PCA 2022: Oliva

If I had to bet, Oliva Cigar Co. brought more employees to this trade show than any other company. Rocky Patel is probably the only other company that could compete for the title, but based on a picture I took of Oliva employees on Sunday, there were a lot of them. Technically, not every one of those people is an Oliva employee, many are employees of Vandermarliere Family of Cigars—Oliva’s parent—and its various companies. What’s interesting is that Oliva told me it didn’t even bring all of its sales reps to the trade show, an interesting position given the total number of people that were in that picture.

The Oliva booth looks more or less the same as last year, though its footprint seems larger than before. The one major difference this year—and particularly compared to years past—is the number of new items Oliva had on display.

One of my favorite features is that Oliva has lockers for its employees that use a keycard to open.

Cuba Aliados by Ernesto Perez-Carrillo

Oliva is producing a line for E.P. Carrillo to sell and E.P. Carrillo is making this Cuba Aliados line for Oliva to sell. I’m all for teamwork, though I’m not sure I entirely understand how this makes much sense long-term. If nothing else, I feel fairly confident by saying that if these cigars were sold directly by the companies that are making them, they’d be less expensive.

• Wrapper: Ecuador (Sumatra)
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Dominican Republic & Nicaragua

• Cuba Aliados by Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Robusto (5 x 50) — $14 (Box of 20, $280)
• Cuba Aliados by Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Toro (6 x 52) — $14.50 (Box of 20, $290)
• Cuba Aliados by Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Torpedo (6 x 54) — $14.75 (Box of 20, $295)
• Cuba Aliados by Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Churchill (7 x 50) — $15 (Box of 20, $300)
• Cuba Aliados by Ernesto Perez-Carrillo ReGordo (6 x 60) — $15.50 (Box of 20, $310)

Production: 300,000 Total Cigars

Release Date: July 2022

Cuba Alaidos Original Blend

While the name says “original,” this is not a remake of the original blend made by Rolando Reyes Sr. as that cigar used zero Honduran tobacco. This line is made by Julio Eiroa of JRE Tobacco Co.

• Wrapper: Honduras
• Binder: Honduras
• Filler: Honduras

• Cuba Aliados Original Blend Robusto (5 x 50) — $10 (Box of 20, $200)
• Cuba Aliados Original Blend Toro (6 x 52) — $10.50 (Box of 20, $210)
• Cuba Aliados Original Blend Torpedo (6 x 54) — $11 (Box of 20, $220)
• Cuba Aliados Original Blend Churchill (7 x 50) — $11.50 (Box of 20, $230)
• Cuba Aliados Original Blend ReGordo (6 x 60) — $12 (Box of 20, $240)

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: July 2022

Oliva Advent Calendar 2022

The Oliva Advent Calendar is back for its sophomore release. I am a bit surprised there weren’t—to my knowledge—any other advent calendars on display, but Oliva was pleased with last year’s success. This year’s release contains 25 cigars and a torch lighter—that’s what’s in the big compartment. From what I can tell, four of these cigars are exclusive or not regularly sold cigars. Notably, this is heading to stores in September, well ahead of Advent season.

• Wrapper: Varies
• Binder: Varies
• Filler: Varies

1. Cain Daytona 550 (5 x 50)
2. Cain Daytona 646 (6 x 46)
3. Cain F 550 (5 3/4 x 50)
4. Cain Habano 550 (5 3/4 x 50)
5. Cain Maduro 550 (5 x 5 3/4 x 50)
6. NUb Cameroon 466 (4 x 66)
7. NUb Connecticut 358 (3 x 58)
8. NUb Habano 466 (4 x 66)
9. HUb Maduro 460 (4 x 60)
10. Oliva Connecticut Reserve Toro (6 x 50)
11. Oliva Serie G Maduro Churchill (7 x 50)
12. Oliva Serie G Robusto (4 1/2 x 50)
13. Oliva Serie G Torpedo (6 1/2 x 52)
14. Oliva Master Blend 3 Robusto (5 x 50)
15. Oliva Serie O Maduro Robusto (5 x 50)
16. Oliva Serie O No. 4 (5 x 43)
17. Oliva Serie O Churchill (7 x 50)
18. *Oliva Serie V Melanio Diadema (6 3/4 x 48)
19. *Oliva Serie V Melanio Lancero (7 x 38)
20. *Oliva Serie V Melanio Toro Round (6 x 54)
21. Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro Figurado (6 1/2 x 52)
22. Oliva Serie V Double Robusto (5 x 54)
23. Oliva Serie V Lonsdale (6 1/2 x 44)
24. Oliva Gilberto Reserva Torpedo (6 x 52)
25. Cuba Aliados Churchill (7 x 50)

MSRP: $220

Production: Undisclosed

Release Date: September 2022

Oliva Serie V Melanio Sampler

If you really want that Oliva Serie V Melanio Lancero, or a Melanio Maduro Lancero, you don’t need to buy the aforementioned Advent Calendar. These samplers contain a Lancero, Churchill and Figurado in both wrapper versions. They should be on shelves this week.

• Wrapper: Varies
• Binder: Varies
• Filler: Varies

• Oliva Serie V Melanio Lancero (7 x 38)
• Oliva Serie V Melanio Churchill (7 x 50)
• Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado (6 1/2 x 52)
• Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro Figurado (6 1/2 x 52)
• Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro Churchill (7 x 50)
• Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro Lancero (7 x 38)

MSRP: $66

Release Date: July 2022

Oliva Senoritas

From what I was told, these were unexpectedly brought by some of the international employees and not yet on sale for the U.S. Oliva previously sold some cigars under the same, technically, Oliva Viejo Mundo Senoritas, but I’m told there’s an effort to try to improve them. One note, these are made in Sri Lanka, which was a bit interesting to talk about in the Oliva booth given the recent revolution in the country.