This review compares two 4 ½ X 50 small robusto size cigars that receive relatively good reviews and are available at low cost: the Oliva Grand Cameroon Robusto and the Gran Habano #5 (Corojo) Rothschild. Both are available from Famous for less than $10 for a five pack. They had spent about three weeks in my humi at around 67% RH. This is the first time I had had either.
The Oliva is a Nicaraguan advertised as a full bodied (I considered it medium) cigar with Nicaraguan filler and binder and a Cameroon wrapper. The Gran Habano #5 is a Honduran advertised as a full bodied (I agree) cigar with Costa Rican and Nicaraguan filler, Costa Rican binder and Nicaraguan Corojo wrapper.
Appearance: Although both listed as 4 ½ x 50 the Gran Habano seemed larger than the box pressed Oliva. The Gran Habano was dark brown with a prominent vein and nice looking dual bands. The Oliva was lighter in color, smoother and with a less impressive band. The Gran Habano’s wrapper was noticeable thicker than the Oliva’s.
Pre-light: Oliva had sweet tobacco smell and somewhat dry, woody taste. The Gran Habano had an earthy barnyard and faint molasses smell and earthy, peppery taste.
Lighting the cigar was a snap with the Oliva but took a couple of tries with the Gran Habano. The Oliva had a steady, even burn, requiring no touchups and produced great volumes of smoke from a light draw. The Gran Habano, on the other hand, required multiple re-lights, had a very tight draw and had little smoke most of the time. Smoke volume would occasionally increase and when it did the smoke was almost chewy.
Flavor: I’m afraid that my palate is not very refined in its ability to identify flavors but here is my best shot. The Oliva had a pleasant if uninspired woody/floral flavor and a dry finish. The Gran Habano had a more intense flavor of tobacco and damp grass (the kind in your lawn
) and/or hay. About the halfway point the flavor mellowed a little and developed a hint of heavy sweetness. It had a long finish.
Conclusions: The Gran Habano seemed to be a much younger cigar and thus more in need of additional humi time. For me, the Oliva Grand Cameroon was a much more satisfying cigar. I smoked it to the nub in about 45 minutes and am looking forward to more soon. The Gran Habano didn’t do too much for me, lasting over 45 minutes to the first of the two bands. I probably won’t have another for several months, at which time it will be interesting to see if the additional humi time makes it more to my liking.