Cohiba Robusto MAS MAR 08

[Colt45]

Construction: Nice overall, solid but not heavy.

Wrapper: Colorado with a nice, even sheen of oil. Fairly silky to the touch, with minor veining.

Pre-light Aroma / Draw: fairly pungent aroma leaning toward cat box. Very nice draw with a light taste of sweet tobacco.

Draw / Burn / Smoke Volume: Great all around.

Taste: Interesting initial draws - clean tobacco core with savory spice. A coating mouthfeel, but finishing with a sense of lightness.

Sporadic raisin notes. Smooth texturally, but there is a little zing on the finish.

About an inch in, there are distinctive, but not overpowering, green notes. A purge reduces, but does not completely eliminate this component.

It continues to show a sense of richness without being heavy. Deceptively medium plus in body, and even given the green tinge, fairly well balanced.

At midpoint the core of sweet tobacco and sense of richness are the main attractions, while the ancillary flavors are still fighting it out -

the green notes having the upper hand.

The back and forth continues, but the overall green character, while not oppressive, is just enough to mask the underlying flavor. As it nears

the end, it becomes rather arid and papery.

It's a smooth cigar and shows some finesse, but it's just not there (yet?)

[laficion]

Well done Ross, very explicit.

[isa]

Thanks for the review!

A question , if u dont mind - by green do u mean vegetal/grassy?

[Colt45]

- by green do u mean vegetal/grassy?

Yes - think sour / bitter.

[NMJoe]

Colt,

Have you smoked others from the same box? If so, was this one an anomoly or were the others similar?

[Wil]

Interesting review. I have about half a box of MAS OCT 08 left. They have been mostly overfilled and a little tight on the draw. Will have to revisit them soon.

[shrink]

Thanks for the review, Ross. I haven't smoked any CoRo's younger than 2006, and I don't think that these are ready. Are more recent Cohibas smoking better young?

[Colt45]

Have you smoked others from the same box? If so, was this one an anomoly or were the others similar?

This was the third or fourth from this box. If I recall correctly the first was better, with subsequent samples not as good as the first. My thoughts are

that these are in transition, maturing, still coming together - whatever term we care to use. They seem to have the makings of good cigars, but only

time will tell how they might evolve. I'll try another in a year or so.

Are more recent Cohibas smoking better young?

be intereseted to hear what members think on this as well.

[joeypots]

Thanks for the review.

I'll sit on my '08 Coros for a few more.

I sampled a 12/07 Siglo IV Sunday. Not bad, but not ready.

A '03 Esplendido last Wednesday was fantastic although the box has been inconsistent. May be because I sampled them too soon.

I know some think one should sample cigars from the time of purchase on to be sure not to miss the sweet spot but my experience with Cohiba is that they need a minimum of five years to show potential and can improve dramatically after that. A box of '04 Siglo VI was the clincher for me . Those cigars came alive in 2010.

Why did I smoke the Sig 4 on

Sunday? Slow learner, I guess.