Match M9 closed the Group B schedule for Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado and opened tournament play for Blackened S84 Shade to Black. Oliva entered at 2-0 after defeating Warped Corto and Rocky Patel Sixty. One more victory would complete a perfect group stage and secure first place in Boutique Power.
Both cigars were produced in Nicaragua, yet their blends expressed two very different ideas. Oliva used an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper over Nicaraguan tobaccos in a full-strength 6.5 x 54 Figurado. Drew Estate wrapped Blackened's dark Maduro core in Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade, creating a medium-bodied 5 x 50 Robusto that placed creaminess and pepper over richer interior tobaccos.
Blackened earned 4.5 in all six categories. Oliva reached 5.0 in the first five, and those repeated half-point advantages decided the match before S84 answered with the better finish.
Matchup at a Glance
| Category | Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado | Blackened S84 Shade to Black |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Oliva | Drew Estate |
| Origin | Nicaragua | Nicaragua |
| Wrapper | Ecuadorian Sumatra | Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade |
| Binder | Nicaraguan | Connecticut River Valley Broadleaf Maduro |
| Filler | Nicaraguan | Nicaraguan Maduro and Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro |
| Factory | TABOLISA | La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate, Esteli, Nicaragua |
| Vitola | Figurado, 6.5 x 54 | Robusto, 5 x 50 |
| Strength | Full | Medium |
| Ashology score | 29.0/30 - Exceptional | 27.0/30 - Premium |
| M9 result | Winner | Loss |
Oliva began with sweet cedar, cocoa, coffee and light pepper. Creamy cedar and cocoa moved into espresso and polished black pepper before caramel, roasted almonds and baking spice formed a richer middle. Dark chocolate, coffee and oak deepened the final third while a lingering sweetness kept the profile composed.
Blackened opened with sweet hay, cedar, pepper and mild cocoa. Creamy cedar, light pepper and toasted grain established a smooth first third. Coffee, earth and roasted nuts added weight through the center, then pepper and charred wood intensified late. The finish began creamy before becoming spicier and drier.
S84's lighter Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper surrounded a Connecticut River Valley Broadleaf Maduro binder and Maduro fillers, giving the cigar more darkness than its exterior suggested. Melanio delivered the more complete progression, integrating sweetness, roast, spice and wood with greater precision.
Where the Matchup Was Decided
Blackened's six identical 4.5 scores showed dependable quality with no weak category. Oliva's five perfect marks produced the larger total through repeated half-point gains rather than one dramatic S84 failure.
Oliva won five categories; Blackened won one.
Melanio scored 5.0 for construction, draw, burn, flavor complexity and balance against Blackened's 4.5 in each, gaining 2.5 points through cleaner mechanics, richer transitions and stronger integration.
Blackened won the finish 4.5 to 4.0. Its pepper, charred wood and drying spice created a more forceful late impression than Melanio's creamy, gently spicy conclusion.
The category math left Oliva with a net two-point advantage: 2.5 points gained across five categories, minus the half point Blackened recovered on the finish. The official score was 29.0 to 27.0.
Official Result: Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado Wins Match M9
Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado defeated Blackened S84 Shade to Black and completed Group B with a perfect 3-0 record. The victory secured first place in Boutique Power and sent Melanio into the Top 16 as the group's leading qualifier.
Oliva later defeated Ashton VSG, reached the Grand 8 and finished #5 overall after a loss to Liga Privada T52. M9 completed the undefeated group run that established Melanio among the competition's elite performers.
Blackened fell to 0-1, then lost to Warped Corto and Rocky Patel Sixty to finish 0-3. Its balanced 27-point Premium evaluation still confirmed S84's quality in a demanding group.
Final Ashology Verdict
Blackened S84 brought one of Group B's most inventive blends. Connecticut Shade softened and brightened a dark Maduro interior, producing cream, pepper, coffee and earth with a finish strong enough to take the final category.
Oliva left almost no room to gain ground. Perfect scores in the first five categories rewarded precise performance and a layered, balanced progression. Blackened owned the final impression; Melanio controlled nearly everything before it.
M9 closed Oliva's Group B campaign with a third consecutive victory, the division title and an unblemished record for the eventual Grand 8 cigar.
Tasting notes reflect the cigars and vitolas evaluated during the 2026 competition. Flavor, strength and burn performance may vary based on storage, age, vitola and individual palate. Tobacco products are intended only for adults of legal smoking age.