through the generations to his grandson Gilberto Oliva, until it was confiscated by Castro’s communist revolution. Gilberto attempted to make a living as a tobacco broker but left for Nicaragua in 1964 to return to tobacco farming.

Gilberto Oliva would find himself moving around again after the Sandinistas took over Nicaragua in 1979. His travels took him to Honduras, Panama, Mexico, and even the Philippines to find the best place to grow his tobaccos. He would return to Nicaragua in 1995, poised to capitalize on the fertile volcanic soils and the explosion of popularity premium cigars were enjoying during the 1990s.

It was around this time that Gilberto Oliva linked up with the famous Plasencia family. Out of the Plasencia’s prestigious Honduran factory, Oliva Cigars released its first ever blend in 1995. However, Oliva Cigars would not have its first big break until after the cigar boom, surviving off its extensive inventory of aged tobaccos.

In 2003, Oliva would show off its chops with Oliva Master Blends 3. At the time, most of Oliva Cigars’ business was through affordable bundles like Flor de Oliva, but Oliva Master Blends 3 proved that it was capable of creating top-shelf, premium cigars brimming with flavor. Master Blends 3 is still an exceptionally popular choice with seasoned aficionados to this day.

Oliva Cigars’ popularity continued to increase with the introductions of the Serie O and Serie G, now a staple in humidors across the country, but the release of the Oliva Serie V in 2007 put the brand on the map. The Serie V saw major accolades from the market, including cracking the Top-5 of 2007 in Cigar Aficionado and numerous Top-25 appearances since.

Oliva Cigars’ magnum opus, paying tribute to its patriarch Melanio, finally won the brand the coveted Cigar of the Year award from Cigar Aficionado. The Oliva Serie V Melanio, with its extensively aged Nicaraguan core and Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, won over aficionados with a smooth yet flavorful medley of leather, roasted nuts, creamy caramel, and zesty peppery notes.

Oliva Cigars is also the home of the innovative NUb brand. All the cigars in the NUB line are hand crafted in short, big-ring sizes designed to get to the “sweet spot” of a cigar at the very first puff. And you can count on the bold blends in Oliva Cigars’ Cain Series to deliver tons of flavor. But if you still do not know where to start, we put together a Oliva Cigar buying guide to help you decide.

But whichever blend from Oliva Cigars you choose, you can be sure that you are in for a top-notch smoking experience fit for a true connoisseur. Make sure to order your Oliva Cigars from JR today to get them shipped fast right to your door!