Oliva Serie V Melanio JR 50th Anniversary – Blind Cigar Review

Cigar Info

Throughout 2022, JR Cigar has been celebrating it’s 50th Anniversary. As a part of that celebration, the company has collaborated with many different companies for a special cigar release. One of the biggest names on that list is Oliva, and together they came out with the Oliva Serie V Melanio JR 50th. This is not just a new size of the V Melanio, it is a tweaked version of the blend.

The Olve Serie V Melanio has been on the market since 2012, and all of the cigars in the line are box-pressed, until now. The Oliva Serie V Melanio JR 50th is the first round version of the cigar. It is made in one size, a 6 x 50 parejo toro. Like the rest of the line, it is rolled at Tabacalera Oliva de Nicaragua S.A. The blend uses an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, and the binder and filler are Nicaraguan. The cigar come in 10-count boxes. The companies have not said how many boxes were produced, but it is limited and still available here. Each cigar runs $15.00 and they are only sold at JR Cigars.

Vital Stats:

Vitola: Toro
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 50
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Factory: Tabacalera Oliva de Nicaragua S.A.
Blender: Undisclosed
Number of reviewers: 5 – Alan (Eulogy) Ryan H. (Ryan H.) Mickey T. (irratebass) Doug S. (Unpossible_1) John A. (Bostoneo)
Price: $15.00
Age: 3 Months
Release Date: September 2021
Contributed by: J.R. Cigars

Initial Impressions

Appearance: 86

“Wrapper has a similar multi-tone look to as stonewashed jeans…well, except it’s brown, not blue obviously. Nobody wants to smoke a blue cigar.” –Doug S. (Unpossible_1)

Aroma: 89

“Oh man, this aroma is wonderful. Sweet molasses earth tobacco sweet hay, some more unidentifiable vegetal notes. This one may surprise me.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

First Third

Flavor: 89
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“There’s an initial blast of sweet heat much like siracha followed up by citrus.” –Doug S. (Unpossible_1)

“Wonderful woodsy and creamy notes are simply coming through with a wham of flavor! Moving along it is more of the same great profile with a bit of sweetness coming in towards the back half of this third. ” –John A. (Bostoneo)

Second Third

Flavor: 90
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“A powdery chalky earth joins cream. The profile isn’t as charismatic, but the balance of the cigar is what is impressive. Just a little spice on the finish now as cedar and cream command attention and rightly so. the powdery chalky earth is still there but on a less attractive note. ” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

“The notes are bold but pretty unchanged from the first third. I’m still getting a mostly tobacco forward profile with

baking spice, leather, cedar, red pepper, and soda. The smoke output and density is fantastic. ” –Alan (Eulogy)

Final Third

Flavor: 89
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“This third has some creamy flavors that are mixing with the other flavors and making it that much more enjoyable. ” –Mickey T. (irratebass)

“Intensive peppery, earth, and rubber-like aroma in this full-bodied third. This flavor profile builds and builds until it becomes a syrupy mix of indistinguishable flavors. Time to put this cigar to rest.” –John A. (Bostoneo)

Overall Impressions

Draw: 95

“The draw is spot on. Just the right amount of resistance with a creamy smoke and huge clouds. ” –Alan (Eulogy)

Burn: 92

“All except the last third were truly awesome. Never corrected ” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

Construction: 87

“There were just too many problems in unison for a higher grade. Rolled seams soggy bunch. As good as this cigar is these should not be problems existing in its production.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

Overall Strength: Medium
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Experience Overall: 91

“I liked it but it isn’t something that I would reach for necessarily. The smoke output was great and the density was thick and creamy. I found the profile to be a bit too monotone for the length but if you’re a fan of rich tobacco notes this would be a real winner for you. It is a very good cigar but just a bit out of my wheelhouse. ” –Alan (Eulogy)

“Definitely a box worthy cigar loved the balance of this cigar and the draw was amazing.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

“Overall I really enjoyed this cigar. There were plenty of flavors of dark chocolate, coffee, wood, cream, and hazelnut to keep me entertained. The cigar was medium at best and there was plenty of smoke output and the cigar never got hot on me. I smoked this in my cold garage, and it performed well…I only had two relights to count. I would like to smoke these and maybe keep some in my regular rotation. ” –Mickey T. (irratebass)

“I enjoyed the simplicity that this cigar brought for the better part of the first half. Nothing fancy, but good enough with that sweet heat that keeps you engaged. Problem is that it left me high and dry in that last third. I don’t mind a tapering, but I really had a hard time picking up much of anything at the end. ” –Doug S. (Unpossible_1)

“Overall, this was a very enjoyable cigar. The first two-thirds were simply amazing, while the last third fell flat with a lack of distinguishable flavors. With great construction, draw, and burn, this is an easy, mostly complex cigar, that will delight many medium+ bodied smokers. Box worthy!” –John A. (Bostoneo)

Smoking Time (in minutes): 98

To view the complete scores and notes, click here.

Oliva Serie V Melanio JR 50th Anniversary – Blind Man’s Puff