Back in 2018, I had the pleasure of sampling and reviewing a new blend from Gran Habano Cigars known as the Blue in Green. That review was based on the Churchill vitola and scored a spot on our top 25 cigars of the year for 2018. Today I would like to offer a review of the Corona variety of the Blue in Green.
A quick re-cap of the blend and name.
The term “Blue in Green” is a nod to George Rico’s favorite Miles Davis song of the same name. Blue in Green is rare and vintage Miles Davis, and as such, George Rico, owner of Gran Habano, chose to use selected leaf from the best vintage tobaccos.
The full blend of the Gran Habano Blue in Green is described as:
- Wrapper – Connecticut
- Binder – Nicaraguan
- Filler – Nicaraguan & Costa Rica
The Blue in Green is produced at the company’s G.R. Tabacalera Unidas factory in Honduras. With the 2019 corona addition, it is now available in 4 vitolas and packaged in 20-count boxes:
- Corona (6 x 44) – MSRP $9.00
- Gran Robusto (6 x 54) – MSRP $9.50
- Robusto (5 x 52) – MSRP $9.00
- Churchill (7 x 48) – MSRP $9.30
For this review I sampled two of the Gran Habano Blue in Green Coronas which have been in my humidor for about a year.
Pre-Light Examination
The Gran Habano Blue in Green Corona is a golden tan cigar that has a slight oily sheen. It has a velvety smooth feel to the touch and feel solidly packed. There are some noticeable veins and it is expertly finished with a triple cap.
Like all vitolas in the Blue in Green line, the corona is beautifully adorned. A long cedar sleeve is affixed with golden satin bands on top and bottom. The phrase “Blue in Green” is printed along the sleeve in blue ink. There is also a primary band that that uses a blue and gold motif with the golden words “Blue in Green” printed in gold with “Gran Habano” printed atop. I would also like to note the care and precision that the primary band is applied with the golden lines aligned all the way around the band.
As I ran the vitola along the nose, I picked up enticing orange citrus notes along the barrel while the foot exuded notes of earth and citrus.
I sliced the cap straight across the shoulder of the well applied cap and proceeded to give it some cold draw puffs. The draw was nicely restricted and offered notes of earth, pepper, and citrus. This is one you want to cold puff a little more as the flavors evolve the more you puff on it.
I used the soft flame of a cedar spill to get the journey started. Once the foot warmed up, I drew on the first puffs of nasal opening pepper. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Strong peppery notes off first puffs
- Smoke is full and chewy right off the first light
- Medium grey ash forms on a thick char line
- Pepper recedes and citrus notes pick up
- Natural sweetness wraps the citrus well
- Syrupy aroma wafts off the foot
- Ash fell revealing a flat burn cone
- A touch of Connecticut bitterness enters midway
- Cedar notes develop moving through the second third
- A light spice enters moving into the final third
- Mild to medium in strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 20 minutes
Overall, the Gran Habano Blue in Green Corona was not as complex as the Churchill vitola but it offered a core of natural sweetness and citrus through a good part of the journey before finishing with a growing cedar and spice. It had fine burn qualities with just a tad wave in the burn in the second half. This is a great morning cigar and I feel this is worth grabbing a fiver of especially if a mild to medium Connecticut. I rate this a 91.
Point Deductions: (-1) Medium Grey Ash; (-1) Wavy burn in second half, (-1) Flat Burn Cone; (-1) Mild Bitterness
Bonus Points: (+1) Consistent Across Multiple Samples
