Match M8 gave Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado its second Group B test after an opening victory over Warped Corto. Rocky Patel Sixty entered the competition for the first time, carrying the weight of a flagship anniversary release and a blend aged for a minimum of two years after rolling.
Both cigars were made in Nicaragua, but they approached power from different directions. Oliva paired a 6.5 x 54 Figurado with an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper and full strength. Rocky Patel used a broad 6 x 60 format, a Mexican San Andres wrapper and a medium-bodied profile built around dense, dark flavor.
Rocky Patel Sixty matched Oliva's perfect construction score and produced the stronger finish. Melanio created separation everywhere between those two bookends, using a better draw, steadier burn, greater complexity and superior balance to control the middle of the scorecard.
Matchup at a Glance
| Category | Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado | Rocky Patel Sixty |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Oliva | Rocky Patel |
| Origin | Nicaragua | Nicaragua |
| Wrapper | Ecuadorian Sumatra | Mexican San Andres |
| Binder | Nicaraguan | Nicaraguan |
| Filler | Nicaraguan | Nicaraguan |
| Factory | TABOLISA | TAVICUSA, Esteli, Nicaragua |
| Vitola | Figurado, 6.5 x 54 | Sixty, 6 x 60 |
| Strength | Full | Medium |
| Ashology score | 29.0/30 - Exceptional | 27.5/30 - Superior |
| M8 result | Winner | Loss |
Oliva began with sweet cedar, cocoa, coffee and light pepper. Creamy cedar and cocoa developed alongside espresso and polished black pepper before caramel, roasted almonds and baking spice added a richer, sweeter center. Dark chocolate, coffee and oak deepened the final third without displacing the sweetness.
Rocky Patel Sixty opened with cocoa, cedar, espresso and dried fruit on the cold draw. Rich earth, dark cocoa and black pepper formed a dense first third. Espresso, leather, toasted walnut and restrained raisin sweetness added dimension before dark-roast coffee, seasoned oak and increasing pepper took command late.
The Sixty delivered substantial body and mature depth in a wide-ring format. Melanio offered the more gradual and polished evolution. Its sweetness, spice, roast and wood remained better integrated as the Figurado moved from the tapered opening into its fuller center.
Where the Matchup Was Decided
Construction produced the only perfect tie. Both cigars earned 5 out of 5, confirming the craftsmanship behind two premium Nicaraguan releases. From there, the scorecard divided into four Oliva advantages and one Rocky Patel response.
Oliva won four categories; Rocky Patel won one.
Melanio scored 5.0 for draw, burn, flavor complexity and balance. Rocky Patel Sixty earned 4.5 in each category. Oliva's effortless resistance, precise combustion, richer transitions and stronger integration created four half-point gains for a two-point advantage.
The Sixty answered on the finish, earning 4.5 against Melanio's 4.0. Its dark-roast coffee, seasoned oak and building pepper created a rich, lasting close that carried more force than Oliva's creamy, gently spicy conclusion.
Rocky Patel recovered half a point at the end, but Oliva had already built too much separation. The final score was 29.0 to 27.5, a one-and-a-half-point victory that reflected the difference between an outstanding cigar and a nearly complete one.
Official Result: Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado Wins Match M8
Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado defeated Rocky Patel Sixty and improved to 2-0 in Group B. One matchup remained against Blackened S84 Shade to Black, but Melanio had already established control of the Boutique Power standings.
Oliva later completed a perfect 3-0 group stage, defeated Ashton VSG in the Top 16 and reached the Grand 8. Its M8 performance showed the same technical consistency that would carry it to a #5 overall finish.
Rocky Patel Sixty fell to 0-1, later lost to Warped Corto and closed group play with a victory over Blackened. The 1-2 record placed it third in Group B, while its 27.5-point Superior evaluation preserved its standing as a premium tournament selection.
Final Ashology Verdict
Rocky Patel Sixty delivered exactly what a commemorative release should: excellent construction, mature tobacco character and a dark finish with real staying power. Its category scores never fell below 4.5, proving that the loss came against elite competition rather than through a meaningful weakness.
Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado won by controlling more of the smoking experience. After tying construction, it gained measurable advantages in the four categories that governed mechanics, development and harmony. Rocky Patel owned the close; Oliva owned the road that led there.
M8 reinforced Melanio's position as the class of Group B. Its 29-point performance balanced craftsmanship with flavor progression, giving Oliva a decisive second victory and moving the eventual Grand 8 cigar one step closer to advancement.
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.