Recommend me a Cohiba


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I’m not a big Cohiba smoker and I think I’ve literally smoked 5 Cohiba sticks total in my lifetime (in approximate order: 1x CCE, 2x Siglo V, 1x Wide Short, 1x Siglo III). I enjoyed the CCE and the WS, however, the Siglo III was unremarkable and the two Siglo Vs both had construction issues so not sure how much I can take away from that experience.

I just smoked the WS while on vacation and while I’m not a big fan of cigarillos, I really enjoyed this stick. The sweetness, honey and vanilla was like something I’ve never had before in any other cigar. I have read the WS being compared to the Siglo V and Siglo III and so i picked up and smoked a Siglo III tonight. The notes I found in the WS just weren’t there in the Siglo III. The two Siglo Vs I head were smoked 12-18 months ago and from what I recall, they also didn’t quite taste like the WS.

Given this, can I request the kind assistance of the forum to recommend me another vitola (Cohiba or otherwise) that they think captures that sweet honey / vanilla of the WS (or which gets close)? 

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CORO were always a treat to me. I wish I would have bought a few boxes 5 years ago but anyhow.  Siglo VI have been good to me as well.  

On the other hand ERDM Demi Tassi and Choix Supreme have the honey to it.  

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1 hour ago, Ford2112 said:

Aged Siglo 2

I would second this- even with just a little age the Siglo 2 is probably the best of the bunch for what you’re looking for. CCE is a favorite of mine as well. Finding what the CCE delivers in terms of flavor is near impossible though. Haven’t had the WS yet, but have been a big fan of the COSHO ever since they came out—going to have to try and track down some COWS now 👀-Good luck!  

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I would say that some of the small panetela really shocked me,  namely the HdM du Maire or the RyJ Petit Julieta or ERdM Demi Tasse and have heard the good things about the Cohiba Wide Shorts.

I agree with Alex of course that these formats are getting leaf that can't otherwise be used in larger format blends and it maybe quite difficult to try and make an upscale comparison to larger format with same profile. And i'm also tired of the Cuba quality control trope.

But I’ve had plenty of machine made Guantanermera or other handmade short filler formats with far less "complexity" & enjoyable flavors than the HdM du Maire or the ERdM Demi Tasse and RyJ Petit Julietas.

So based on taste, I'd dare guess or be inclined to humor the idea that some of these blends are perhaps using some left over scrap leaf that in some cases is being used to a degree in larger formats - or there's simply something interesting to these vitolas.

But regardless ... my advice is stick with the Cohiba Wide Shorts since you enjoy them and to keep experimenting.

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Great info about shorts, thank you @ATGroom.

On the original question, my advice would be that there’s no perfect Cohiba vitola, it’s all about the box and the particular cigar. I’ve got a dull box of Sig 2s which looked brilliant. I’ve had amazing Espys and duds, and the variability of CoRo is notorious - but I have a magic box on the go. If you want to experience the famous Cohiba thing (citrus, honey etc) then you just have to experiment widely.

My own view is that it’s simply not worth chasing Cohiba any more. There’s no fundamental difference in quality, complexity and interest versus many other marcas. A good Upmann, Monte, Partagas etc is every bit as good as a fine Cohiba in my book. But Cohiba has the brand and is more than twice the price. I’m happy to have supplies that will last me a good while, but I can’t see myself adding to them.

 

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6 hours ago, ATGroom said:

The Cohiba Wide Short is a machine-made short filler cigar from the ICT factories which produce all the shorts, along with Guantanamera, Belinda, and Troya.

Ahh thanks Alex. I had not looked into the Cohiba Wide Short at all - I had no idea it was ICT factory made (I am quite familiar with ICT brands thanks to the CCW or your book and first hand experience). I was grouping CWS in with the few small panetelas I've just began enjoying this year.

Your original analogy makes much more sense to me now. 🙏

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14 hours ago, EasternPromises said:

can I request the kind assistance of the forum to recommend me another vitola

But – only why??!

