cohiba maduro 5 genios

[Ken Gargett]

Had one of these at Czars with RA. Great to have another chance to see how this is progressing. Loved it when it was first shown at the Havana festival earlier in the year. Pretty much same re the appearance. Immaculate construction and lovely dark wrapper, appears well packed and certainly not overdone. Cold, the smell was those same earthy, truffly notes, a hint of chocolate and some cold meat notes this time. Quite subtle. A pre-light draw seemed a bit easier than perhaps one might expect. Opens with lovely chocolatey notes, rich but all is in balance. That is the hallmark of this wonderful cigar, all is in balance right through. No reason not to suspect that these are going to get better and better, though already so good. This one, perhaps the only tiny negative was a that the draw was not quite as tight as one would wish. But the flavours just so enticing. Surprisingly complex for such a young smoke. The dominant note is chocolate. Some mocha, coffee bean, creamy coffee notes. That chocolate was there in the first one and if anything, is even more pronounced now. Also some roasted nut notes. Masses of chocolate. A slow burn and the draw soon firmed up. There was a slightly dry note but also rich, reasonable dense smoke. The burn started a little uneven but soon fixed itself. The mid section was still lots of chocolate and a touch of a complexing earthy note. The last third/half was subtle, complex, ripe and wonderful. 96, which is marginally up on the 95 i thought for the first one. Spectacular smoke and surely one of, if not the best new release from Havana in the last few years. Be interested if anyone can name something better.

[anacostiakat]

And the drum beat goes on! Consistent reviews all around!! Thanks Ken

[xibbumbero]

I had one on saturday and I found it very un-Habanos in taste. I found it had a very sweet flavor and a kind of soft sharpness to it. It was also unevenly rolled. To me it appeared it was rolled in a hurry. Although not an unpleasant cigar,I was expecting much more, considering the price. I certainly hope these get better w/age but my preliminary inclination is they will not. X:-(

[El Presidente]

» I had one on saturday and I found it very un-Habanos in taste. I found it

» had a very sweet flavor and a kind of soft sharpness to it. It was also

» unevenly rolled. To me it appeared it was rolled in a hurry. Although not

» an unpleasant cigar,I was expecting much more, considering the price. I

» certainly hope these get better w/age but my preliminary inclination is

» they will not. X:-(

Interesting thoughts. I think I posted in my initial review that this cigar would divide the Habanos community. You will either love the chocolate sweetness or hate it. I can understand why purists would be appalled. On the other hand I love this flavour profile. Very disappointing about the construction issues you found.

[Professor Twain]

One theme that keeps coming through on these is the chocolate sweetness--how much of that do you think comes from the maduro wrapper, versus a different blend from traditional Cohiba?

[El Presidente]

» One theme that keeps coming through on these is the chocolate

» sweetness--how much of that do you think comes from the maduro wrapper,

» versus a different blend from traditional Cohiba?

One way to test this is to take off the wrapper :-D

I will give it a go ;-)

[Professor Twain]

» » One theme that keeps coming through on these is the chocolate

» » sweetness--how much of that do you think comes from the maduro wrapper,

» » versus a different blend from traditional Cohiba?

»

» One way to test this is to take off the wrapper :-D

»

» I will give it a go ;-)

Rob, your willingness to make any sacrifice to advance Cigar Science is impressive. While you are at it, I suggest that you do the same with a comparable Cohiba cigar, maybe a Cohiba Robusto. If it is just a wrapper difference, the two should taste about the same.

Can't wait to see the results!

[Ginseng]

» » One theme that keeps coming through on these is the chocolate

» » sweetness--how much of that do you think comes from the maduro wrapper,

» » versus a different blend from traditional Cohiba?

»

» One way to test this is to take off the wrapper :-D

»

» I will give it a go ;-)

Wow. Your dedication to seeking the facts is admirable.

Wilkey

[tigger]

» » One theme that keeps coming through on these is the chocolate

» » sweetness--how much of that do you think comes from the maduro wrapper,

» » versus a different blend from traditional Cohiba?

