Gran Habano is a well-known brand that was created by father and son team, Guillermo and George Rico. The factory is based just outside of Danli, Honduras in the town of El Pariaso - where all of the Gran Habano cigar lines are produced. The brand has earned numerous awards for its unique blends; all of which offer expert craftsmanship, with each blend providing different complexities and deliberate flavors for an exciting experience.

Gran Habano Corojo No. 5 is the number one selling blend currently manufactured by Gran Habano. Without a doubt, this cigar is the strongest in the Gran Habano profile. The filler consists of Costa Rican and Nicaraguan tobaccos, all long leaf, bound by a Costa Rican binder. The filler and wrapper combination alone allows for a medium-bodied cigar. The blend is then completed with a Nicaraguan grown Corojo wrapper that has a red hue and is almost seamless in appearance. This hearty combination allows for a true, full-bodied experience, which leaves the palate tantalized with rich, earthy nuances mixed with white pepper that finishes with a spicy aftertaste. Gran Habano Corojo No. 5 is an excellent choice when searching for a spicy, full-bodied treat that offers a smooth character. This blend even received a ‘4.5 of 5’ by SMOKE Magazine.

10/10/08: Join Juan and Tim as they sit down with Nub creator Sam Leccia and discuss all things Nub; past, present and future. [Listen Now]

Q: What is the best method for removing humidity from my humidor?

A: A humidor is nothing more than a box created to retain humidity. Of course, some humidors are more extravagant than others, but for the most part, any box made of Spanish Cedar will retain moisture. With this in mind, there are a few easy ways to rid your humidor, and cigars, of their humidity. The easiest method simply involves removing all humidification devices from your humidor. The cigars will slowly pull moisture from each other, causing the humidity to drop. Be sure to replace your humidification devices once the humidity levels out at 70%, to prevent your cigars from turning to dust.  A second method involves leaving the humidor open over night, or “venting” it. This will allow all of the humidity to escape the humidor, leaving it in a condition not suitable for storing cigars – very dry. This method is only recommended for extreme situations, such as finding mold or having incredibly “spongy” cigars. The final recommended method is to add extra cigars or Spanish Cedar blocks to your humidor. The cigars will act as sponges (same as the Spanish Cedar blocks), which will deplete your humidor from any excess moisture, while still allowing the cigars to retain their current humidity levels.

Those seeking a full-bodied powerhouse may want to reach for Hoyo Excalibur Legend. Although considered full-bodied and full-flavored, this blend is incredibly smooth and does not offer an immediate, robust flavor one would expect based on its tobacco composition. However, this blend is easily the strongest Hoyo de Monterrey released to date. Hoyo de Monterrey is one of the most recognized names in the cigar industry. Originally developed in Cuba, the brand is now produced at the Villazon Factory, located in Honduras; well known for its production of Punch and Sancho Panza cigars. Hoyo de Monterrey’s portfolio includes Dark Sumatra, Excalibur, and Excalibur 1066, among others, which have earned numerous high ratings from leading publications.

Hoyo Excalibur Legend takes a step further into the realm of full-bodied blends, with the majority of its filler consisting of Nicaraguan and Dominican ligero tobaccos. The blend is very complex, offering spicy nuances and some hints of earth or peat. In addition, Excalibur Legend contains tobacco grown on the volcanic island of Ometepe, located in Nicaragua. This special tobacco creates a complexity completely unnoticeable in other cigars, which leaves flavors of oak and cedar on the palate, in addition to its spicy characteristics. The blend is then finished with a Connecticut Havana wrapper, allowing for a more robust finish, but a smooth character from the initial light. Hoyo Excalibur Legend is a tasty treat for all enthusiasts, but comes recommended for experienced aficionados.

Crusader (5.7" x 45) Great size for the strength. The small guage allows for intense notes of pepper mixed with oak while keeping a slow and steady burn. Remains smooth throughout but burns slightly hot. Strong finish. Reminiscent of Cuban cigars. 90/100 [Buy Now]

Conquerer (6.2" x 54) Easy draw with changing complexities throughout. Initial light offered little in terms of strength and spice but these characteristics greatly increased as the cigar burned. Emits a ton of creamy, milky smoke that has a cedary aroma. 89/100 [Buy Now]

Challenger (5.2" x 50) Robust from start to finish with a lot of spice noticable in the back of the throat. Maintains a smooth characteristic but is drastically more robust than the other sizes. Offers a long finish. 89/100 [Buy Now]

Don Pepin Garcia My Father - Considered to be the most prestigious blend released by El Rey de los Habanos, My Father is another flavorful concoction assembled by the hands of Don Pepin Garcia.