While I will truly be the last to deny that a MM-cigar can be enjoyable (a staple for me), if you prefer the effin’ Wide Short over a Sig III or Sig V, you lucky bastard! – the heck, then look no further and stick with it!!! Gets you 20 CoWiSho for one Siglo… :cigar: :D

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10 hours ago, ATGroom said:

I think the Cubans tend to get a pretty raw deal with the amount of scepticism that people treat blends and quality standards etc. There is generally a lot more truth to what they say than many give them credit for.

That said, I've never heard any claim from Cuba that the tobacco used in the Wide Short is anything special. I would find it very surprising if they are made with anything different to the other machine-mades, which is to say second tier Remedios tobacco and scrap leaf from elsewhere. I don't think there is any kind of blending that goes on. If you have had a good experience with one, I wouldn't expect that to be consistent.

If you want a bigger version of the Wide Short I think you'd be more likely to find it in Guantanamera than in any of the Cohiba handmades.

I’m hearing a Shorts blind tasting coming right up!!! Make it happen son! 😁

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14 hours ago, ATGroom said:

That said, I've never heard any claim from Cuba that the tobacco used in the Wide Short is anything special. I would find it very surprising if they are made with anything different to the other machine-mades, which is to say second tier Remedios tobacco and scrap leaf from elsewhere. I don't think there is any kind of blending that goes on. If you have had a good experience with one, I wouldn't expect that to be consistent.

If you want a bigger version of the Wide Short I think you'd be more likely to find it in Guantanamera than in any of the Cohiba handmades.

If I may offer a different opinion, Alex: Irrespective of what 'Cuba' or certain distributors / importers may officially claim or not claim about their ICT offerings (and in fact they do ascribe to them different blends and distinctive flavor profiles, related to their respective marca…), and whether we believe (in) that or not, for me the CoSho is very typical Cohiba. Perhaps in reality - who knows - they are secretly artificially flavoured :lol:, but I do taste Cohiba there. Likewise, the Puritos / Chicos, show clear discriminable profiles. If you smoke them regularly you won’t mistake a Monte Purito for a Party Chicos - …no, you won’t. They even show a distinctive cold aroma when freed from their cello. These blends are not all mixed up, if you ask me.

And while they are machine-made they are made from quality tobacco, albeit tripa corta (“scraps”). There’s not few seasoned CC-smokers who value Chicos & Co. Not at all uncommon for me to toss a half-smoked disappointing longfiller “real” cigar and reach for a Chicos, a Party Serie or Monte Purito, for make good. For me they count among the best value CCs out there, perhaps the best value you can get in cigars overall. (Cuba's best kept secret it seems, haha)

Remedios tobacco (not to be scoffed at) is mostly used as shortfiller anyway. So what’s left over from Remedios leaf rolling likely stays within Remedios cigar’s-blends and/or domestic I would think. I doubt you’ll find any Remedios leaf in a Party Chicos let alone CoSho. I got nothing to prove it of course, but that’s what I am tasting. And I know my Remedios JLP. ;)

That being said, and I said it before, as an odd one out perhaps, the CoWiSho has been a huge disappointment so far, based on a small sample size.

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Thanks all for the helpful replies. Will definitely be picking up a few more boxes of the WS. I enjoyed the WS and so was really wanting to replicate the experience in a larger format cigar where i wouldn’t have to worry about overheating the stick / smoking too fast. 

I have 5er of Siglo IIs in the humidor that should be coming up to 2-3 years of age. Will crack one out to try when I’m back. 

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I am such a snob as I find it hard to get my head around the WS as a genuine cigar :D 

HOWEVER, if they float your boat, go nuts! 

If I had to live with three Cohiba they would be the II/V/CORO. 

If I had 5 then the VI and lancero would join them. I apologise to the III. 

I have been fortunate to have smoked 1000 + (1000's?) over the past 30 years and respect the marque immensely. When they are "on" they are on a different planet. When they don't measure up they are generally "good to very good". Poor Cohiba experiences occur but they are haven't been a regular experience (for me). 

 

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