maverickdrinker Posted October 8, 2012 Posted October 8, 2012 This is the second in a series of 5 Cohiba Reservas that I hope to smoke in the next few days. I wanted to smoke through the 5 vitolas available in the 2003 Cohiba Seleccion Reserva box to see which one I liked the best. The first one I smoked, the 2003 Cohiba Reserva Coronas Especiales set a very high benchmark. Flavour and power all combined into one little stick. Let's see how the 2003 Cohiba Reserva Robusto stacks up. The 2003 Cohiba Reserva Robusto is the standard robusto vitola ring gauge and length. 50 ring gauge by 4.9 inches in length. The colour of the wrapper is gorgeous. A nice latte brown that looks a little matte. Just beautiful to behold. No apparent veins. The construction is excellent. Luckily, this one didn't drop during its photo shoot. There is a nice weight and density to this cigar. Squeeze test shows no spots spots and has just that slight 'give' when squeezed. The foot is packed with aged cuban tobacco goodness. The filler tobacco used to roll the Cohiba Reserva cigars were aged for at least 3 years. Combine this with almost 10 years of sleep, this should be good. The aroma of the wrapper reminds me of a nice Spring Sunday morning. Coffee, cream, a hint of hazelnut and vanilla bean. Like passing a great coffee shop on your way to have Sunday brunch with your family. Delicious. The triple cap is expertly applied. No worries here. The punch will like this one.... Cold draw is nice. Initial flavours are cream, vanilla bean, cocoa, and a slight grassiness. We are ready to go. Time to take this to the flame...
maverickdrinker Posted October 8, 2012 Author Posted October 8, 2012 First Third The 'twang' is strong in this one as well. Nice amount of strength in this as well. Medium bodied right now. What a nice start. The initial flavours are grassiness, cream, vanilla bean an cocoa. Very nice flavour combo. That signature Cohiba amalgamation of flavour. Sooo nice. The ash is a 'Dirty' grey. Nice and packed. The burn is a little wonky but should correct itself. Lots of smoke from this robusto as well. Nice aromatics from the smoke as well. Clean tobacco mixed with roasted nuts. The after finish is a little short. A nice combination of cream, grassiness as well as a hint of cedar. Would like to see this lengthen out as I smoke it. The ash has turned more whiter as I smoke it. The flavours are more subtle in this Robusto compared to the Corona Especiales. Interesting.... Second Third The ash is holding on strong. It's like it doesn't want to let go. The flavours stay in true to the form. Vanilla bean, grassiness, coffee and cocoa all play in the sandbox nicely. The strength is still a solid medium bodied profile. I find this Robusto's flavours more delicate and refined compared to the Coronas Especiales. The strength is not as forward. Burn line is much better now. Nice and easy pace. Relatively straight. The after finish continues to be something to be desired. The flavours are there however, they could spend a bit more time dancing on my palate. Like finally slow dancing with a girl that you liked in high school to find out that the song is only 2 minutes long... The ash finally breaks off as we enter the final third.... Final Third Steady as she goes. The flavours continue to be consistent but the range of nuances is minimal. No real change up between the grassiness, vanilla bean, cocoa, cream and coffee notes. Like hearing a trumpet player hitting a single note for a long time.... The strength is consistent as well. No change. The after finish continues to be a little short too. Final Impressions This is a good, consistent, straight forward and solid cigar. The flavours are there however, the interplay between the flavours was lacking. I would have liked to have seen a little more strength, in terms of the flavours and the after finish seeing that the tobacco used for the filler was 3 years old before it was rolled. So far, the Coronas Especiales is ahead as I found the flavours more richer and deeper than the Robusto. Will see what the 3 remaining cigars may hold...
cigarsnlife Posted October 8, 2012 Posted October 8, 2012 Im drooling all over a computer here!!! I have wanted a reserve selection box but have never been lucky enough to find one! I hope you enjoy them all mate
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