»

» One way to test this is to take off the wrapper :-D

»

» I will give it a go ;-)

Murderer. :-P

I smoked one recently, trying to be as open-minded as possible, and really enjoyed it - far more than the Secretos I smoked.

[Colt45]

» Be interested if anyone can name something better.

»

I've not tried the genios, and perhaps never will. But I did just finish another May '03

Bolivar Corona Gigantes, and if the genios is that much better, then it is worth every

dollar, pound, euro, franc, and drachma.

But in my mind's eye, I see the BCG sitting high on Olympus ready to take on all

comers....... and booting their sorry asses back from whence they came......

[El Presidente]

» » » One theme that keeps coming through on these is the chocolate

» » » sweetness--how much of that do you think comes from the maduro

» wrapper,

» » » versus a different blend from traditional Cohiba?

» »

» » One way to test this is to take off the wrapper :-D

» »

» » I will give it a go ;-)

»

» Wow. Your dedication to seeking the facts is admirable.

»

» Wilkey

This experiment will have to wait 10 days or so for our follow up shipment. I have diarised it ;-)

[bassman]

I wasn't going to spring for any of these maduros, but I love chocolate overtones in cigars. You guys are tempting me!

[Van55]

» Had one of these at Czars with RA. Great to have another chance to see how

» this is progressing. Loved it when it was first shown at the Havana

» festival earlier in the year. Pretty much same re the appearance.

» Immaculate construction and lovely dark wrapper, appears well packed and

» certainly not overdone. Cold, the smell was those same earthy, truffly

» notes, a hint of chocolate and some cold meat notes this time. Quite

» subtle. A pre-light draw seemed a bit easier than perhaps one might

» expect. Opens with lovely chocolatey notes, rich but all is in balance.

» That is the hallmark of this wonderful cigar, all is in balance right

» through. No reason not to suspect that these are going to get better and

» better, though already so good. This one, perhaps the only tiny negative

» was a that the draw was not quite as tight as one would wish. But the

» flavours just so enticing. Surprisingly complex for such a young smoke.

» The dominant note is chocolate. Some mocha, coffee bean, creamy coffee

» notes. That chocolate was there in the first one and if anything, is even

» more pronounced now. Also some roasted nut notes. Masses of chocolate. A

» slow burn and the draw soon firmed up. There was a slightly dry note but

» also rich, reasonable dense smoke. The burn started a little uneven but

» soon fixed itself. The mid section was still lots of chocolate and a touch

» of a complexing earthy note. The last third/half was subtle, complex, ripe

» and wonderful. 96, which is marginally up on the 95 i thought for the

» first one. Spectacular smoke and surely one of, if not the best new

» release from Havana in the last few years. Be interested if anyone can

» name something better.

I'm wondering if you detected any notes of chocolate whilst smoking this cigar, Ken.

[Ken Gargett]

»

» I'm wondering if you detected any notes of chocolate whilst smoking this

» cigar, Ken.

rob and i both sat there going. chocolate, chocolate, chocolate, though from memory, his was more like, mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm chocolate (better than his usual, mmmmmmmmmmmmm bitumen.

[anacostiakat]

Decided to take a week off as I had a scheduled procedure at the croaker. Nothing to smoke or drink.

So I break my fast with a Gin Ricky and a Genio. Right off the bat this is not the best pairing. I think bourbon or scotch or an aged rhum would be better.

But, although I had drugs this morning :-P Ken's review is exactly what I am getting from this dark choc bomb! These things are magnifico. Like smoking a dark choc bar of the highest quality!

[slb6r]

»

» rob and i both sat there going. chocolate, chocolate, chocolate, though

» from memory, his was more like, mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm chocolate (better than his

» usual, mmmmmmmmmmmmm bitumen.

Interesting to read about all these choco comments.

My box (from Germany, ROA ABR 07) looks in colour quite similar to the Siglos, maybe a tad darker.

I tried only one so far and I did not detect any choco flavours. Bummer. Quite a nice smoke, but it reminded me mostly of the Siglo line.

Will have to try again in a few weeks or so.