Verdadero Organic - Verdadero Organic is an excellent cigar consisting of 100% organically grown tobacco hailing from the virgin soils at the base of the Mambacho Volcano in Granada, Nicaragua.

Cabaiguan by Tatuaje - Cabaiguan is a mild to medium-bodied cigar that is full of flavor and produced at Don Pepin Garcia's El Rey de los Habanos factory in Miami.

Gurkha Titan II - A new blend by Gurkha, Titan II utilizes well-aged fillers, is impeccably constructed, and offers a plethora of flavors that are rich and creamy with a medium-bodied core.

Cigar.com (CC): How are things at Oliva? It looks like you guys had a big year?

Jose Oliva (JO): We have been incredibly fortunate to have the most successful year in our company history.

CC: I know everyone is raving about Oliva Serie ‘V’, in fact, we have not been able to keep it in stock. It has been over a year since it was rated 94 and sales are still going strong. Has this blend’s performance surprised you at all?

JO: Serie 'V' remains our greatest source of pride. It is proof positive that cigar connoisseurs respond overwhelmingly to full-flavored Nicaraguan Habano. The cigar remains in limited supply, but we remain committed to producing only as many as we can at the level our customers have come to expect.

CC: Has the success of Oliva Serie ‘V’ brought more attention to you other lines?

JO: Without a doubt, a rising tide lifts all boats. The other blends were around years before ‘V,’ but new enthusiasts became curious after Serie ‘V’ took off.

CC: I saw a small shipment of Serie ‘V’ maduro come in this fall, they sold out in a few days. Is the maduro version going to be a regular addition to the line?

JO: For now, the maduro version of Serie ‘V’ will be a seasonal and limited offering. This year’s run was 50,000 cigars, total.

CC: Another high-end cigar everyone raves about is the Master Blends series. Where did the idea for this project come from and what can we expect from this line in 2009?

JO: Master Blends was conceived as small batches of superb tobacco became available through our experimental fields. Once the tobacco runs out, we present a new blend. Every year we keep a specified amount of each blend for a later release. We expect to release MB4 near the end of 2009 along with a limited amount of MB1, MB2, and MB3.

CC: What else can we expect from Oliva in 2009?

JO: As our economy tightens, you can expect Oliva to keep its commitment to producing the world’s finest cigars, at the best prices.

CC: Changing gears to discuss more about you and your family, what has it been like working with your siblings every day?

JO: Working with my family has always been a joy. We are a very tight knit group. Each of us has honed our skills in a different area of this business and together, we have the best team in the industry.

CC: How many of you are there and how do you divide the responsibilities?

JO: There are 3 brothers, a sister, and of course, our father. Dad and Gilberto Jr. handle all leaf tobacco: drying, curing, and fermenting. Carlos oversees the production in our two cigar factories. Jeannie manages all office functions, customer service, accounting, personnel, shipping, etc. I handle sales and distribution. Together, we all manage the direction of the company and the Oliva brand.

CC: Do you all prefer the same cigar or does everyone enjoy something different?

JO: We all agree that Nicaraguan Habano is the world’s best leaf at this moment. Carlos and I are more open to other wrappers while Gilberto is hard-core Habano, all the time.

CC: As the Holiday shopping season approaches, what box of smokes would you suggest for the gift buyer this year?

JO: Without a doubt, there is no better year to give the gift of Oliva. Regardless of your budget, Oliva has a 92+ rated cigar for you. Whether it is the Serie ‘G’ Cameroon at about $4 per cigar, or the Serie ‘O’ at about $5, or the Serie ‘V’ at about $7 per cigar. Each of these blends has made the Top 25 cigars of the year!

CC: Jose, it is always a pleasure getting to speak to you. Is there anything you would like to add before we wrap up?

JO: Remember to enjoy a fine cigar with a family member or friend during this special time of the year. Thank you Alex, for your continued support of family owned companies like ours and your passion for the finest cigars.