Cohiba Esplendido 08 (CRW)

rcarlson · September 20, 2020

Decided to grab the penultimate '08 Essplennndeedo from my generally unimpressive stash. One of the couple remaining from a purchase years ago that I've managed to ignore for more than a decade. This review weekend gave me an excuse to give it the old "No Time Like the Present" revisit (HT Mike).

This one proved to me that the wrapper on aged Cohibas are like no other. Just incredible. Smooth, oily, seamless. . . the way it should be. Perfect heft for a churchill. Tons of smoke output. Tight ash, razor burn. Although the Cohibas have a tendency to disappoint in the flavor department too frequently, the construction rarely does. This was right there, as usual.

A slow start with the creamy, woody, sweet grassy, clean, subtle flavors in the first inches. The striptease introduction of churchill sized sticks is one of the things I like about them, when time permits. Gives a chance to get my drink on before things warm up through the middle and intensify the body and flavors.

The creaminess, subtle sweetness, barnyard grassiness and light zest picked up as it inched along through the middle third. Being an unrefined dockyard cigar grunt type always poses a challenge with Cohiba, especially ones with a little age. Most times I prefer the grubby honky tonk over the country club; the prom queen's slutty sister; bbq instead of mignon. They all have their time and place, but for me Cohiba sometimes lacks the "umph" to keep my interest. This one caught me in the right mood for a comfortable chill though, so I gotta give it the praise it deserves.

Finished out with fine, rich woody, mustiness into the nub. She gets an "A."