Cohiba Robusto (2017/18) 12DCRC

[mt1]

A good Cohiba Robusto is one of my favorite cigars, though I've also had my fair share of duds.  I've recently been more into the Coronas Especiales and Lanceros but it's good to get back to the Robusto from the Xmas sampler.

Keeping with the Christmas spirit, we went to a bar again and they had a tree that we asked to sit next to.  I must say, this Robusto was quite the sight for me, having been cursed with some bad sticks that caused me to give up on them for a bit.  For me, the Cohiba Robusto can be enjoyed with water, I find the flavors soft and smooth and tasty.

It all started with that immediate hit of milk coffee for me.  A couple puffs in and I know immediately this is a Cohiba.  It takes me back to my first Cohiba which I actually tried in Cuba, an Esplendido--though over the years, I've grown fond of the Robusto too.  The milk coffee persists throughout but is accompanied soon with that Cohiba classic honey flavor, which I describe as a very dark or black honey, like molasses as opposed to lighter honey.  It's the type of honey you'd buy in the fancy aisle at the market and that you might add to your tea because it's got a flavor of its own.

Halfway through, the creamy coffee was still going strong with the sweetness but was now accompanied by grassiness and a nice rich velvety smoke.  This was absolutely fantastic and reminded me of why I once smoked so many of these regularly.  If there were only one cigar to be left, it may very well be the Cohiba Robusto in my mind.  It was a bit late to pair this with coffee, but that is my usual choice to go with the Robusto.  Instead, I had some ice cold water to reset my palate between puffs, which was great--it's like tasting the flavor for the first time again.  The last third in, I started to get the beans flavor that I've found my friends are split on.  Half of us identify the bean flavor while the other half doesn't taste it at all.

Alas, the wrapper started to crack as I got to the end.  I wasn't able to finish it properly as a result, as it started to unwind itself into a mess.  But in any case, this cigar had given me all the flavor and satisfaction I could have asked from it.  I'm sure most if not all of us have had the Cohiba Robusto and I have yet to meet anyone who does not like it.  Overall, excellent cigar, 9/10 because 10/10 is really for something special in my book, but a nice, sweet, smooth, and delicious cigar.

[nKostyan]

1 hour ago, mt1 said:

Alas, the wrapper started to crack as I got to the end. 

That is why it is not recommended to remove the band in advance

[mt1]

1 minute ago, nKostyan said:

That is why it is not recommended to remove the band in advance

That's fair, I just have a habit of removing it after I light the cigar.

[nKostyan]

That's fair, I just have a habit of removing it after I light the cigar.

It's always a dilemma: remove when it is a comfortable or tormenting with a small nub, scattering ashes and burning fingers

[mt1]

3 minutes ago, nKostyan said:

It's always a dilemma: remove when it is a comfortable or tormenting with a small nub, scattering ashes and burning fingers

LOL no doubt!  I wish they just made the bands out of tobacco and we should just smoke it too.

[nKostyan]

Aficionados teach us that true Gentlemen should not smoke the last third (further than the band). But I've seen them furtively smoke cigars to the last millimetres

 

[IanMcLean68]

1 hour ago, nKostyan said:

Aficionados teach us that true Gentlemen should not smoke the last third (further than the band). But I've seen them furtively smoke cigars to the last millimetres

 

I guess I am no gentleman ? Ahh, hang the rules, rules were made to be broken. I have always found the "Gentlemen only smoke to the band" thing a little bit ostentatious, but at the price of tobacco today, I say that old gentlemen's rule should be taken out back and shot! I smoke my cigars until I am no longer enjoying them (rare), or until they are burning my fingers and/or lips too much (quite often). And I do it enthusiastically, not furtively!

[mt1]

4 hours ago, nKostyan said:

Aficionados teach us that true Gentlemen should not smoke the last third (further than the band). But I've seen them furtively smoke cigars to the last millimetres

 

 

 

2 hours ago, IanMcLean68 said:

I guess I am no gentleman ? Ahh, hang the rules, rules were made to be broken. I have always found the "Gentlemen only smoke to the band" thing a little bit ostentatious, but at the price of tobacco today, I say that old gentlemen's rule should be taken out back and shot! I smoke my cigars until I am no longer enjoying them (rare), or until they are burning my fingers and/or lips too much (quite often). And I do it enthusiastically, not furtively!

I'm with both of you on this one.  Smoke it until you can't hold it!  I am guilty of the toothpick ordeal too, but hey, sometimes it's that good.

My friend once saw a man smoke a cigar out of some sort of pipe contraption.  I suppose you could literally smoke the entire thing then!

[nKostyan]

My friend once saw a man smoke a cigar out of some sort of pipe contraption. 

Like that?

[alloy]

With the taste and cost of cigars, I guess I'm no gentleman either. I use my PerfecDraw to nub down to the last lil bitty nub.

[Whisky91]

Nice review. After reading that I may have to go enjoy a CoRo today. 

[Derboesekoenig]

11 hours ago, nKostyan said:

That is why it is not recommended to remove the band in advance

Umm says who? I usually remove pre-smoking and never have any issues. I've also never heard of this before

[nKostyan]

Umm says who? I usually remove pre-smoking and never have any issues. I've also never heard of this before

There are several reasons for this:
- when you take off band, you may damage the wrapper and ruin the cigar;
- when you smoke the last third of the adhesive at the band warms up and it is easier to remove;
- the last third often swells from resins and condensate, so the band additionally holds the wrapper as a bondage

[Derboesekoenig]

1 minute ago, nKostyan said:

There are several reasons for this:
- when you take off band, you may damage the wrapper and ruin the cigar;
- when you smoke the last third of the adhesive at the band warms up and it is easier to remove;
- the last third often swells from resins and condensate, so the band additionally holds the wrapper as a bondage

It's easier for me to remove before smoking for that reason--the cigar swells. I guess we will have to agree to disagree. Sometimes the glue may heat and help to release the band, but a lot of times I've had trouble and still have to try and slip the band off, or at least down, to finish smoking. This is when damage to the wrapper happens for me. Just much easier if I remove the band initially.

[slowsmoke]

13 hours ago, mt1 said:

A good Cohiba Robusto is one of my favorite cigars, though I've also had my fair share of duds.  I've recently been more into the Coronas Especiales and Lanceros but it's good to get back to the Robusto from the Xmas sampler....

I've really enjoyed all of your xmas sampler reviews, glad yours are smoking well so fresh.  Thanks ?

[mt1]

On 12/14/2018 at 7:05 PM, nKostyan said:

Like that?

No, it was more like a shisha pipe contraption, it had a hose and all...