sg1234 Posted February 11, 2011 Posted February 11, 2011 Ken has called the Cuaba Salomon a "venomous toxic dog ****." I have seen the marca cursed more than praised. In reading various forums, it seems to me there is not a lot of love for Cuaba. My girlfriend loved the Generosos she had at an LCDH so much that I picked up an '07 PE box for her. We have shared a couple and they are pretty decent. I wasn't blown away by the few I've had, but I haven't been disappointed either. What are your thoughts on Cuaba? Which have you tried?
Puros Y Vino Posted February 11, 2011 Posted February 11, 2011 I've had the Exclusivos and enjoyed them very much. I found the profile to be sweet. I have a Distinguido and two Diademas in the humi waiting for me. Hopefully they're good.
perfectform Posted February 11, 2011 Posted February 11, 2011 I have only had two (1 divinos and 1 EL) Both not very good. I wouldn't pass up a gifted one but won't go out of my way to buy; with the way funds are these days, especially.
Lotusguy Posted February 11, 2011 Posted February 11, 2011 I voted yes but I have to add that I have only had Diademas and I liked those. Not the most complex but pretty tasty. Never tried any other Cuabas. I went through two boxes with one left.
Rogers72 Posted February 11, 2011 Posted February 11, 2011 Sadly, the negative press that they get has never inspired me to even try a single. There's just too much stuff out there that I know is good to spend my money on.
dB69 Posted February 11, 2011 Posted February 11, 2011 I've smoked a couple of Tradicionales and they were good medium strength smokes. However, at the moment I think that I'm not going to buy them because there are better cigars available.
josie67 Posted February 11, 2011 Posted February 11, 2011 BORING, and I have tried them all. If I were gifted one of these, I would probably turn around and re gift it to someone else lol
tigger Posted February 11, 2011 Posted February 11, 2011 I like 'em enough to smoke a few per year as a change of pace.
Ken Gargett Posted February 11, 2011 Posted February 11, 2011 Ken has called the Cuaba Salomon a "venomous toxic dog ****." I have seen the marca cursed more than praised. In reading various forums, it seems to me there is not a lot of love for Cuaba.My girlfriend loved the Generosos she had at an LCDH so much that I picked up an '07 PE box for her. We have shared a couple and they are pretty decent. I wasn't blown away by the few I've had, but I haven't been disappointed either. What are your thoughts on Cuaba? Which have you tried? i'm looking at the results and can only assume that this is bush and florida all over again (just joking of course). but seriously, i looked for the category 'toxic dog ****' but had to settle for a wishy washy 'no', only. that said, i've enjoyed the LE's, sorry piggy, though they are hardly representative; and elie kindly gave me a salamones that wasn't bad.
pocket9s Posted February 11, 2011 Posted February 11, 2011 These are hit and miss I think. When I first discovered the marca I had 3 plugged Tradicionales. It really turned me off to the marca until last year, I was gifted a Divinos from '06. It was so dam tasty that I bought a box of them. But my first one out of the box (from '09) wasn't anything like the one from '06 so these are probably best when aged for a decent amount of time. Don't give up on these, that one that was really good was reallllly good.
aes8 Posted February 11, 2011 Posted February 11, 2011 I only tried the Salomones but I did like them. I was actually thinking about laying down a box. I love the size/shape.
mazolaman Posted February 11, 2011 Posted February 11, 2011 In my experience,I've had some great Cuaba,but the variation in quality,and flavour is a let down. I have had Divinos,one of which was probably the finest cigar I've smoked,really rich and nutty,salamones which was an excellent long smoke,really satisfying and well made,and exclusivos which again were a rich nutty smoke. These are the three to try from Cuaba,IMO. The variation in quality has been terrible in the divinos.The first couple of boxes (04,05)were excellent.From then till recently they were plugged,too tight or just crap.I have had a couple of recent boxes (09) that have been getting better,but have just recieved a new box from 09,where the construction issues are solved,but the leaf quality and flavour is not a patch on the past. Is this just a reflection on the problems that R+J have faced in recent times? There is always an element of personal choice.
sg1234 Posted February 12, 2011 Author Posted February 12, 2011 I've also tried the 08 EL and enjoyed it. Had it not been a gift, I may not have liked it as much, but it was different in a good way. I have a Salomon in the humidor when I have 3 hours free for a smoke. Seems like the groups is fairly evenly split for/against Cuaba. Thanks for the input so far.
#2 man Posted February 12, 2011 Posted February 12, 2011 The only ones I've had were the EL 08 pyramids 3 boxes and wasn't impressed
cigaraholic Posted February 12, 2011 Posted February 12, 2011 I love the brand and smoke them all from the Divinos to the Diademas. Makes me very happy to know they send all their **** cigars to the Southern Hemisphere.
dicko Posted February 12, 2011 Posted February 12, 2011 only had the LE 08, enjoyed that (even though it had a beetle, serious) but havent had regular production. not really interested to try them atm but wouldnt say never
MontrealRon Posted February 12, 2011 Posted February 12, 2011 I am currently enjoying boxes of 2001 Exclusivos and '04 Generosos. In both cases, construction has been first class. They have been slow to develop, though both are smoking beautifully now. Truly old-school cigars, both in shape, and in their blends, which, for me, are typically R&J. Rich, medium-full bodied, yet subtle. My '05 (or are they '06?) Salomones, though, still need time. The LEs, though, I'm not so sure about. Only tried one,so far; not terribly impressed. Time will tell...
