Cohiba Consensus?

[cohibafix]

In general I have enjoyed the BHK 52s. One or two I've smoked have been a little inconsistent, though. I have a box of BHK 56s but haven't tried one yet but having read all the posts I'll try one tomorrow. (Seems a good excuse to me...)

I thoroughly enjoyed the 1966 - one I'll keep for special occasions, I think. Haven't tried a PE.

I also like the Maduro 5 line, particularly the Genios. I've been smoking these quite a lot lately. I let them sit for a while (8 or 9 months) and found they took on a fuller, more complex flavour. I think the Secretos packs a good punch for its size - handy when time is short.

[tmac77]

Cohiba Behike Line (52/54/56)

Have tried all three and the 54 is, for me, far and away the best of the bunch.

Cohiba 1966 Limited Edicion

A great cigar, even young, that outshines the BHK line.

Cohiba Piramide Extra

TBD

As for the Maduro Line, I guess I have been fortunate in that every one that I have smoked of the Magicos and Genios have been great. Secretos not so good which is a shame as I like the size.

I know that the question posed was supposed to illicit responses irrespective of pricing but the price point that these cigars come in at are just plain silly. So objectively I just find there is a lack of value when compared to other less expensive Marcas or even less expensive vitolas within cohiba's line up.

[jacktarnold]

The BHK52 I had was outstanding. I have the BHK 54 and 1966 waiting in the humidor. Been too busy to smoke anything of size lately. Haven't had a chance to try a PE but probably pick up a few singles. I'm usually willing to give any cigar a couple chances.

Really enjoy the Siglo II and Robusto. To me the construction has been spot on. I think in the last box I've had of each only had 1-2 which had burn or draw issues but not to the point of having to ditch them just required more attention.

To me ignoring price, Cohiba seems to be very good choice in consistency and enjoyability at least in the ones I've had.

[bassman]

I'm quite happy with the Corona Especiales. No need to spend even more for a fat cigar.

[CaptainQuintero]

This thread sums up the FoH community:

Rob- Don't mention price.

*Everyone mentions price*

I love this place :perfect10:

[ramon_cojones]

This thread sums up the FoH community:

Rob- Don't mention price.

*Everyone mentions price*

I love this place :perfect10:

LOL, if they were psd4 prices I still wouldn't buy them. Price is not a consideration but makes it even more astounding.

I'm quite happy with the Corona Especiales. No need to spend even more for a fat cigar.

This right here. The problem is (and i apologize for digressing prez) is that people seem to just want the latest and newest thing coming out so it doesn't matter if something is great now it will always be overshadowed in the future. It's always a matter of what's next it seems.

[seanbeer]

I don't care what they introduce and at what price.

I only care the following 4:

Corona Especiales

Lanceros

Siglo I

Siglo IV

[Diamondog]

'10 BHK's smoking phenominal in all sizes for me although pref being with the 54...

Sig VI is my trusted go to Cohiba and they rarely disappoint, have been smoking some 2005's that were amazing...very much enjoying more recent production on these as well...

Maduro 5 Genios is in the same catergory as the Sig VI for me...

1966's, I have had a few duds...I chalk it up to young...I have smoked far more excellent 66's than not...

Out of all the EL's I would have to say the 2006 is the weakest although I do still quite enjoy them...

Very excited to try the Pyramide Extra...

I guess you're either a Cohiba fan or not, I am definately a staunch supporter!

[mbrody]

You know, I totally missed the price topic, so I should comment more on my experience, which has simply been that they have been inconsistent for me.

52 had some great ones, had some meh ones.

54 same as 52.

no 56

1966 - tried two. One was a dud, the other decent, but the flavor was not doing it for me.

No pe.

Overall, I'd stick with BHK and enjoy the profile more than the 66.

[Ophidion]

I only like the BHK 54 out of all the options given. I stick to the lanceros and sig IV and II myself.

[davidsan]

I've had maybe 3 of the BHK 52's and 2 of the BHK54's . I prefer the BHK54's over the BHK52 but overall I wouldn't buy either of them again. The flavor didn't really grab me and I didn't feel like burning it to the finger tips like a Siglo VI or Robusto.

[Pilsner14]

It is like everything else coming out of Cuba.....complete crapshoot. Spent a week in Cuba smoking like a champion. BHK, as well as many of the Cohiba lineage amongst some of the other best Cuban cigars out there. Best cigar of the trip was a Monte Edmunto......absolutely brilliant, blissful, and almost without description. WTF!!!!!! And how does one spend the extra dough to purchase these higher end Cubans. I struggle against the hype but it is tough......as is seen with the rest of the members. I own various Cohiba in the humi but these more expensive Cohibe's are hard to justiy.

JD

[Rushman]

I've not smoked any of the BHK line or the 66's. Simply too expensive in this part of Mexico.

I enjoy the occasional CoRo or sig 2/4 but not more than that.

If price was no issue of course I would try the BHK and others, but it isn't.

There are many cigars I would buy over most cohibas I've smoked.

I'd like to be proven otherwise someday but not yet.

---

I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=20.631714,-87.070634

[Pilgrims]

had a couple of 52's and was impressed then a 1966 the other day that whilst a little wet was brilliant, I am not a big Cohiba person generally but wanted to makes sure I had tried these and I was impressed.

[Jnaube]

I'm an absolute fan of the 1966. These cigars are up there with the best I ever smoked. Rich and decadent is totally bang on as Prez said. Whatever the price is, I'm glad I paid for it. I now have around 30 in my humi and I'm glad to have them. Can't imagine how they will taste in ten or fifteen years.

