Description
The Short Smoke That Punches Above Its Weight
I’ve smoked a lot of short-format cigars over the years – probably more than I should admit. And you know what? Most of them feel like compromise cigars. The ones you reach for when you don’t have time for the “real thing.” But the H Upmann Half Corona? This little guy breaks that pattern completely. I remember the first time I lit one up – it was at a golf course in Tampa, and I only had maybe 30 minutes before my tee time. Expected a quick nicotine hit and not much else. What I got instead was a masterclass in how smaller vitolas can deliver the full Cuban experience without asking you to carve out two hours of your day.
Thing is, H Upmann doesn’t get the same love as Cohiba or Montecristo. Never has, really. Walk into any lounge and ask ten guys what their favorite Cuban brand is – maybe one will say H Upmann. The rest are chasing the big names. Their loss, honestly. Because while everyone’s fighting over the latest Cohiba release, these Half Coronas are sitting there waiting for someone who actually knows what they’re looking for.
What Makes This Little Cuban Special
H Upmann has been around since 1844 – yeah, you read that right. While most cigar companies were still figuring out which end to light, these guys were already perfecting their blends in Havana. The brand was started by a German banker, of all people, and became famous for those elegant cedar boxes that every other manufacturer tried to copy. The Half Corona sits in their standard lineup, not one of those limited edition releases that costs your mortgage payment. Just a solid, everyday smoke that happens to deliver way more complexity than it has any right to.
This is a cigar for the aficionado who’s done playing games. You’re not buying this to impress anyone at the golf club or to take Instagram photos of the band. You’re buying it because you want a genuine Cuban smoke and you’ve got 35 minutes, not 90. The wrapper – pure Vuelta Abajo leaf – has that silky feel you expect from premium Cubans. The construction is what H Upmann built their reputation on. Tight, even, no soft spots.
Who should smoke these? Someone who appreciates that good things come in small packages. Actually, scratch that – that’s too cliché. These are for people who’ve smoked enough cigars to know that vitola size doesn’t dictate quality. I’ve had Churchills that bored me to tears and petit coronas that I still think about years later. The Half Corona falls firmly in that second category.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Vitola | Half Corona |
| Length | 3.5 inches / 90 mm |
| Ring Gauge | 44 |
| Wrapper | Cuban (Vuelta Abajo) |
| Binder | Cuban |
| Filler | Cuban blend |
| Strength | Medium |
| Smoking Time | 30-40 minutes |
How This Smoke Actually Plays Out
The cold draw gives you cedar right away. Not surprising – it’s an H Upmann. But there’s this underlying sweetness that catches you off guard if you’re not expecting it. Almost like honey drizzled over toast. Light it up and that first third comes alive with this creamy smoke that coats your palate. The cedar’s still there – front and center – but now you’re getting hints of nuts. Almonds, maybe? Could be hazelnuts. I’m not one of those guys who can identify seventeen different flavor notes, but the nuttiness is unmistakable.
What I love about shorter vitolas is you don’t have time to get bored. The flavors evolve quickly – they have to. By the time you hit the second third, the cream gives way to something earthier. There’s a vegetal quality that some people describe as grassy, but I think it’s more like fresh tobacco leaves. Which, yeah, makes sense given what you’re smoking. The sweetness from the first third doesn’t disappear completely, but it takes a back seat. Now you’re getting leather and that distinctive Cuban tobacco flavor that’s impossible to replicate anywhere else.
Construction? Flawless every time I’ve smoked one. And I’ve gone through more boxes of these than I probably should admit. The burn line stays razor-sharp even if you’re not paying attention. The ash holds for a solid inch before dropping – always in my lap, never in the ashtray where it belongs. White and firm, which tells you the tobacco was properly aged. Draw resistance is perfect. Not too tight, not too loose. Just enough resistance to make each puff feel substantial.
Final third is where opinions split. Some guys find it gets a bit strong for a morning smoke. I disagree, but I also drink my coffee black and probably have a higher tolerance for intensity than most people. The pepper kicks up here – not face-melting heat, but enough to remind you this is a real cigar, not some gas station special. That earthiness from the middle section intensifies. You get more tobacco flavor, more leather, and if you retrohale – which you should, at least once – there’s this spicy complexity that makes you wonder why you don’t smoke these more often. The finish lingers. Not as long as a bigger ring gauge would, but long enough to feel satisfied.
