Oliva Serie V Belicoso

The Oliva Serie V Belicoso is a full-bodied Nicaraguan cigar and the cigar that made Oliva’s name. Launched in 2006 and blended for strength and style, the Serie V is a box-pressed powerhouse built around specially selected, richly fermented Nicaraguan ligero fillers beneath a Nicaraguan Habano Sun Grown wrapper. The Belicoso — a tapered figurado — concentrates the blend into a bold, complex smoke of black pepper, espresso, cedar and dark sweetness. Full-flavoured yet remarkably smooth, it’s the connoisseur’s Oliva: an immediate hit on release, and still one of the most admired full-bodied Nicaraguans on the market.

Related reading: our 2026 tour of Nicaragua's great cigar makers | our seed-to-box guide to cigar making

About Oliva

Oliva is one of Nicaragua’s most celebrated cigar families, with a heritage stretching back to 1886, when Melanio Oliva first grew tobacco in Pinar del Río, Cuba. Three generations and two revolutions later, his descendants settled in Nicaragua, where the family became one of the country’s largest growers of Cuban-seed tobacco. From their Tabacalera Oliva in Estelí, they craft a portfolio that has appeared on Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 list many times over — culminating in the Serie V Melanio being named Cigar of the Year in 2014.

Tasting Notes of the Oliva Serie V Belicoso

A bold, full-bodied, box-pressed figurado.

- Initial Third: Opens full-bodied with black pepper and cedar, quickly joined by espresso and a rich, earthy depth; a dark sweetness sits underneath the spice.

- Middle Third: Rounds out with leather, roasted nuts and cocoa, the pepper softening into a complex, well-integrated core; smooth despite the strength.

- Final Third: Concentrates into bold espresso, dark chocolate and charred wood, with a long, resonant, full-flavoured finish.

- Aroma: Rich roasted coffee, cedar, pepper and dark earth.

- Mouthfeel: Full but smooth, with the box press and tapered head giving a focused, even draw.

Sourced through TOR Imports, the UK distributor of Oliva cigars — your assurance that these cigars reached the UK through the authorised channel and arrived in optimum condition.

Free UK delivery for purchases over £50.

Explore more Oliva: Serie V Melanio Robusto | Serie O Robusto | Oliva Collection

Fun Facts About the Oliva Serie V Belicoso

The Serie V, launched in 2006, is the line that brought Oliva to the attention of connoisseurs worldwide — blended for strength and style, it was an immediate hit and set the stage for the brand’s later Cigar of the Year triumph.

It’s built around specially fermented Nicaraguan ligero — the potent, flavour-rich leaves from the top of the tobacco plant — which is the source of the Serie V’s characteristic full-bodied power and depth.

The Belicoso is a figurado (tapered) shape; the pointed head concentrates the smoke and the box press keeps it burning cool and even, both of which help focus the Serie V’s bold flavours.

FAQ About the Oliva Serie V Belicoso

Is the Serie V a strong cigar?
Yes — it’s full-bodied, built around aged Nicaraguan ligero for genuine power and depth, though it stays impressively smooth. Best suited to smokers who enjoy bold cigars.

What’s the difference between the Serie V and the Serie V Melanio?
The Serie V is the original full-bodied line (2006); the Melanio is the later, Sumatra-wrapped evolution that won Cigar of the Year in 2014. Both are full-bodied; the Melanio adds extra refinement and creaminess.

Why a Belicoso shape?
The tapered figurado head concentrates the draw and focuses the blend’s flavours — a shape connoisseurs often prefer for a full-bodied cigar like this.

Where are your Oliva cigars sourced from?
Through TOR Imports, the UK distributor.