Cohiba Robustos Supremos Review [FOH single]


bogglor

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Cohiba Robustos Supremos Review (single stick from FOH, unknown box code)

Cohiba and I have a bit of a love/hate relationship. I am head over heels for the 1966 and the Siglo IV, but not very big on the regular production Robustos despite many attempts, and I haven't really had a great Siglo VI yet, either. I hate that they are so expensive and generally find them to be comparatively a poor value to other marcas. With that out of the way, on to the review!

Our journey begins in the friendly confines of my local B&M downtown. I purchased this stick as part of the new EL sampler posted a while back. Given the rave reviews that this cigar has drawn online, I was eager to try one as soon as possible before committing to a box. And, like always, I committed to the box before I ever smoked the stick jester.gif

A pretty little thing, albeit with a wrapper shade a touch lighter than I have seen from other photos online:

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Construction-wise, I can find no fault. Decently filled, only one semi-prominent vein running up and down the length of the stick. A gorgeous foot, below:

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Aroma at cold is rather unremarkable. I clip the cap carefully - a bit of an unexpectedly soapy and floral predraw. Uncharacteristic of Cohiba, but as many have found with ELs, the name of the marca means almost nothing. Some light baking spices in there, but barely perceptible.

Most of the detractors of this stick have held questions about the 58 ring gauge. Yes, it is larger than I am accustomed, but I don't feel that it impacted my experience in a negative way, at least mechanically. As to whether the blend would work better in a smaller ring, I can't make that determination after smoking just one.

First puffs have a bit of that soapy taste from the predraw, but no bitterness or youth. Burn line was a touch uneven at first but self-corrected nicely. Strength seems medium-full with medium body with bones of light coffee and sharp, rich tobacco. Prodigious smoke output from the thick ring, with a surprisingly tolerable retrohale of light pepper and baking chocolate.

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1/3 - The finish is a bit shorter than I would like in the first third. Thankfully, the stick opened up after about 3/4 of an inch to reveal some cinnamon/nutmeg/clove notes found in many CCs. I noted a small uptick in strength as well - the large ring definitely yields a more "relaxing" quality due to more efficient nicotine delivery, I suspect. Every odd puff, I find a touch of bitterness. Perhaps there is still some youth? I have not found the Robustos Supremos to have the classic grass/hay/lemony citric Cohiba DNA at all thus far. Par for the course. The retrohale steady improves over time, becoming more rich and full.

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2/3 - I can't shake the soapy taste, which is unfortunate. I don't know why it's there, but it is, from time to time. More intensity in the second third and finally, a finish that I am happy with. More overtly chocolate and extremely long in the coffee bean flavor mid-stick. The burn is still crazy, but self-correcting, still. Do not over-puff this stick. Slow, relaxed draws will yield the best flavor.

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3/3 - Full spice on the retro now. This stick really has improved with each third; I was not sure that it had more to go after the second third. Predominantly coffee and chocolate with spice interwoven in here. I am not sure that this is the best stick for that profile, but it isn't one I have found in many Cuban cigars. It seems more the trade of some of the better NC sticks, but I digress...

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Body is very full down near the nub. Never really got tarry at all.

I struggle to rate this cigar as highly as some others have. I think there is clearly some youth present from time to time, just not for the entirety of the cigar. Again, it is hard to draw long-lasting conclusions after just one sample. It is clear to me that something wonderful lurks inside the Cohiba Robustos Supremos, I am just not sure when or how it will emerge. I have read comparisons to the 1966; I find these to be off-base as of right now. The 1966 was much longer and fuller in the coffee/chocolate department right out of the gates than this stick is, and the 1966 (still) boasts one of the longest finishes and best retrohales I have ever had in a cigar. I think age will mellow out what youth remains in this stick certainly, but I do not think time will intensify the Robustos Supremos' core flavors to the degree that will allow it to approach Cohiba's last EL.

BOTTOM LINE: 91 points, with room to grow

This is a very good cigar. It is not a great cigar, yet. The price... well... that is an individual choice. I did purchase a box and fully intend on smoking through it at a pace of 2 / year. I do not know if the value is there to buy extra boxes and lay them down for a long time.

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