yiorgosm Posted May 26, 2010 Posted May 26, 2010 A while ago I decided that I would do a head to head comparison of a 2003 Cohiba Siglo VI and a Cohiba Siglo VI Gran Reserva. After getting my hands on the two cigars, I let them sleep in the same humidor waiting for a day with plenty of time in my hands. That day came last Saturday... With the sun blazing and the thermometer showing late twenties, I took the two sticks out and hit the back garden... Appearance and Construction 2003 Cohiba Siglo VI 14/15 Cohiba Siglo VI Gran Reserva 15/15 Both cigars look the par! I could not find anything that was not perfect on the Siglo VI Gran Reserva. The chocolate brown wrapper, the oily and smooth feel, the absence of any wrinkles or prominent veins, make this cigar a masterpiece. The 03 Siglo VI inevitably looses the first battle, not by far, mainly because of the wrapper quality. Both cigars are well constructed, with a firm bunch and a good prelight draw. The wrapper on the 03 Siglo VI has a sweet earthy taste and alight coffee aroma, while the Siglo VI Gran Reserva has a beautiful scent of wood and earth and a sweet flavour. Draw & Burn 2003 Cohiba Siglo VI 24/25 Cohiba Siglo VI Gran Reserva 23/25 Surprisingly the 03 Siglo VI manages to pull this one off… The draw is flawless all the way through and the cigar does not go off at all. The ash is solid, dark grey in colour with a yellow hue and stays on the cigar until it reaches an inch in length. The burn is even all the way through and the combustion is complete, with the cigar delivering an ample amount of smoke with a think and creamy finish. On the other hand, the Siglo VI Gran Reserva is not far from its older brother. It draws well, delivering slightly less volume of smoke than the 03 Siglo VI. The burn is a tad uneven, without causing any problems and it is only at the end that the cigar needs to be relit only once. The ash is solid and dark grey and the finish is long and sweet. Flavour & Body 2003 Cohiba Siglo VI 22/25 Cohiba Siglo VI Gran Reserva 23/25 Interestingly, the two cigars are very very different. While the 03 Siglo VI is a typical Cohiba, spicy, earthy and strong, the Siglo VI Gran Reserva is super smooth and refind, lacking some strength; until the last third. The 03 Siglo VI starts as you would expect from a premium Cohiba; medium to full body and strong flavours of earth and spicies, with a long and creamy finish. On the second third the cigar turns into full bodied and becomes more complex. Vanilla and wood are closely following the spicy and earthy dominant flavours in a well balanced outcome. Towards the end, the 03 Siglo VI is even stronger and more complex. Cedar and caramel are only some of the new flavours appearing on the last third, with earth and spicies still dominating. A delicious cigar for the smoker that prefers a strong and spicy cigar. The Siglo VI Gran Reserva starts off completely different. Medium strength and body and very mellow and sweet flavours. Sweet honey dominates, with tobacco, wood and earth following and a long and sweet finish. On the second third, the body does not change. It remains medium but presents an unparalleled complexity. The flavours of the first third are still present, followed by nuts and liquorish. I could be going on for pages about the flavours that it reminded me of during the second third. On the last third, the cigar explodes and from medium body it turns into full. Sheer power that made me break a sweat. The flavours described earlier were amplified towards the end and the cigar became slightly hot. Overall Impression 2003 Cohiba Siglo VI 32/35 Cohiba Siglo VI Gran Reserva 34/35 Although the two Siglo VI’s share the same name, they are two completely different cigars. The ‘03 is a very strong and flavourfull cigar from end to end, while the Gran Reserva is as mellow as a cigar can be. The explosion towards the end took me by surprise, as nothing was indicating that in the first and second third. If this strength was equally divided in the whole length of the cigar and if there was a little more spiciness, the Siglo VI Gran Reserva could easily move up close to 100 points. TOTAL 2003 Cohiba Siglo VI 92/100 Cohiba Siglo VI Gran Reserva 95/100 The overall score reflects to my opinion of the winner. While the ‘03 Siglo VI is in my opinion the best from all the crops, the Siglo VI Gran Reserva is a level above. I haven’t smoked all the rest to be able to say that it is the best cuban cigar ever made, but I imagine it wouldn’t be too far away from it.
Guest rob Posted May 27, 2010 Posted May 27, 2010 wow.... that is one comprehensive review! Great work, mate. You have inspired me to try my early Sig VI's
finecigar Posted May 27, 2010 Posted May 27, 2010 Fabulous job on this review. You went Above & Beyond. I really enjoyed reading this as well as those beautiful pictures. I have never done a comparison like this- so you have inspired me!
thechenman Posted May 27, 2010 Posted May 27, 2010 Nice comparison review. Thanks for sharing it along with the pics.
MrGlass Posted May 27, 2010 Posted May 27, 2010 That was a fantastic job you've done with this review. Thank you for the effort.
Aficionado Posted May 27, 2010 Posted May 27, 2010 Interesting story. Well done.Great review. But... ~25$=92/100 ~105$=95/100 The winner its 25$ stick... No deal,but smooth end vanilla,still no deal. I lose my mind,where I buy two sticks over two hundreds buck,but,I hope when I smoke this stick I don't remember this fact.
Guest rob Posted May 27, 2010 Posted May 27, 2010 ~25$=92/100~105$=95/100 The winner its 25$ stick... There are also consistent 90 point $5 cigars... but that doesn't seem to dissuade anyone from buying Sig 6's. And nor should it.
Laxman Posted May 27, 2010 Posted May 27, 2010 Wow, that was one of the best reviews I have seen! Thank you
MontrealRon Posted May 27, 2010 Posted May 27, 2010 Absolutely brilliant review!! Many, many thanks!!!
Mr.T Posted May 27, 2010 Posted May 27, 2010 That was an awesome review, thanks! Makes me really wish I had held onto my box of early Siglo VIs.......
SandmanTR Posted May 27, 2010 Posted May 27, 2010 Great read and smoking good review. Thanks for sharing!!!
yiorgosm Posted May 28, 2010 Author Posted May 28, 2010 Thank you guys, I really enjoyed writing the review. I find it easier to review a great cigar. If the cigar is mediocre I end up with one-liners! Interesting story.Well done.Great review. But... ~25$=92/100 ~105$=95/100 The winner its 25$ stick... Have to agree with you on this. I cant see myself smoking very many Grand Reservas, but I will most definately keep revisiting the Siglo VI
PADDYWHACK121272 Posted May 28, 2010 Posted May 28, 2010 Great review, hope to finally make it to a Dublin Herf, will keep my eye on your site...
LeafLover Posted May 28, 2010 Posted May 28, 2010 Thanks for reviewing and sharing. Gran Reserva is definitely on my next-to-try list.
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