OG Guild Corona [2017]

The Crux OG Guild Corona is original, pre-rebrand 2017 stock of the Guild in its 5 1/2 x 42 corona size. The blend is the one the Guild has carried since its May 2016 launch: an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler, rolled at Plasencia Cigars S.A. in Esteli. Crux rebranded its portfolio starting in 2019, changing bands and packaging but not the tobacco, so these older-band coronas are the same medium-plus blend with considerable additional age.

Creamy, almost custard-like chocolate leads, backed by cedar and earth. Raisin sweetness and coffee fill the middle while white and black pepper keep the retrohale sharp. Oak grows through the final third, finishing on leather with a pancake-syrup sweetness.

The corona format keeps the flavors tight and the smoke around an hour, and the extra years in the box have only smoothed the edges. Enjoy it with morning coffee or as an easy afternoon smoke. These are the last of the original-band coronas we have, so grab them while they are here.