CoRo These Days

[Finn]

Hi all, long time lurker and rarely a poster. In fact I haven't posted in quite a while. Been enjoying some Cubans again as of late and it had me wondering.

In general how have CoRos from 2023/2024 been smoking? Specifically construction and flavour. I haven't had one in quite a while and was wondering if there's hope that they are burning well these days.  

Thanks! 

[El Presidente]

30 minutes ago, Finn said:

Hi all, long time lurker and rarely a poster.  In fact I haven't posted in quite a while. Been enjoying some Cubans again as of late and it had me wondering...

In general how have CoRos from 2023/2024 been smoking? Specifically construction and flavour. I haven't had one in quite a while and was wondering if there's hope that they are burning well these days.  

Thanks! 

Ken and I will be reviewing a 23 later this week if all goes to plan. 

Overall I think they have smoking really well as a fresh cigar. I will smoke one a week (young stock) from different boxes. They do benefit however from 3-5 years down and I have my own stock in that 5-15 year range. There is the view from some that Cohiba hasn't been the same since the 90's or then the mid to late 2010's. My questionable palate hasn't discerned that. So, I love a fresh CORO. I love a 5 year old CORO. I love a 15 + year old CORO. 

If you are looking at fresh CORO to smoke now, I would also consider BR for a 3-5 year aged example. You probably won't be paying much of a premium. 

[Finn]

3 hours ago, El Presidente said:

Ken and I will be reviewing a 23 later this week if all goes to plan. 

Overall I think they have smoking really well as a fresh cigar. I will smoke one a week (young stock) from different boxes. They do benefit however from 3-5 years down and I have my own stock in that 5-15 year range. There is the view from some that Cohiba hasn't been the same since the 90's or then the mid to late 2010's. My questionable palate hasn't discerned that. So, I love a fresh CORO. I love a 5 year old CORO. I love a 15 + year old CORO. 

If you are looking at fresh CORO to smoke now, I would also consider BR for a 3-5 year aged example. You probably won't be paying much of a premium. 

Thank you so much, this is really helpful! I always dip in to try cigars fresh. Often times good to go and that's always a bonus. I don't mind letting them sleep for a while if need be. My biggest concern was the construction. I had a bad run from 2019-2022 with multiple boxes across various manufacturers with plugged cigars. Made the jump to mostly new worlds and looking to explore again the Cuban side.   

[El Presidente]

3 hours ago, Finn said:

Thank you so much, this is really helpful! I always dip in to try cigars fresh. Often times good to go and that's always a bonus. I don't mind letting them sleep for a while if need be. My biggest concern was the construction. I had a bad run from 2019-2022 with multiple boxes across various manufacturers with plugged cigars. Made the jump to mostly new worlds and looking to explore again the Cuban side.   

I honestly haven't had an issue with CORO/D4 or most Robustos from that period. 

[Finn]

2 hours ago, El Presidente said:

I honestly haven't had an issue with CORO/D4 or most Robustos from that period. 

I think I had some bad luck is all! HDM Epicure No 2 were consistent throughout everything for me which I was very thankful for as I really enjoy them. Really looking forward to getting back on the saddle with Cubans again. 

[NSXCIGAR]

2 hours ago, El Presidente said:

There is the view from some that Cohiba hasn't been the same since the 90's or then the mid to late 2010's

I noticed a significant change in Cohiba around 2013-2014 and not a positive one. But that's just my opinion and you smoke many more Cohiba than I do. Curious if others share that opinion. 

I've smoked maybe 30 CoRo over the last 5 years and I've not been impressed, but more importantly I've been less impressed than with almost all other Cohiba. Maybe not a large enough sample size but if I had a choice I'd be picking up Medio Siglo or Siglo IV over Robustos. 

 

[SigmundChurchill]

16 hours ago, Finn said:

Hi all, long time lurker and rarely a poster.  In fact I haven't posted in quite a while.  Been enjoying some Cubans again as of late and it had me wondering...

In general how have CoRos from 2023/2024 been smoking? Specifically construction and flavour. I haven't had one in quite a while and was wondering if there's hope that they are burning well these days.  

Thanks! 

I have been refusing to buy at these new prices, so I smoked my way through my aged CoRos in an effort to curtail my Siglo VI consumption.

Needless to say, I ran out of my CoRos, so I broke down and bought a box of GES JUL 23.  

I smoked one over the weekend and thought it was excellent for a young CoRo.

Could it benefit with some age on it? Of course. But I had no regrets smoking it now because to my palate, it was still better than most aged cigars of other marcas.

[Finn]

7 hours ago, SigmundChurchill said:

I have been refusing to buy at these new prices, so I smoked my way through my aged CoRos in an effort to curtail my Siglo VI consumption.

Needless to say, I ran out of my CoRos, so I broke down and bought a box of GES JUL 23.  

I smoked one over the weekend and thought it was excellent for a young CoRo.

Could it benefit with some age on it? Of course. But I had no regrets smoking it now because to my palate, it was still better than most aged cigars of other marcas.

Well that sounds like a very promising endorsement. Thank you for this! 

13 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

I noticed a significant change in Cohiba around 2013-2014 and not a positive one. But that's just my opinion and you smoke many more Cohiba than I do. Curious if others share that opinion. 

I've smoked maybe 30 CoRo over the last 5 years and I've not been impressed, but more importantly I've been less impressed than with almost all other Cohiba. Maybe not a large enough sample size but if I had a choice I'd be picking up Medio Siglo or Siglo IV over Robustos. 

 

In 2014 and 2015 I did notice a change. They were green, acrid/bitter and too wet to burn.  I keep Cubans at 62rh, it took a long time to bring them down to a burnable consistency. Also started getting very plugged boxes. Now I do not want to say this would mirror everyone's experiences, of course it is anecdotal and my personal happenings, however there was a string of a total of 4-5 CoRo boxes purchased in 2014 and 2015 that were all a varying level of disappointing. Again, prior to it they were divine for me as I personally favour the Robusto size in all things Cuban.  

Please do not take this post as trashing Cohiba or Cuban cigars, I am merely pointing out that I share the same experience around the same time as @NSXCIGAR.

[Shakey]

17 hours ago, Finn said:

Hi all, long time lurker and rarely a poster. In fact I haven't posted in quite a while. Been enjoying some Cubans again as of late and it had me wondering.

In general how have CoRos from 2023/2024 been smoking? Specifically construction and flavour. I haven't had one in quite a while and was wondering if there's hope that they are burning well these days.  

Thanks! 

Not quite your specified age range, but I have a box of OCT 22 that is smoking quite well right now. 

[Finn]

2 hours ago, Shakey said:

Not quite your specified age range, but I have a box of OCT 22 that is smoking quite well right now. 

Good to hear, it sounds like the last couple years are sounding quite promising. 

[NSXCIGAR]

10 hours ago, Finn said:

In 2014 and 2015 I did notice a change. They were green, acrid/bitter and too wet to burn.

I can't say that's what I experienced. I think they just lost their richness and depth of flavor as well as some of the characteristic Cohiba flavors, most notably the bean flavors.