CanuckSARTech Posted February 12, 2011 Posted February 12, 2011 I voted yes, but I'm a bit unsure with my selection of that honestly. I've had a number of the Cuaba Piramides EL 2008, and I like them quite a bit. But, for me, what I most like about them is that....they're nothing like a standard Cuaba! The blend with those is just so much more earthy and chocolately, and it's a straight piramide (a format I like a fair bit in the larger ring gauge options). But, I've had a few of the regular Cuabas, and they've been a bit underwhelming for me before: - Cuaba Divinos, Jul 2007 "OAO" box, scored an average of 86: hard going draw, opened up 1/3 way in, but just overwhelming wood, some nuts and spice.- Cuaba Exclusivos, Aug 2007 "AOE" box, single scored a 90: better on the draw from being a bit bigger cigar, medium strength, roasted nuts and rich tobacco flavour.- Cuaba Exclusivos, Aug 2007 "EMA" box, single scored an 89: okay, decent draw, same flavour. So, a bit blasse for me. Now, I've had as low as an 86 with the Piramides EL (a complete off-the-map shocker), but most of those have been 91-94, and lovely, with complex profiles. For me, I'm still a bit wishy-washy on Cuaba. I've seen tasting notes before on Cuaba that state, "...richly flavourful with notes of honey, caramel, and chocolate." I've experienced none of that, aside from hits of chocolate and burnt caramel/molasses in the Piramide EL's. I like what Montreal Ron stated above, that there's almost a simplified essence of Romeo y Julieta to the Cuaba line. I'd agree with that, aside from the fact that Cuaba is missing one of the (only?) intesting aspects of the R&J stuff, in that I notice nothing of a "stewed cherries" (unsweetened cherry pie filling) taste in Cuaba, as that's one of the strong flavours present in R&J's for me. That said, I do agree in that Cuaba is similar to R&J with it's light/medium profile, toasted tobacco, light bready-notes, simplified and uncluttered style. On my long-term "wish list" for future purchases, I have it noted down to buy a box of either the Exclusivos or the Tradicionales, with the Exclusivos being the preference more. They're the ones that I got the best results from, and there's one HUGE advantage to the Cuaba line.... I think, with their shapes and formats, that they're a throwback to the old-style cigars of a century ago. Something about the styling of these cigars just makes them such an excellent presentation cigar to friends and family for gifts or social events. Yes, we still want them to smoke good. But if it's something that you give a buddy to try at a party, you don't really mind if they throw it out less than halfway through. Just the shape of them make them a conversation piece, and that's part of what cigars are all about, IMO.
mazolaman Posted February 13, 2011 Posted February 13, 2011 Uploaded with ImageShack.us Got this box of Divinos recently. Construction issues seem to be solved, so far,with no plugs and no bullet hard cigars. good wrappers. Important to note is this is from Oct 09. So far these are pretty tasteless,lacking the full flavours that I know and love from divinos.Earth and nuts are not present. The best divinos have a real power,with really strong flavours. I think this is due to the box being the tale end of the poor Habanos,IMO,All Habanos went through a bad patch in 09. I would buy these again,but I would really want to try a box from 10,which I am sure will be better,having had exclusivos from 10 which were good(see review). Cuabas up and down are tied to romeo and Juliettas,and Habanos up and down.
El Presidente Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 I have had some sublime Cuaba. At their best they are a treat. Unfortunately they are difficult to roll, suffer from a lack of love at conception, and in the main are ordinary. I wish I caould say otherwise. I know that the Cuaba I choose for clients on request are exemplary but often it is a few months wait to get the right box. It shouldn't be so.
Kangaroo495 Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 Distinguidos and Divinos normally hit the spot for me. 60% great; 40% ordinary.
ramon_cojones Posted June 17, 2011 Posted June 17, 2011 I will not smoke any cuaba gifted to me unless I am having trouble sleeping.
Professor Twain Posted June 18, 2011 Posted June 18, 2011 I have smoked about a dozen. I like the look of them, I like the idea of them, but the ones I have smoked are way too mild for my taste. But I never had any that were truly bad or offensive.
CaptainQuintero Posted June 18, 2011 Posted June 18, 2011 From the few I have had, some of the smaller vitola (Divinos) had a lot more flavour but the bigger I got the worse the construction issues I got. Mostly being so underfilled I was surprised they had not just fallen apart during transit. Like someone said before I would love them to be consistant the shapes are cool looking and when you do get the flavours they are really nice. Maybe it's something we will see improve if the trend of overall improved quality continues. If not then it would be nice to see the shape in other marka for the RE/LE or even regular production. An ERDM or partagas in the 'cuaba' shapes would be cool.
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