For the BHK's, I've tried the 52's and 54's and they are stunning cigars. Altough I personnaly thing that if they would pack em in cheaper boxes, the price would be a bit more affordable, I personnaly think that they are must smoke for any afficionado.

[Diamondog]

I will add, the 2010 BHK's are far superior to anything coming out after...Glad I have 1 or 2 left...

[mk05]

I will add, the 2010 BHK's are far superior to anything coming out after...Glad I have boxes and boxes of 'em

I will add, the 2010 BHK's are far superior to anything coming out after...Glad I have 1 or 2 left...

Boxes and boxes

or

box or boxes

[ramon_cojones]

Exactly, they'll probably get worse with time like most ELs.

[anacostiakat]

Out of the BHK 52 & 54 the 54 has been the winner. Even though the ring gauge is above my norm.

Have not tried any of the others.

See, I didnt mention price!

[isa]

Have tried the BHK 52 - very nice smoke - love it.

Just had one 1966 - too big for me , so no comments there

[Charltonc]

I will stick with aged CORO, minimum of five years. I think you are cheating yourself without aging most of Cohiba. I did like the Behike 54 the best fresh, I am curious how these will be in five years. I didn't like the 52, but could turn into a great smoke.

[PigFish]

I have only smoked a couple of the BigHillbilly's. I think they are crap! When one gets more satisfaction and taste from an Exquisitos... my belief is that anyone who knows what a good cigar tastes like knows that these are a waste of cigar resources. (MHO)

My friend I once again take exception with the limitation of the topic to ignore comments regarding the price of the cigar. You cannot separate the performance as it relates to the value and value is a factor for many of us. You may ignore the value question as a consumer... you sell them and therefore buy them at wholesale for consumption. As a connoisseur we can share tasting notes but we are not equal on the consumption level. This is not meant to alienate you of course, but the distinction has to be recognized. Simply stating cost is relative as factor of dismissal is an antithetical statement. It is relative. It is related to the topic!

If you bought them from abroad, one box at a time, at a high cost, dependent on the eyes and senses of another to choose them, perhaps you would understand that we as consumers cannot simply dismiss a cost of a cigar as not relative!

The only thing that makes a cigar like the BigHillbilly different is that one is supposed to believe that they are different. By paying more you are to "hope" for difference! Unfortunately, expectation and delivery are two different things. And price is not a reliable determiner of the taste performance of a cigar.

If you really believe that price has no factor in the discussion, tell that to your friends at H SA. If the argument is good enough for us, that we should dismiss the cost as we only talk about the taste, then please ask them to concentrate on the taste as well and stop trying to convince us that the taste and the price are linked!!! The taste price link has been brought into the equation by the folks at Tabacuba, not by me and the forum. This price thing is not my conceiving. According to my assessment of the Tabacuba model it is the only thing. You can't ask me to ignore it when it is "the" major point of a cigar like the BigHillbilly! The BigHillbilly and these others are designed around the model of linking price to taste. Please tell them it is not relative!

Cheers. -Ray

[Orion21]

Every BHK 52 I have smoked was absolutely worth the exorbitant premium I paid. It is obviously not an everyday cigar for 99% of the people out there, so that being said the "regular" production Cohiba have not impressed me enough to motivate me to pay a premium for them. I hear all of the time "but 3 years, 5 years etc. will do wonders" for a Cohiba Siglo, CoRo or whatever it is. However, I'm pretty sure 3-5 years will do wonders for most well blended and rolled Cuban cigars. So it does come back to price for me. Would I rather have two boxes of something else or one box of CoRo? At this point in my life I would much rather have two boxes of Royal Corona's than one box of CoRo.

[mk05]

At this point in my life I would much rather have two boxes of Royal Corona's than one box of CoRo.

Good for you. I call Cohiba the ultimate tourist's cigar. Fidel hit a home run with the marketing of it. I mean, imagine if Vegueros was the original diplomatic!

Ray - I will point a couple things out re your mantra. And no offense meant, as my friends share your sentiments.

First, cigars taste different and have their own charms. You allege that current production is better for you. OK, I'm fine with that. That satisfies the "taste" argument. I won't delve further into the rumors of Limited's programs since I have not been able to find conclusive evidence, but I can attest to the fact that these "overpriced" cigars taste very differently to regular release - at least to me - and sometimes, I like them more than the current production offering even enough to warrant a purchase. As for BHK, they are empirically different cigars from most Cohibas and all others outside the limited program, because of the MT blend. You can literally taste the difference. You would be lying to yourself and others if you said otherwise.

Secondly, I understand that you have a great aged collection, so I will assume at this point that you draw your conclusions from those experiences. I will make a point that vintage was made from different tobacco and blend, making the cigars richer, taste and age differently than current production (until we are proven otherwise in a decade or so).

Of course, you may get more of an enjoyment out of smoking Exquisitos over Behike's. I am just fine driving a Toyota, but I like Ferrari too. I don't think it's fair to imply that people are making a mistake for buying into the Limited's program.

[ramon_cojones]

I don't think coros are 2x the price of brc but I'd still take coros over pretty much any current production bolis.

Anyway, Ray's point is that there is no correlation between taste and price. You can have any cigar that tastes different with xyz leaf and market the piss out of, put a fancy band, presentation, etc and people would buy it. Flavor doesn't cost money, this is why I'm so content with rass which is one of the best cigars on the market and they are cheap.