Cohiba Secretos MSU 2017 CLvROWAS

[Çnote]

An Interlude About Cohiba Blue

General Cigar owns the Cohiba trademark in the USA. Several years ago, they launched the Blue variety of their Cohiba in the sub$10 value price point to capture that level of the market. Yesterday, I met not one, but two BotL that claimed that these Cohiba Blue were not just an occasional smoke but their preferred brand. I thought this was a particularly interesting fact given we are discussing HSA Cohiba as a brand this weekend

PART II: How I learned to stop worrying and just buy some Cohiba.

So, my most discretionary income comes from cash tips and gifts, thus most of my cigar buying is sporadic and unplanned. I barely bought anything during covid, but I was able to refer a good friend to the carts when these exSpain came up in enough quantity at a great price for him to pull the trigger. I off handedly mentioned at the time that if at the end of day he didn't want them to let me know. 90 days later I'm piecing together enough money to take them all, as the market for Cohiba (everything) has gone crazy and he thinks they are 'too strong.' Haha, perfect! Aged Cohiba at clearance just waiting for me to find cash.

I smoked one of these at TG, but felt my buddy was keeping them a couple % too wet. Hopefully this will show well at almost 5 years old and roughly a year of rest after shipping.

1/3: This starts with a roar of chocolate cream and a touch of barnyard, absolutely delicious and highly appropriate for the day. The barnyard quickly burns off into Cadbury Honeycomb, even more appropriate. This all collapses into more of a thick chai tea and we're barely an inch in! Marvelous transitions of flavor!

2/3: obvious change of pace after ashfall, this becomes the classic Cohiba hay and honey at the core, with some coffee creme from the wrapper. I'm just following where it leads me. Hello thick rich twang at about the 1/2 mark.

3/3: the chocolate is back, with cedar, sweet spicy creme and a more subtle twang. I'm going to wrap this up and enjoy the rest.

Let's call this a 94 and the best cigar I've smoked this year. You may pry this box from my cold dead hands. To me, Cohiba may be the best of CC, but need the age and rest in spades. They are also pricey (eyeball 2x whatever other marca in that vitola from what I'd consider reasonable) and sell out on 2424 before I can even type Dear Di.

I have a CoRo from the Xmas sampler that I'm currently planning for my next birthday, that will give it a solid 18-24 months age and more than a year of rest. Hopefully I'll find ways to score another box of some Cohiba in the future.

[gormag38]

nice review. Picked up a quarter box of 2020's and tried one after some months down. All dark chocolate and black coffee for me and packed a helluva punch. Hoping mine round out with some more time down.