Cohiba! I don't get it...

[JoeyBones777]

So, last night I, regrettably, had to fire up a Cohiba siglo VI from ABR 13 I was saving to smoke with my middle son on his 18th birthday. My youngest son got in my humidor and caused a decent crack in its wrapper plus it was starting to get some light mold. I decided to smoke it before becoming unsmokeable.

Cohiba's are out of my price range so I was looking forward to what I was about to experience. The performance of the cigar was near flawless given its condition, draw and burn was great. The flavor was surprisingly just ok maybe even good but not great or amazing. Some notes of hay and honey hints of cream. I just don't get the hype, I guess.

I've smoked a few CORO, a bhk 52 and now a siglo VI. I would much rather smoke a 5 year old Monte 2 over the siglo VI. I would rather smoke RASS over CoRo, Montecristo, H. Upmann, Partagas, Punch, Bolivar, HDM and JL's over Cohibas.

Anyone else feel the same way? Have I just not had good examples? I was planning on trying to replace the siglo VI with another Cohiba with the same date(son's birthmonth) and a few with my youngest's birthmonth but I'm not so sure now.

[Baccy]

I've also had some that were kind of "blah" but I've also had plenty that were amazing, mainly the smaller RG vitolas. I've always enjoyed the Robusto as well. A while back I tried one of my el laguito Siglo VIs and I got that "blah" impression as it was just very bland. I guess it just needs more time?

[Tommy_Tao]

I would definitely smoke more Cohiba if my budget was increased, but not smoke them daily. Generally speaking I admit Cohiba has a unique bean flavor (as Hupmann, Hoyo, Monte all have their uniqueness) and it’s pleasing.

 

Is it the only best? No, IMO.

[prodigy]

Cohiba when they are good are better than most anything else. I think you just had a very small sample pool, and didn't have any great ones in there. I've had esplendidos that were euphoric, as well as siglo 1,2,4,6, and coro. They are pricey, so buying boxes to find out you have less than stellar examples is a big gamble. Buy PSP only and you'll likely be rewarded.

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[Islandboy]

My first cc was an outstanding CoRo....been chasing that experience ever since with mixed results. I definitely think Cohiba is one of the least consistent marcas in terms of flavor, with most falling short of my expectations. But every so often I get one that blows me away....and keeps me coming back. I’m finding the flavors of the Linea Clasica line hit the mark more often for me than the Siglos do. 

[TBird55]

For me Cohibas really need at least 3 years down, 5 years plus are right in my wheelhouse. The first CC I every had was a Lancero, absolutely  spectacular.

[prodigy]

For me Cohibas really need at least 3 years down, 5 years plus are right in my wheelhouse. The first CC I every had was a Lancero, absolutely  spectacular.

I've only had 2 landceros and both were plugged. One so bad it was unsmokeable, the other opened up around halfway. Hopefully I can snag a good one in a box pass or something, I need to experience the greatness that so many proclaim!

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[TBird55]

4 minutes ago, prodigy said:

I've only had 2 landceros and both were plugged. One so bad it was unsmokeable, the other opened up around halfway. Hopefully I can snag a good one in a box pass or something, I need to experience the greatness that so many proclaim!

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I've been lucky with the plugged issue, rarely have one. The perfect draw usually corrects the ones i do have. Lower humidity is a must, with Lanceros.

[prodigy]

I've been lucky with the plugged issue, rarely have one. The perfect draw usually corrects the ones i do have. Lower humidity is a must, with Lanceros.

Both were stored at 60% for 90 days. Perfect draw was used on both. Didn't help, the plug was past the halfway point of the head of the cigar. I'm sure I'll have a good one some day.

 

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[LLC]

Most of the Cohiba’s I smoke are older and much more often than not they are great. That’s true of lots of other older cigars as well but I do enjoy the Cohiba’s a lot. 

[cigaraholic]

“Plus it was starting to get some light mold”???

[El Presidente]

4 hours ago, JoeyBones777 said:

 

I've smoked a few CORO, a bhk 52 and now a siglo VI. I would much rather smoke a 5 year old Monte 2 over the siglo VI. I would rather smoke RASS over CoRo, Montecristo, H. Upmann, Partagas, Punch, Bolivar, HDM and JL's over Cohibas.

 

Some people detest Bolivar. 

Some hate Partagas

Hoyo are flavourless to many. 

 

Much of this depends on how your palate physiology is wired. Everyone is unique. You may never "get" Cohiba and there is nothing wrong with that. 

