Oliva

Oliva cigars are made in Estelí, Nicaragua. The Oliva family has grown tobacco since 1886, when Melanio Oliva started farming in Cuba, and today the company grows much of its own tobacco in Nicaragua's Jalapa Valley.

It depends on the line. Connecticut Reserve and Serie G are mild to medium, Serie O is medium, and Serie V and Serie V Melanio are medium to full. If you're new to cigars, Connecticut Reserve is a smooth place to start.

Serie V and Serie V Melanio are Oliva's best-known lines. Serie V Melanio was named Cigar Aficionado's Cigar of the Year in 2014, and Serie V is a humidor staple for fans of rich, full-flavored Nicaraguan cigars.

Nub is a line of short, thick cigars made by Oliva. The 4-inch length with a wide ring gauge reaches its "sweet spot" quickly, and each Nub delivers about the same smoking time as a much longer cigar.

Keep cigars in a humidor at around 65–70% humidity and 65–70°F. Cigars that dry out burn hot and taste harsh, and too much humidity causes uneven burns and mold. If you don't have a humidor yet, an airtight container with a two-way humidity pack works well for a few weeks.