Cohiba Esplendidos MTS JUL 20 (MPRW)

[Bijan]

My most special cigar. Practically my only special cigar besides Cohiba Lanceros (which I have previously reviewed for the small ring gauge review weekend). It was the first cigar I smoked in Cuba and though this is the first one I smoke outside of Cuba I have a fondness for them.

First thing: Immediate honey taste and mint on the retrohale. Very similar to the last Lanceros I had. Honey fades by the end of the first third, and more mint comes in.

Second third: Some bit of baking spice and a flavour I'd describe as tea starts to come in. Still minty on the retrohale, some ginger at times.

Last third: All tea now, and tea on the retrohale. Flavour is pretty light and doesn't get harsh not even until the very end.

102 minute smoke time to a nub, which for me is a good long smoke. I smoked a punch DC (and a RyJ Churchill) this year in less time than this.

A solid 92. Would have been even higher if the honey had lingered on, or if there was more ginger in the second third.

[Bri Fi]

I saw you posted in the latest CC purchase. Is this ROTT? Nice review and pics 

[Bijan]

3 minutes ago, Bri Fi said:

I saw you posted in the latest CC purchase. Is this ROTT? Nice review and pics 

Indeed it is. I usually smoke one ROTT and then let the rest sit for a long time (6 months at least).

[xsquid]

6 months is a long time ?.  Good I am older and and can't wait much longer than a few years to smoke the CCs.

[yvr]

Great review!  My experience has been that the honeyed element becomes more prominent after 3+ years.  At 10 they are sublime. ?

Is that an infrared patio heater in the background?  I've been looking for a heater myself.  Have read good things about these electric ones.  Much more efficient than NG or propane, or so I've heard.  A must have with our cold Canadian winters!

 

 

[Bijan]

29 minutes ago, xsquid said:

6 months is a long time ?.  Good I am older and and can't wait much longer than a few years to smoke the CCs.

I'm hoping to smoke 1-2 a year and so to get to half or more of the box at 5+ years. But since I've got all my boxes this year, if I went years without smoking any, I would go years without smoking anything 

[Bijan]

22 minutes ago, yvr said:

Great review!  My experience has been that the honeyed element becomes more prominent after 3+ years.  At 10 they are sublime. ?

Is that an infrared patio heater in the background?  I've been looking for a heater myself.  Have read good things about these electric ones.  Much more efficient than NG or propane, or so I've heard.  A must have with our cold Canadian winters!

Yes will smoke most after 3 years, have only a few before then. Hopefully stretch the box out to 10 years.

Yes it's an infrared heater, works reasonably well. The efficiency is good but the total power output is low. It's a 1500W version that plugs into a standard outlet. Warm enough to sit in front of probably down to 0C (without too much wind). Hasn't been much colder around here yet. I expect any colder and I'll have to stand up close to the heater. I've seen 2500W versions that plug into a 240V outlet, and I'm guessing they have even more powerful ones for commercial uses. The main benefit is cost to operate and not having to buy more propane every other week.