Juliany Blue Line Corona (Single)

• Length: 127mm
• Gauge: 40
• Flavour: Mild to Medium
• Wrapper: Dominican 2000
• Filler: Dominican
• Binder: Dominican
• Hand Rolled
• Long Filler
• Dominican Republic Cigars

There are cigars whose price is largely explained by mahogany boxes, gold foil and a chap in a waistcoat telling you how exclusive they are. Juliany takes a rather different approach.

Made in the Dominican Republic, the Blue Line is produced at the Abeja factory associated with Bienvenida Ovalles. The emphasis here is on giving the smoker a genuine handmade, long-filler Dominican cigar at a price that makes regular smoking rather less alarming to the bank manager.

The Blue Line steps things up from Juliany's simpler offerings with an entirely Dominican blend. A Dominican 2000 wrapper surrounds a Dominican Olor binder, with Dominican Criollo 98 forming the long-filler heart of the cigar.

It makes for a medium-bodied smoke, smooth and approachable but with enough going on to keep it interesting. The Blue Line is particularly associated with spice and pepper, balanced by creamier tobacco flavours and a gentle underlying sweetness.

This Corona gives the blend a slimmer, traditional straight-sided format. The photograph shows a nicely rustic medium-brown wrapper rather than something polished into submission, finished with Juliany's distinctive blue, silver and white Premium Blue Line band.

Each cigar is individually cellophane wrapped, and the Corona is supplied in a straightforward bundle of 10. Bright Leaf Distribution currently lists the Blue Line Corona alongside the Coronita and Robusto formats.

Juliany has never really been about elaborate presentation. The money has gone where it ought to go: Dominican tobacco, long-filler construction and hand rolling.

A handsome wooden chest would be lovely, of course. But then you'd have to pay for the chest.