Cohiba Maduro Genios

[asmith]

With Rob demanding that I taste test this cigar, it was like a kid in a candy store. One of the most eagerly awaited cigars in years, so I felt it was my duty to test this cigar.

As a result when first approaching this cigar massive expectations can easily cloud ones judgement. A beautiful wrapper that is best described as a velvet chocolate. Blemish free wrapper that is a real honour to the Cuban tobacco industry. Like the wrapper colour the un-lite taste is chocolate, smooth, soft, milk chocolate. It is a cigar the you are more than happy to admire and it almost seems unthinkable to light it. Exactly as it tasted un-lite the first few puffs are all chocolate. A very smooth smoke that doesn’t have an over powering kick. Early in the smoke I got a hit of died fruits, primarily dried pears. This sweetness dried pears combined with a softening of chocolate creates an exquisite flavour combination. An amazing brandied fruit cake with warm chocolate sauce to finish, what a start to a cigar!!!

Emerging from the first third the Genios produces a spectacular light grey ash that sits perfectly against the maduro wrapper. At this point in time the burn began to be rather uneven. Rob’s comment to this was that I was an idiot and have been away from the shop for too long. Those comments aside I tuned my focus back to the cigar and the second third as it changed into a more enjoyable cigar from my point of view. The sweetness reduced and more earthy tones develop. Wild forest mushrooms start to dominate witha hint of soft cedar. This change is very intriguing for such a young cigar and flavour I really enjoyed and give the cigar more depth.

With forest mushroom flavours and the continuing uneven burn I headed into the final third and disappointment awaited me. The cigar continued as it was in the pervious third. The cigar didn’t develop, evolve or excite. Not that this is a bad thing, just from the first two thirds taking you on a fine flavour adventure the final third is such a let down. So it finished on a weaker note.

That said the potential for this cigar is immense. It will be a great addition to the Cohiba range but it is not up with the Limited Edition cigar from Cohiba.

10 out of 13 on Smith Scale

3.5 out of 5 Smoke Rings

[Colt45]

Thanks for the review, and good to see you posting.

[Ginseng]

Nicely done, Smithy! By the way, what is is about the cigar that suggests to you massive potential (for development over time)?

Wilkey

[asmith]

» Nicely done, Smithy! By the way, what is is about the cigar that suggests

» to you massive potential (for development over time)?

»

» Wilkey

Mate the potential I belive comes from two areas. The dried fruits and the mushrooms. Both flavours that I generally associate with cigars that have at least five years on them. I'm not sure which direction they will go either, sweeter and richer along the dried fruits path. Or more earthy, meaty flavours of the mushrooms. Personally I am leaning towards the mushrooms. I feel they will reward from a little time hidden in the back of the humidor.

Do you have any thoughts on the issue?

[Ken Gargett]

Rob’s comment to this was that I was

» an idiot and have been away from the shop for too long.

he told me it wasn't long enough.

[Stalebread]

» he told me it wasn't long enough.

The cigar? Or the review?

Or something else?

[El Presidente]

» » he told me it wasn't long enough.

»

» The cigar? Or the review?

» Or something else?

Completely uncallled for. I only bat for one team

[asmith]

» » » he told me it wasn't long enough.

» »

» » The cigar? Or the review?

» » Or something else?

»

» Completely uncallled for. I only bat for one team

And yet again another cigar review has degraded away from its intnet