Revisiting Cuaba

[El Presidente]

Revisiting Cuaba by Punch Joe

Let me start by saying that I´m not a particular aficionado to Cuaba regardless the size. Not even the Salomones would make me any happier than a Partagás Short. That´s the kind of sensation when my hungry palate would say yes to a cigar but my mind tells me I am not going to love it. I remember this was a gift from a roller friend at Romeo and Julieta cigar factory who´s got a well gained reputation rolling this format. Originally they were rolled without using molds but nowadays is not a common practice anymore.

The size is not one of my faves but I must admit that the shape is truly amazing though and the skills needed for rolling those beauties should be the top of the grade. I always wondered how the rollers can actually make them look so perfect and tempting.

Anyway…It was about time to explore a lone cigar, kept at the bottom of the humi for some time so I felt that I may give it a chance today. Let´s see if I can bury the hatchet in a long time difficult relationship with the brand. Putting aside all the past, I resolved to have a fresh approach.

First I was pleased by the lovely aroma unleashed before lighting it. This habano seems to be blooming from the inside. Not a bad idea let him rest beside the other smokes and repeatedly choosing a Parejo to smoke.

I often perform a slight cut with the scissors at the foot before lighting this size aimed at ensuring a wider safe zone for the flame trying not to burn the wrapper in the operation. Can´t afford being sloppy with Doble Figurados. It requires all your skills to ensure a proper lightning regarding this size. I dislike seeing people burning the wrapper as they lit the cigar, thus guaranteeing themselves a whole different taste.

A dense blue smoke filled the room with the first puff and I put all my senses in the alert mood to focus on how it will develop. Due to the shape, all flavors tend to concentrate in the tip, so one might like to perform a wider cut to avoid this. Here´s the tasting notes on the cigar.

Cuaba Generosos

Traditionally rolled at Roomeo and Julieta. Mother Factory of the Brand.

· Dimensions: 42 x 132 mm in the length

· Cutting: 4 mm from the tip using Xikar Scissors

· Construction: Flawless, no bumps, no veins. Even wrapper shade.

· Draw: Proper

· Aroma: Deep, intoxicating.

· Strenght: Medium to Full.

· Flavour: A pleasant smoke with leather hints at the beginning and spicy tones in the second third while slowly evolving with mellow and wooden notes. A little ruthless at the end but you can´t blow someone out of the sky for being a little fierce sometimes.

· Combustion: Pretty good.

· Ash: Light Gray, almost white. Very Compact.

· General Overview: All in all, it was a good smoke, well balanced with persistence of the tobacco flavour in mouth with a delicate aftertaste.

I must say I took it to the limit until I got enough of the Generosos meaning that the impact on my throat was bloody heavy so it was just the right time to say good bye.

[Ken Gargett]

nice stuff, jose. must say tho, it has not convinced me to revisit cuaba.

not one of habanos's finest moments.

[Bahnofstrasse]

Most Cuabas I have tried are very one dimensional and downright bland...

The ONLY marca in this brand that I have enjoyed is the Salamone.

I bought a box of 10 a few years ago and have enjoyed the 2 that I have had out of this box.

I will revisit another this Summer and see how they are doing.

[mazolaman]

I rather like the flavours of this brand.

If choosing though,it would be either the divinos,distinguidos,or the salamones,and maybe the exclusivo.

I sometimes think people just take an automatic dislike to these,without giving them a fair try...

[El Presidente]

I rather like the flavours of this brand.

If choosing though,it would be either the divinos,distinguidos,or the salamones,and maybe the exclusivo.

I sometimes think people just take an automatic dislike to these,without giving them a fair try...

I also like the flavours. Particularly the Divinos and the Distinguidos.

The only reason we don't see more of them in PE/HQ/PSP is that I can't find them at that quality. Often I am appalled at what I see. Box after box of Divinos which are so hard to the touch that they would take an eye out if I threw one hard enough. Plugged or underfilled larger formats with a personal bugbear of huge soft spots along their length.

Cuaba has construction issues they need to sort out. The blening is predominantly fine for Divinos/Distinguidos/Salomones although the Tradicional/Exclusivo does little for me.

Get the construction right and they would have a hell of alot more fans.

Just my 2c.

[mazolaman]

Agree regarding the constuction.

There was a period when divinos were as you describe,and you were throwing alot away.

I think their construction has improved though,but with further room for improvement.

I think some of the distinguidos will reach the level you require,as these seem to be their priority.

[El Presidente]

I think some of the distinguidos will reach the level you require,as these seem to be their priority.

You nailed it. The only in the line which I can find some consistent HQ stock.