Gran Habano

Gran Habano is a family cigar company run by Guillermo Rico and his son George Rico. The family has grown tobacco since 1920, when Guillermo’s grandfather began growing dark tobacco. Guillermo’s mother also rolled cigars at home.

In 1998 Guillermo Rico opened a cigar factory in Danlí, Honduras, now G.R. Tabacaleras Unidas. Gran Habano cigars are still made there, and the factory also makes cigars for several other brands. The family grows tobacco on farms in Nicaragua and Colombia. In 2012 George Rico also opened a small factory and lounge on Calle Ocho in Miami’s Little Havana, where he makes his S.T.K. cigars.

The core Gran Habano lines were introduced in 2003 and are still the best sellers: the mild Connecticut No. 1, with a Connecticut shade wrapper; the medium Habano No. 3; and the full Corojo No. 5. The numbers on the bands rise with strength. Later lines include the Corojo Vintage 2002, shown in the museum bands below.

Gran Habano is a small, family-owned company compared with the large Honduran factories, and it sells mainly through independent shops in the United States at moderate prices.