El Presidente Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 Cohiba Robusto VS Juan Lopez Seleccion No 2 Both July 2003 I had a rare opportunity on Thursday afternoon to try two cigars back to back. Our Couriers let us down on a small local delivery to Maleney and a member needed cigars for the Easter weekend. At midday I jumped in the old Landrover 4X4, wound down the windows, put in my Country Classics CD and fired up the Cohiba Robusto for the first section of a 180 minute round trip. The Cohiba Robusto was a classic looking Cohiba Robusto with a golden crumpet wrapper and a smell at cold of pure intense Cuban tobacco mixed with cinnamon spice. No hard or soft spots in the cigar. Quick Cuban cut of the cap, tested the draw which was flawless and fired up with my trucks monster torch as I reversed out of Czar House (I have to reverse out as Lisa has yet to master how to park her fricken car straight without blocking me in.....). The Cohiba surprised me. It started out all power both on the tastebuds and through the nose. Spice hit was quite noticeable ala an old style Partagas. Definately full bodied and out of control. This was akin to a bullfight when the bull charges into the arena, stamping it's feet and shaking it's head in disdain. It took a full 1/3rd for the Cohiba to settle down. It was at no time unenjoyable...just not a classic Cohiba Robusto in that it was all power and no finesse. By the end of the first 1/3rd it had settled back to a medium body which allowed some old favourite flavours to emerge: milk coffee, a trace of honey, sweet spice and licorice. Unfortunately, this lasted no longer than 15 minutes before the Cohiba reverted back into it's guise of a confused madman becoming dirty, slightly bitter, fuller bodied. Into the last third and I was close to punting it out the window just before it reverted again to medium bodied complexity which remained down to the final inch. I have not commented on burn as in a truck it is simply unfair. The draw remained perfect throughout. So what we had here was a Cohiba Robusto with multiple personalities which was intrigueing. You know this cigar will go on to become something special as a direct result of it's current tortuous personality. I will give it an 88 with a status of "Watch Carefully". I dropped the cigars off to my clent's wife and purchased some water from the Servo before clipping the Juan Lopez Seleccion No 2 for the trip home. Gorgeous looking Robusto. The wrapper of the JL2 was lighter than the Cohiba Robusto but every bit as sensual. Almost Colorado Claro with a nice sheen. Draw was perfect. Smell at cold was sweet spice...more subtle than the Cohiba Robusto. Torched with the Monster and the JL2 burst to life in a combustion of flame and smoke which even startled me. What a difference, the medium bodied cigar was all class with flavours of peat mixed with nutmeg and quality cuban leaf. Through the nose ther was none of the intense spice of the Cohiba Robusto bit more a refined elegance. If the Cohiba was a bull stamping at speed into the bull ring...the Juan Lopez No 2 was a 16 year old damsel coming out at her first major dance. I loved this cigar. It worked with you never once letting itself getting out of balance. There was a core flavour throughout of peat, hopps, nutmeg and milk coffee. It varied only slightly from medium bodied to the the top end of the lighter scale. It maintained my interest to the very end. Score 90 The tasting confirmed for me that Juan Lopez is a Marque which smokes better, earlier than the Cohiba Robusto. I suspect however that the Cohiba Robusto will transform into something veryvery special. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colt45 Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 Nice review! You don't sound overly unhappy about having to make the trip:-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenpimp Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 Great reviews, and very interesting comparison. Sounds like you got a real buckin bronco of a CoRo LOL. My 03's are really strong, too. Oughta age pretty well. JLo is one of the few remaining marcas I haven't tried. Could never get convinced by the descriptions. You may of made my mind up there, E.P. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrink Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 Pretty impressive customer service. I'm looking forward to the day when you pull up in my driveway with a box of smokes! I'm not surprised that the JL beat the Cohiba, though as you say the Cohiba will surpass in the long run. The JL has the flavor hands down, IMO. Thanks for the review, boss! Let's have some more of these. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cigarnv Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 Nice reviews Rob!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbreath Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 Haven't tried a CoRo yet but do like the JL No. 2. Wrappers on the ones I have are pretty dark and glistening, find them spicy as well as flavorful. One of my favorite robustos. Thanks for the review! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CigarZen Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 Nice read Rob! