Oliva

The Oliva family's tobacco story begins with Melanio Oliva, who first grew tobacco in Cuba in 1886. Today Oliva makes its cigars at the Tabolisa factory in Estelí, Nicaragua, largely from Nicaraguan tobacco. The range runs from the approachable Flor de Oliva, through the Cameroon-wrapped Serie G and the sun-grown Habano Serie O, to the full-strength Serie V and the flagship Serie V Melanio, whose Figurado was Cigar Aficionado's Cigar of the Year for 2014. Oliva also relaunched the Cuba Aliados brand in 2022, with a Honduran-made Original and a Dominican-made E.P. Carrillo edition.

To choose, start with strength: Flor de Oliva Connecticut is mild to medium, Serie G and Serie O are medium, and Serie V is full. Several lines also come with a maduro wrapper, and tins and tubes suit a shorter smoke.