A SIGNATURE Evening at the Heart of the Crowd’s Passion
Some evenings seem written in advance. Others offer moments no one could have imagined. This SIGNATURE Evening on Thursday, July 9, 2026 undoubtedly belongs to the second category.
For several months, we had deliberately chosen this date to have our tasting coincide with the football World Cup. Chance – or perhaps magic – had it that the quarter-final between France and Morocco was being played that very evening. Needless to say, the historic heart of Montauban was already buzzing well before kickoff.
Under the arcades of the magnificent Place Nationale, Yoann, our loyal host at Ô Temple, had reserved us a fully private terrace space. A bubble of conviviality in the middle of a packed square, where the fans’ chants were already echoing throughout the city.
There were only twelve of us. Twelve enthusiasts, gathered around a shared desire: to discover an exceptional edition from the house Oliva, produced specially to celebrate the World Cup. An intimate evening, true to the spirit of Cigare et Compagnie’s SIGNATURE Evenings, where every guest was fully aware of experiencing a rare moment.
The Oliva Serie V Melanio World Cup Natural: A Masterful Opening
The first plates were gently arriving at the table. It was time to discover the evening’s first gem.
The Oliva Serie V Melanio World Cup Natural.
Wrapped in a superb Ecuadorian Sumatra leaf, this cigar reveals, from the very first puffs, all the elegance that has made the Melanio line’s reputation. The smoke is dense, silky, remarkably smooth. The first notes evoke cedar, lightly roasted dried fruit, freshly ground coffee and a touch of white pepper that adds a lovely vibrancy without ever overpowering the rest.
As the tasting progresses, richer, more indulgent flavors emerge, hinting at nuances of golden caramel, milk chocolate and sweet spices. The burn is exemplary, the draw perfectly controlled, and the overall balance is impressive in its precision.
Once again, the Melanio line confirms that it ranks among the Oliva house’s greatest achievements. Deep, elegant, generous cigars that literally wrap around the palate and naturally invite you to slow down.
The first wisps of smoke drifted slowly toward the sky as glances met across the table. Smiles gradually appeared on every face. Conversations grew animated. Tasting impressions mingled with the first bursts of emotion from the match, which had just kicked off on the giant screens set up around the square.
Two Melanios, Two Personalities, the Same Excellence
The warmth of that summer evening was still very much present.
The tapas dreamed up by Yoann kept arriving generously at the tables, perfectly accompanying conversations that were becoming livelier by the minute. As always, our host once again showed off his sense of hospitality, conviviality and generosity. His team played a big part in making this evening a true success.
Then came the long-awaited moment of the second cigar.
The Oliva Serie V Melanio World Cup Maduro.
This time, the magnificent Mexican Maduro wrapper promised a darker, more intense and more mysterious tasting.
To everyone’s surprise, however, the first impressions differed from what most people had imagined. Where many expected greater strength, this Melanio Maduro turned out to be rounder, more velvety and remarkably balanced.
Notes of dark chocolate, espresso, toasted hazelnut and fine wood mingled delicately with hints of black pepper and a subtle sweetness that pleasantly wrapped around the palate.
Was it because we had started with the slightly livelier Natural? Was it simply the magic of the pairings and the way the palate evolves over the course of the evening? Everyone had their own theory.
One thing, however, was unanimous: these two Oliva Melanio World Cup cigars were magnificent demonstrations of the Oliva house’s craftsmanship, offering two quite distinct personalities but the same pursuit of balance, finesse and elegance.
A Victory, Memories, and Already the Urge to Do It Again
As the last wisps of smoke rose above Place Nationale, the fans’ chants grew louder and louder.
A few moments later, the final whistle blew.
France won two goals to nil against Morocco.
Applause broke out from every direction.
Smiles lit up every face.
Was it the joy of that victory? Was it the emotion brought on by these two magnificent Melanios? Or was it simply the happiness of having shared a timeless evening together?
Probably a bit of all of it at once.
Once again, Cigare et Compagnie showed that the cigar is far more than a simple pleasure for the palate. It is a wonderful creator of encounters, conversations and memories.
I want to give a huge thank you to Tugdual, from the Oliva house, for allowing us to discover this absolutely remarkable limited series. Thank you also to Jean-Marie, from the tobacconist Le Lalande in Montauban, whose trust and hard work make it possible, once again, to offer rare cigars of exceptional quality.
A huge thank you also to Yoann and the whole team at Ô Temple for their hospitality, availability and generosity throughout the evening.
Finally, thank you to the twelve guests who gave this new SIGNATURE Evening its full meaning. Your conversations, your curiosity, your good spirits and your passion are the true wealth of Cigare et Compagnie.
This evening comes to an end, but the adventure continues.
New HÉDONISTE Evenings and Evenings SIGNATURE await you throughout the year, always with the same ambition: to introduce you to exceptional cigars, to meet the people who bring them to life, and to share together moments that stay with you for a long time.
See you very soon to write, together, the next chapters of this wonderful adventure.
