Match M7 opened Group B with the division's two eventual Top 16 qualifiers facing each other immediately. Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado brought the reputation of a modern classic; Warped Corto arrived as a compact boutique expression built for clarity, energy and concentrated flavor.
Both cigars were full-strength, Nicaraguan-made and rooted in Nicaraguan interior tobaccos, but their formats framed the contest differently. Oliva's 6.5 x 54 Figurado offered a long, sculpted progression. Warped's 4.5 x 46 box-pressed X46 delivered its profile in a shorter, narrower format.
The result was closer than the cigars' final tournament placements might suggest. Warped produced two perfect category scores and the stronger finish. Oliva answered with five perfect marks, winning the categories that measured technical control and overall harmony.
Matchup at a Glance
| Category | Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado | Warped Corto |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Oliva | Warped Cigars |
| Origin | Nicaragua | Nicaragua |
| Wrapper | Ecuadorian Sumatra | Nicaraguan shade-grown Jalapa Corojo '99 |
| Binder | Nicaraguan | Nicaraguan |
| Filler | Nicaraguan | Nicaraguan Corojo '99 and Criollo '98 |
| Factory | TABOLISA | TABSA, Esteli, Nicaragua |
| Vitola | Figurado, 6.5 x 54 | X46, 4.5 x 46, box-pressed |
| Strength | Full | Full |
| Ashology score | 29.0/30 - Exceptional | 28.0/30 - Excellent |
| M7 result | Winner | Loss |
Oliva began with sweet cedar, cocoa, coffee and light pepper on the cold draw. The first third added espresso and polished black pepper to a creamy cedar-and-cocoa base. Caramel, roasted almonds and baking spice created a sweeter center before dark chocolate, coffee and oak deepened the final third.
Warped opened with cedar, hay, citrus peel and sweet tobacco. Bright cedar and white pepper led into cream, toasted bread and subtle citrus. Almond, earth, light coffee and honey-like sweetness broadened the middle, while stronger pepper, roasted nuts and espresso drove the close.
Corto's smaller X46 format made the profile feel immediate and animated. Melanio's Figurado shape gave its transitions more room to unfold. Both cigars showed excellent complexity, yet Oliva combined its richer progression with the steadier technical performance.
Where the Matchup Was Decided
The scorecards agreed on two elite qualities. Both cigars earned 5 out of 5 for draw and flavor complexity. Those ties established the level of the matchup: neither opponent surrendered anything in smoke delivery or the range and movement of its flavor profile.
Oliva won three categories; Warped won one.
Melanio gained half-point advantages in construction, burn and balance, scoring 5.0 against Corto's 4.5 in each category. Its precise combustion, firm ash and refined integration turned three small edges into a decisive one-and-a-half-point gain.
Corto took the finish category 4.5 to 4.0. Its pepper, cedar, roasted nuts and espresso produced the cleaner, livelier conclusion. That advantage returned half a point, but it could not erase Oliva's accumulated lead.
With draw and complexity tied, the arithmetic was exact: Oliva gained 1.5 points across construction, burn and balance, then surrendered 0.5 on the finish. The final margin was one point, 29.0 to 28.0.
Official Result: Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado Wins Match M7
Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado defeated Warped Corto to take the first victory in Group B. The result became the opening step in Oliva's perfect 3-0 group record and its eventual run to the Grand 8.
Warped recovered from the loss with victories over Rocky Patel Sixty and Blackened S84 Shade to Black. Its 2-1 record secured second place in Boutique Power and a Top 16 berth, confirming that M7 had paired the group's two strongest performers.
The opener therefore established the correct hierarchy without diminishing the runner-up. Corto proved capable of beating most of the group; Melanio proved capable of beating Corto through a more complete scorecard.
Final Ashology Verdict
Warped Corto earned its Excellent classification with a profile that was distinctive, complex and highly controlled. A perfect draw and complexity score, plus the matchup's better finish, showed why the cigar advanced from a demanding group.
Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado reached Exceptional territory by leaving almost no technical weakness to exploit. Its only non-perfect mark came on the finish, while construction, draw, burn, complexity and balance all earned the maximum score.
M7 was a battle between two legitimate tournament cigars, not a mismatch between reputation and boutique ambition. Oliva won because its craftsmanship and balance supported every flavor transition, creating the more complete performance from first light to final ash.
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.