[JoeyBones777]

2 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

Some people detest Bolivar. 

Some hate Partagas

Hoyo are flavourless to many. 

 

Much of this depends on how your palate physiology is wired. Everyone is unique. You may never "get" Cohiba and there is nothing wrong with that. 

Yeah, I understand that aspect. Honestly, given the price point, I secretly hope I don't ever get it.? The described flavor profile sounds like it should be right up my alley which is why I think maybe I haven't had a quality Cohiba. As soon as I have a little extra cash I may pick a quarter box of some psp/hq Cohiba for 1 last go.

[LGC]

Urine colored beer, amber ales, big butts, little butts, blonde hair, brown hair, gold, white gold... and don’t forget Cuba has poor consistency, REGARDLESS OF PRICE, PACKAGING, and BRAND...

[JoeyBones777]

31 minutes ago, cigaraholic said:

“Plus it was starting to get some light mold”???

Yeah, little splotches of mold were popping up on it. Not a lot but I didn't want it to make it's way in the cracked wrapper.

[ShortFatHokie]

2 minutes ago, JoeyBones777 said:

Yeah, little splotches of mold were popping up on it. Not a lot but I didn't want it to make it's way in the cracked wrapper.

Too wet, maybe???

[BG1165]

Condolences to your experience. I’ve never had a bad Cohiba. My 2012 VI’s were something amazing. I have one left that I want to frame. I have some young IV’s and CoRo that are pretty good now at only a year and a half old. I would cringe if I let them mold. 

[JoeyBones777]

11 minutes ago, ShortFatHokie said:

Too wet, maybe???

Maybe at one point. However,  I keep a pretty close eye on my humidor and it holds between 63% and 66%. Straight out of the humidor it burned near flawlessly with only 1 minor touch up and I'm not a fast smoker. I stored them in a old cardboard monte 2 3 pack at one point which is what I think lead to the mold issue.

[Moogypug]

This has been discussed at length by those with more experience than me but I’ll provide my humble take on Cohibas. 

I love cohibas, but no more than other marcas. 

I find that it’s almost unsmokable when young and must be aged at least a year. Even then, it’s hit or miss. I’m just going through my 5 year cohibas and it’s smoking well to very well but majority still can use 2-3 years. 

I find that it has to be down 5 years at least to start pulling the great flavors with good burn.

Cohibas and some marcas taste similar across brands when young but as they age, they start to diverge in flavor profiles.

I enjoy final third sweetness in the aged Cohiba boxes that I can’t seem to pull out of other brands. 

Cohibas are not superior, it’s just different and I enjoy RASS, PSD4, Epi2, monty 2 equally. 

 

Cheers. 

[earthson]

Oh, what a relief for my wife when my journey through cigars deposited me on the doorsteps of some excellent cigars that can be had for 5 to 10 dollars. Cohiba is a nice change of pace, but even in times of silly income earnings, I still prefer to see the Upmann, Por Larranaga and Ramon Allones marca when I receive a new package!

[Philc2001]

7 hours ago, JoeyBones777 said:

Anyone else feel the same way? 

I absolutely agree. The only Cohiba that has made my taste buds sing has been the Esplendido, but siglos and coros and the others rate from blah to smoking hay. Most of the siglos make my mouth feel dry for some reason, awful. 

[BeerPimp]

I have only had one Cohiba CC and it was really good.   I have a couple Siglo III's on their way.   One of the best NC cigars I ever had was a Cohiba Robusto Red Dot.  It was definitely a full bodied cigar but it had so many amazing flavors.

[Stump89]

I dont have the budget to smoke Cohibas regularly, and I generally don't find the value there.  But I LOVE the Corona Especial. It's one of my favorite smokes, and when they can he had a a decent price they are absolutely worth it.  I've also never had a plugged one, and that seems to be a major complaint of the lanceros.  Of course, maybe I'm just lucky there, others' mileage may vary.  

[SCgarman]

8 hours ago, Baccy said:

I've also had some that were kind of "blah" but I've also had plenty that were amazing, mainly the smaller RG vitolas. I've always enjoyed the Robusto as well. A while back I tried one of my el laguito Siglo VIs and I got that "blah" impression as it was just very bland. I guess it just needs more time?

Time will not improve a bland tasteless cigar. At least not in my experience.

[Ericbrobes]

When they are good they are great! But other than that ill take a hard pass for a number of other smokes.