Oliva

Melanio Oliva grew his first crop of tobacco in Pinar Del Rio, Cuba in 1886. His cultivation activities were suspended during the Cuban War of Independence. Upon his return from the war, Melanio resumed his tobacco farming activities. In the early 1920s, Facundo Oliva, Melanio's son, took over the business. Facundo cultivated the Oliva family's tobacco fields for several decades. As Cuba was invaded by communists, the tobacco landscape changed. Facundo's son, Gilberto Oliva, switched from cultivation to tobacco. In the early 60s, the pressure became too much and Gilberto traveled from country to country in search of the conditions necessary to recreate that distinctive Cuban taste. His travels have taken him to Honduras, Panama, Mexico and even the Philippines. Gilberto eventually found fertile ground in Nicaragua. Today, Gilberto and his family are the second largest producer of Cuban seed tobacco from Nicaragua. Using those same time-tested processing, blending and rolling methods that built an empire, the Oliva line of cigars garnered tons of reviews from industry experts and consumers alike, culminating with Cigar Aficionado Magazine awarding the cigar Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado in the year 2014.