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anacostiakat Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 Great reviews Rob! I have gone through a number of boxes of JL Sel #2 and I think it is a great cigar. Especially for the price and availability. I have yest to smoke a cohiba robo as I have gone for the larger vitolas of that line. Your review is right on the nose for the Juan Lopez. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy R. Frush Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 Nice reviews, and way to take care of your customer in a pinch! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Well Armed Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 I'll take an aged CoRo over a fresh Sel#2 any day. But the fresh JL's are so much more smokeable than a fresh CoRo. I'd love to see a 5 year old Sel#2 do battle with a 5 yr CoRo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicago Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 » Cohiba Robusto VS Juan Lopez Seleccion No 2 » » Both July 2003 » » I had a rare opportunity on Thursday afternoon to try two cigars back to » back. Our Couriers let us down on a small local delivery to Maleney and a » member needed cigars for the Easter weekend. At midday I jumped in the old » Landrover 4X4, wound down the windows, put in my Country Classics CD and » fired up the Cohiba Robusto for the first section of a 180 minute round » trip. » » The Cohiba Robusto was a classic looking Cohiba Robusto with a » golden crumpet wrapper and a smell at cold of pure intense Cuban tobacco » mixed with cinnamon spice. » No hard or soft spots in the cigar. » Quick Cuban cut of the cap, tested the draw which was flawless and fired » up with my trucks monster torch as I reversed out of Czar House (I have to » reverse out as Lisa has yet to master how to park her fricken car straight » without blocking me in.....). » » The Cohiba surprised me. It started out all power both on the tastebuds » and through the nose. Spice hit was quite noticeable ala an old style » Partagas. Definately full bodied and out of control. This was akin to a » bullfight when the bull charges into the arena, stamping it's feet and » shaking it's head in disdain. » It took a full 1/3rd for the Cohiba to settle down. It was at no time » unenjoyable...just not a classic Cohiba Robusto in that it was all power » and no finesse. By the end of the first 1/3rd it had settled back to a » medium body which allowed some old favourite flavours to emerge: milk » coffee, a trace of honey, sweet spice and licorice. Unfortunately, this » lasted no longer than 15 minutes before the Cohiba reverted back into it's » guise of a confused madman becoming dirty, slightly bitter, fuller bodied. » Into the last third and I was close to punting it out the window just » before it reverted again to medium bodied complexity which remained down » to the final inch. » » I have not commented on burn as in a truck it is simply unfair. The draw » remained perfect throughout. » » So what we had here was a Cohiba Robusto with multiple personalities which » was intrigueing. You know this cigar will go on to become something special » as a direct result of it's current tortuous personality. I will give it » an 88 with a status of "Watch Carefully". » » I dropped the cigars off to my clent's wife and purchased some water from » the Servo before clipping the Juan Lopez Seleccion No 2 for the » trip home. Gorgeous looking Robusto. » The wrapper of the JL2 was lighter than the Cohiba Robusto but every bit » as sensual. Almost Colorado Claro with a nice sheen. Draw was perfect. » Smell at cold was sweet spice...more subtle than the Cohiba Robusto. » Torched with the Monster and the JL2 burst to life in a combustion of » flame and smoke which even startled me. What a difference, the medium » bodied cigar was all class with flavours of peat mixed with nutmeg and » quality cuban leaf. Through the nose ther was none of the intense spice of » the Cohiba Robusto bit more a refined elegance. If the Cohiba was a bull » stamping at speed into the bull ring...the Juan Lopez No 2 was a 16 year » old damsel coming out at her first major dance. » » I loved this cigar. It worked with you never once letting itself getting » out of balance. There was a core flavour throughout of peat, hopps, » nutmeg and milk coffee. It varied only slightly from medium bodied to the » the top end of the lighter scale. It maintained my interest to the very » end. Score 90 » » The tasting confirmed for me that Juan Lopez is a Marque which smokes » better, earlier than the Cohiba Robusto. I suspect however that the Cohiba » Robusto will transform into something veryvery special. Nice comparison and Happy Easter to you and the family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joerose Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 Both wonderful cigars. Would love to get a cab of 50 Jlo's to lay down, but the price point keeps me away.» » Cohiba Robusto VS Juan Lopez Seleccion No 2 » » » » Both July 2003 » » » » I had a rare opportunity on Thursday afternoon to try two cigars back » to » » back. Our Couriers let us down on a small local delivery to Maleney and » a » » member needed cigars for the Easter weekend. At midday I jumped in the » old » » Landrover 4X4, wound