How Does It Stack Up?
| Cigar | Strength | Smoking Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| H Upmann Half Corona | Medium | 30-40 minutes | Morning smoke, golf course, when you want quality without the time commitment |
| Montecristo No. 4 | Medium | 45-60 minutes | Classic Cuban experience, slightly longer but similar profile |
| Cohiba Siglo I | Medium | 30-40 minutes | When you want to show off a bit, smoother but less character |
What to Pair With This Thing
Coffee. Full stop. These were made for morning coffee. I’m talking a proper espresso or a strong Cuban coffee if you can get your hands on it. The bitterness of good coffee plays perfectly against that creamy sweetness in the first half of the cigar. I’ve also had great experiences pairing these with a light rum – Havana Club 3 Year works surprisingly well. The rum’s sweetness amplifies those honey notes without overwhelming the tobacco.
Time of day? I’m biased toward mornings, but honestly these work anytime you’ve got half an hour to kill. After lunch, mid-afternoon when you need a break from work, or even as a quick evening smoke before dinner. They’re not so strong that they’ll ruin your appetite, but substantial enough to feel like an event rather than just killing time.
Occasions? Golf course – already mentioned that. Also great for when you’re hosting people who aren’t serious cigar smokers. Give them something that’ll be done before they get overwhelmed or sick. I’ve converted more than a few casual smokers into actual aficionados by handing them one of these instead of throwing them into the deep end with a Churchill.
How long does an H Upmann Half Corona actually last?
Realistically? You’re looking at 30 to 40 minutes depending on how fast you smoke. I tend to puff more frequently than most people, so I’m usually done in about 35 minutes. If you’re the type who takes your time and lets it rest between draws, you might stretch it to 45 minutes, but that’s pushing it for this vitola size.
Is this too strong for a beginner to Cuban cigars?
Not at all. Actually, I’d argue this is one of the better entry points into Cubans. It sits firmly in medium territory – not so mild that experienced smokers get bored, but not so strong that it’ll knock a beginner on their ass. Just make sure they’ve eaten something first and maybe have some water handy. Standard advice for any cigar, really.
How does the Half Corona compare to other H Upmann vitolas?
It’s got the classic H Upmann DNA – that cedar and cream profile the brand is known for. The Magnum 46 will give you more complexity and a longer smoke, but honestly? The Half Corona delivers about 80% of the experience in half the time. Sometimes I actually prefer it to the larger vitolas because the flavors hit faster and don’t have time to flatten out.
What’s the best way to store these?
Same as any Cuban – keep them at 65-70% humidity and around 65-70 degrees Fahrenheit. I’ve noticed these tend to smoke better with slightly lower humidity, closer to 62-65%, but that might just be personal preference. Give them at least a few weeks to settle after you receive them. I know that’s tough when you’re excited to light one up, but trust me, the wait pays off.
Are H Upmann Half Coronas a good everyday smoke?
Depends what you mean by everyday. Can you smoke one every day? Sure, if your budget allows for it. They’re Cuban, so they’re not cheap, but they’re also not priced like Cohiba or some of the limited editions. I probably go through a box every couple months, smoking them when I want something good but don’t have time for a longer cigar. That feels sustainable to me without breaking the bank.
Do these need aging or are they ready to smoke?
They’re ready to smoke as soon as they’ve acclimated to your humidor, but like most Cubans, they’ll improve with some time. I’ve smoked them fresh and I’ve smoked them with three years of age. The aged ones develop more complexity – the sweetness mellows out a bit and you get more of those earthy, leathery notes. If you can afford to buy a few boxes and rotate them, do it. But if you light one up next week, you’re not making a mistake.
Why don’t more people talk about H Upmann compared to Cohiba or Montecristo?
Honestly? Marketing and prestige. Cohiba has that mystique because it was Castro’s personal brand. Montecristo has the Monte Cristo novel connection and decades of being positioned as the premium choice. H Upmann just quietly makes excellent cigars without the fanfare. Which works out great for those of us who know – means they’re easier to find and the quality stays consistent because there’s not as much hype-driven demand.
Final Take on the Half Corona
If you’re looking for a legitimate Cuban experience that won’t eat up your entire afternoon, this is it. The H Upmann Half Corona delivers everything that makes Cuban cigars special – the complexity, the construction quality, that ineffable Cuban tobacco flavor – in a compact format that respects your time. It’s not trying to be something it’s not. Just honest, well-made tobacco rolled by people who’ve been doing this for over 170 years.
Will it blow your mind like some rare limited edition? Probably not. But it’ll remind you why you fell in love with cigars in the first place. And sometimes that’s worth more than all the hype in the world. Add a box to your humidor. You’ll find yourself reaching for them more often than you expect.
