Cohiba Robusto (2009)

[Cigar Surgeon]

Link w/Gallery:

Easily one of the most recognized cigars and brands in the world. I obtained this Cohiba Robusto 2009, box code UNK from a fellow Canadian aficionado who I traded with to expand my collection of Cuban cigars. He asked that he remain anonymous.

Nose:

Lots of hay, barnyard, dry grass with some non-specific spices.

Construction:

The Cohiba Robusto comes in the robusto vitola, as per its namesake, measuring 4 7/8” by 50 ring gauge.

First introduced in 1989 the Cohiba Robusto remains as one of the most recognizable cigars in the world. Over the years they have gone through 3 band changes. Standard band B, C and since 2003 standard band D.

Flavor:

First Third

Sweet hay in the first few draws. The hay transitions to a sweet creamy flavor. There’s a leather after taste after each draw with a quite light strength.

Middle Third

The creamy flavors drop off and are replaced with nutty flavors of medium intensity. The hay returns here with a small level of strength. At the halfway point the cigar becomes quite earthy.

Last Third

The last third is still earthy with hay. The nutty flavors increase to medium full strength to finish.

Burn/Draw:

I used a v-cutter to put a cross cut on the cap and the draw was perfect. Good smoke production and a clean burn throughout. Total smoking time was 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Value:

I don’t have pricing on the 2009 but current release Cohiba Robustos typically go for about $21 for a single. They also come in a 3 pack cardboard box for around $50. A 25 count box is around $370. This places the Cohiba Robusto at a premium price level compared to other Cuban brands, but certainly within the expected cost of a Cohiba brand.

Final Word:

The Cohiba Robusto is a mainstay and instantly recognizable even to people who don’t consider themselves aficionados. For that reason alone you owe it to yourself to try this iconic cigar. Based on the flavor merits though, this wasn’t an excellent experience. It was enjoyable, and I would classify the flavors and complexity as good. However there are many other offerings from Cohiba that I would gravitate towards over the Robusto. In the near future I will compare a more recent Cohiba Robusto release to my 2009 experience.

If you have the opportunity, definitely try the Cohiba Robusto for yourself and let me know how your experience compares.

[Maplepie]

Welcome back to the cold, John! how was nicki?

And awesome review... really helps me procrastinate . Glad you had the opportunity for another Cuban from 09! maybe this trend will continue?

never had a V-Cut review, but the hay/grassiness is something that everyone notes with it sounding just like a Robusto! wish my thermometer is still liquid so i can even think about smoking outside. this made me drool something fierce!

[Cigar Surgeon]

  On 3/4/2014 at 3:55 PM, Maplepie said:

Welcome back to the cold, John! how was nicki?

You'd have to check me for a pulse I'm so relaxed. Pictures and trip review will be posted next week'ish. Have over 1,000 photos and 50 minutes of video to sort through.

  On 3/4/2014 at 3:55 PM, Maplepie said:

And awesome review... really helps me procrastinate . Glad you had the opportunity for another Cuban from 09! maybe this trend will continue?

Thanks, most of the rest of the cigars I have for review will be 2012 or newer.

[Rye]

Nice review John.

You really should try a 2012 CoRo while this one is still fresh in your mind. They are night and day, and I know no one that prefers the 08-11 stock. They have been fantastic in recent production, and the 13's that I got off of our Airdrie friend are smoking stellar!

Now I want to ditch work and go home and smoke!

[Cigar Surgeon]

  On 3/4/2014 at 4:52 PM, Rye said:

Nice review John.

You really should try a 2012 CoRo while this one is still fresh in your mind. They are night and day, and I know no one that prefers the 08-11 stock. They have been fantastic in recent production, and the 13's that I got off of our Airdrie friend are smoking stellar!

Now I want to ditch work and go home and smoke!

Maybe I can find someone to trade at Herf 23!

Saturday 10 degrees, Sunday 9 degrees. It's smoking time!

[Rye]

  On 3/4/2014 at 5:04 PM, Avrus said:

Maybe I can find someone to trade at Herf 23!

Saturday 10 degrees, Sunday 9 degrees. It's smoking time!

Not sure if I can make this one, but I'll see you at the Scotch show for sure!

[Maplepie]

  On 3/4/2014 at 5:04 PM, Avrus said:

Saturday 10 degrees, Sunday 9 degrees. It's smoking time!

no fair! You got more than enough in Nica!!

lucky blokes... we're still in lousy Smarch weather here

Sent from my BlackBerry Q10 using Tapatalk for Android.

[mk05]

  On 3/4/2014 at 4:52 PM, Rye said:

Nice review John.

You really should try a 2012 CoRo while this one is still fresh in your mind. They are night and day, and I know no one that prefers the 08-11 stock. They have been fantastic in recent production, and the 13's that I got off of our Airdrie friend are smoking stellar!

Now I want to ditch work and go home and smoke!

I will trade all my POU and BTO 12 Cohibas for TEB and MEL 08 CoRos, all day long.

[Cigar Surgeon]

  On 3/4/2014 at 6:38 PM, mk05 said:

I will trade all my POU and BTO 12 Cohibas for TEB and MEL 08 CoRos, all day long.

Have you had the 09s? What were your thoughts?