Cohiba Maduro 5 Secretos POS MAY 07: Update

[shrink]

A lot of people seem to like these, and the other Cohiba maduros. They just don't do a thing for me. When I want something small and spicy, I don't have to reach any further than a RASCC.

The Cohiba Piramides EL just keep gettin' better and better, tho...

[jdbrown]

Rob,

Agree 100% ..I picked up a 10er and 25er of both Secretos and Genios. Initially tastings led me to believe it was a marketing ploy but they both are showing great improvement. Looking forward to see how they develop over 3-5 years.

[bobsled]

Tried one of these from the LCDH Wile cruising in Grand Cayman. had to dry box it for a day because it was over-humidified. Definitely was an enjoyable smoke but seemed a little muted, more age will make this a fantastic smoke. :-)

[Ginseng]

Thanks for the update, Rob. This is exactly the change-of-pace I'm seeking in this size.

Wilkey

[El Presidente]

Cohiba Maduro 5 Secretos POS MAY 07

These have had a chance to stabilize over the past six months and it is remarkable what a few months can do in the humidor. This is the second Secretos that I have smoked from the initial box I kept for myself.

Here is my review back on the 11th of July

Clipped the cap, fine draw and a dark licorice taste to the lips.

Fired up the foot and there was a mesmerising mix of cocoa and white pepper. The fuller bodied of the three Maduro 5 releases at least at the start.

It quickly got into stride with a sweet mix of cocoa and cream. Wonderful, delightful but it has you looking for a tad more. Fuller version of the finest Monte 4 in flavour profile.

To me the biggest problem in the three Secretos that I have now smoked is that they are a tad one dimensional....constrained....limited in their flavour delivery. For sure they are laden with cocoa and cream but there is something lacking...a kick here...a change there.

I won't bore you with third to third changes as there were none. They started very good and ended very good. Medium full to begin with and then dropping back to medium. Some white pepper through the nose, bit all in all a little cocoa and cream stick which would be ideal as an early morning cigar.

Better than a Trini Reyes......NO. Different sure and I will have these in my humidor in rotation becasue I enjoyed it and because I can't wait to see how they develop. Certainly in the Top 4 Half Corona's (Trinidad Reyes/Cohiba Siglo 1/RASCC) I just struggle to know where I would rank it personally. I think I need to let them rest and revisit later. I do know that the flavour profile will make it one of the greats to some and a disappointment to others.

I am going to be tough in scoring this cigar because of its price point and because I would happily reach for a Trini Reyes over it. However, it would not surprise me if after revisiting the box in 90 days it becomes a revelation.

88/100 4/6 Smokerings.

Six months later and Trinidad Reyes, Cohiba Siglo 1 and Ramon Allones Small Club Corona have something to worry about. The Cohiba Maduro 5 Secretos are maturing into a smoother, fuller profile not that a lack of body was a previous problem. My prior complaint of a lack of complexity outside of its Cocoa and Cream has taken some reconsideration. For much of this cigar I felt like I was smoking a glass of stout / Guinness. It had the same full rich mouth feel loaded with charred wood and cream but with a sprinkling of cocoa.

The more I think of it, the more I smoke them, I am coming to understand that the Secretos is a worthwhile addition to half corona/ perla lineup. It is so uniquely different in taste that it will either enthrall you or disgust you but it will elicit a response and I can ask no more of a cigar.

While it is now very much in the medium / medium full range the cream and cocoa give it an impression of smoking “lighter” than you really are. This example had some serious power combined with the three well defined flavours. I think these small vitola’s struggle with true complexity (take you on that changing journey) because they just do not have the time to do so. They need to stamp their individuality on the tastebuds immediately and hold your attention for 30 minutes. Most do it very well and they are certainly distinctive as I think that anyone who has smoked the range of these cigars would never confuse a Reyes with a Short or a Siglo 1 with a San Cristobal Principe. Similarly even blindfolded you would never in a 100 years confuse a Cohiba Maduro 5 Secretos with anything else. In fact I suspect 9 pout of 10 people blindfolded could tell the cigar from the chocolate aroma alone.

So in summary they are developing very nicely pushing a 90 score. Be warned however….if you do not enjoy a sweeter profile these will never be a cigar for you.