down the windows, put in my Country Classics CD » and » » fired up the Cohiba Robusto for the first section of a 180 minute round » » trip. » » » » The Cohiba Robusto was a classic looking Cohiba Robusto with a » » golden crumpet wrapper and a smell at cold of pure intense Cuban » tobacco » » mixed with cinnamon spice. » » No hard or soft spots in the cigar. » » Quick Cuban cut of the cap, tested the draw which was flawless and » fired » » up with my trucks monster torch as I reversed out of Czar House (I have » to » » reverse out as Lisa has yet to master how to park her fricken car » straight » » without blocking me in.....). » » » » The Cohiba surprised me. It started out all power both on the tastebuds » » and through the nose. Spice hit was quite noticeable ala an old style » » Partagas. Definately full bodied and out of control. This was akin to a » » bullfight when the bull charges into the arena, stamping it's feet and » » shaking it's head in disdain. » » It took a full 1/3rd for the Cohiba to settle down. It was at no time » » unenjoyable...just not a classic Cohiba Robusto in that it was all » power » » and no finesse. By the end of the first 1/3rd it had settled back to a » » medium body which allowed some old favourite flavours to emerge: milk » » coffee, a trace of honey, sweet spice and licorice. Unfortunately, this » » lasted no longer than 15 minutes before the Cohiba reverted back into » it's » » guise of a confused madman becoming dirty, slightly bitter, fuller » bodied. » » Into the last third and I was close to punting it out the window just » » before it reverted again to medium bodied complexity which remained » down » » to the final inch. » » » » I have not commented on burn as in a truck it is simply unfair. The » draw » » remained perfect throughout. » » » » So what we had here was a Cohiba Robusto with multiple personalities » which » » was intrigueing. You know this cigar will go on to become something » special » » as a direct result of it's current tortuous personality. I will give » it » » an 88 with a status of "Watch Carefully". » » » » I dropped the cigars off to my clent's wife and purchased some water » from » » the Servo before clipping the Juan Lopez Seleccion No 2 for the » » trip home. Gorgeous looking Robusto. » » The wrapper of the JL2 was lighter than the Cohiba Robusto but every » bit » » as sensual. Almost Colorado Claro with a nice sheen. Draw was perfect. » » Smell at cold was sweet spice...more subtle than the Cohiba Robusto. » » Torched with the Monster and the JL2 burst to life in a combustion of » » flame and smoke which even startled me. What a difference, the medium » » bodied cigar was all class with flavours of peat mixed with nutmeg and » » quality cuban leaf. Through the nose ther was none of the intense spice » of » » the Cohiba Robusto bit more a refined elegance. If the Cohiba was a » bull » » stamping at speed into the bull ring...the Juan Lopez No 2 was a 16 » year » » old damsel coming out at her first major dance. » » » » I loved this cigar. It worked with you never once letting itself » getting » » out of balance. There was a core flavour throughout of peat, hopps, » » nutmeg and milk coffee. It varied only slightly from medium bodied to » the » » the top end of the lighter scale. It maintained my interest to the very » » end. Score 90 » » » » The tasting confirmed for me that Juan Lopez is a Marque which smokes » » better, earlier than the Cohiba Robusto. I suspect however that the » Cohiba » » Robusto will transform into something veryvery special. » » Nice comparison and Happy Easter to you and the family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tave1225 Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 Great review El Prez. Like joerose said, the price keeps me away from the Jlo cab 50 but both are great smokes indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginseng Posted April 17, 2006 Share Posted April 17, 2006 Great paired review, Rob! And such service too. Well done on both accounts! Wilkey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tey Posted April 17, 2006 Share Posted April 17, 2006 do you ever wonder if JL doesn't get the recognition it deserves because many of its sticks come unbanded? we all know there are people who smoke cohiba because visually it screms " hey i'm smoking a cuban cigar". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purosdave Posted April 17, 2006 Share Posted April 17, 2006 I really don't think that plays a major role, I just don't think it has the popularity because it isn't one of the major names. I do think the JL line is completely underrated and this plays to my advantage as aged stock is easy to come by. Prez, were both of these from 05? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Presidente Posted April 18, 2006 Author Share Posted April 18, 2006 » I really don't think that plays a major role, I just don't think it has the » popularity because it isn't one of the major names. I do think the JL line » is completely underrated and this plays to my advantage as aged stock is » easy to come by. » » Prez, were both of these from 05? Dave, both were from 03. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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