First time with the new Cohiba Medio AMO JUL 16 vs. Siglo VI SEA FEB 15

[clutch5150]

Been smoking great CC's for many years now and not really have done too many reviews so hope others won't hammer me too much. 

Cigar was obviously young (box date Jul 16) but of course had to light one up (not much humidor rest from travel mind you, but I was anxious!) Wrapper and construction is flawless!  First light was very smooth and very earthy and woody, but not harsh. Draw was a bit firm before the light, but once lit it was a lot of smoke and I did not notice the firmness, quite interesting.  No sour, ammoniac etc. but have to admit this is the most mildest Cohiba I smoked to date for the 1st half which ain't much, then Medium +. Good creaminess at the half way mark. Burn was great, along with long ash and very even burn.  Last 3rd (as I expected) got hot near the nub.  The Medio did burn fast and I was not used to removing the band so quickly...

This cigar will age VERY well, and it's ring size (52) is perfect for me in this length of cigar.  It's gonna be a great lunch time cigar for me or when I'm somewhere where time is not on my side and could be become a great everyday smoke for me. 

Hope this helps. Thanks guys.

[dangolf18]

How does the blend compare with the robusto? Is the blend similar to other Siglo?

[fabes]

Thanks for taking the time to review!

[TheMonk]

Nice review, thanks! It would be interesting if you could establish some comparison to other current smokes, specially Cohiba.

[clutch5150]

As for comparison, I will do my best, but I am not the worlds greatest reviewer explaining the flavor verbiage like some of you but here it goes. I am smoking my second Medio as I write this clearing my pallet with Schweps Soda water. I will then light up a Sigo VI after this, since the Medio will only last 20 minutes or so which a day like today, I could use a 45min smoke. Nevertheless, a splendid cigar.

I do smoke a lot of Cohiba's such as the the whole line of Behike's (52 is my favorite from that line) along with the Siglo VI (2013 and 2015)  Piramides 2016 and even have 08 Piramides that is amazing and ranks right up there with the best I've smoked and slightly out performed all of my Behike line!

The actual blending of the Medio is very interesting and different vs. the Siglo VI, Piramides and the Robusto.  This is a "light", strength Cohiba, in fact milder the first half than all the rest, but a darker wrapper.  At first light, it is dry and wheaty that goes away fast (may be the young and only 1 day in my humidor from long travel) and and turns into smooth woody, grainy flavor. After the halfway point (peeled off the label) is where the Medio becomes a medium+ cigar that brought our subtle sweet notes of raisin. I was also taking sips of soda water insuring my pallet was clean to insure I was getting the true flavors at each point in the smoke.

The last 1 inch of the Medio (I let rest for 3 minutes or so) started to get a slightly uneven burn but still consistent but the the sweet undertones like the halfway point dissipated a bit into the woody, grainy flavor again. The burn then started to correct itself as the pic below shows. The very end was much better than yesterday when I just plucked one from the cabinet as soon as the mailman dropped it off! This last 1" nub this time was minty and quite good (not as hot as yesterdays first smoke) but felt the nicotine at the end.

I cleared my pallet with more soda water this time with lemon and lime and lit up a SIGLO VI cabinet box marked and dated SEA FEB 15.

My Siglo VI is a firmer and my MAY 13 batch several of them were unsmokable which I think was reported in the past in other areas I read about from too tight a roll.  But this 2015 box was firm but a great draw, but at lite not as much smoke as the Medio.  The Siglo VI gave off it's trademark smooth and "I know this is Cuban earth soil" from the get go! This is what I feel separates Cuban cigars from ALL other Dom's and Nic's out there. Sorry to the Padron fans etc...Yes I have smoked the 50th anniversary ones, and they don't hold a candle to the Siglo VI with now the sweet, incredibly smooth creamy undertones from the 1st 3rd! What a smoke!

2nd 3rd of the Siglo VI now begins to draw more smoke and show more of a woody smooth draw with just a tad bit less sweet, but not as woody or graininess of the Medio, but still a bit stronger than the Medio at this point. The halfway point of the Siglo is about the same with no drastic changes vs. the Medio that definitely changed complexities. 

Right after the 1st half of the Siglo VI, the sweetness and cream showed up again, quite pleasant with now gobs of smoke and aroma! The last 3rd is now still medium plus with GREAT cream with the sweetness back, but I do feel the Medio was a bit fuller at this point and less harsh at the nub Surprising here.

In closing, while I know both cigars are still young, the Medio really had a VERY unique blend that is quite special that with some aging will be magnificent! I cannot wait to compare my notes in another year. I cannot say enough how unique this blend was. While still a Cohiba, I feel the grainy and wheaty flavors stand apart from the rest of Cohiba line. The Siglo VI, well is a Siglo VI, rich, creamy with that unmistakable Cuban soil that no one can reproduce.

**Side note** I will be in Cuba, now less than a week away and I cannot wait to understand how each farm produces such a rich blend and how these amazing tobacco growers and sorting facilitates know what tobacco leaves go into making each specific cigar?  A question I cannot ever find an answer to.

[alloy]

If you are going to the different farms, would you smoke a farm roll from each and report back please? I would find that very interesting. Thanks!

[miurajus]

Thanks for the review and insight!  Interesting findings indeed!

[Mattb82]

Nice review