Cohiba Maduro Secretos LPM JUL 07

[pnutbutrsangwich]

My anticipation for this line of cigars coming out was quite tepid prior to their release. I thought it was super gimmicky and that the cigars would be very overrated. However, I did have to satisfy my curiosity and pick up a few singles of the smallest size, the Secretos.

The wrapper on this particular example was nearly as dark as the varnish on the beautiful box. There was a mild amount of mottling in the wrapper and some significant vein lines that no doubt were accentuated by the treatment of the wrapper to produce this dark color. The texture of the wrapper leaf also made it appear as though the wrapper is considerably thicker than normal wrapper.

Draw was on the tight side, but still perfectly acceptable. Prelight draw yielded very little in terms of taste. There was a creamy sweetness, but nothing more. Upon lighting it up, a burst of woods and powerful black pepper come through on the palate. Nasal exhale leaves no uncertainty as to the youth of this cigar. Despite the aged ingredients, this is still an incredibly young tasting cigar.

Throughout the first third, the woods fade to an earthy coffee and a mild sweetness also develops. The pepper faded almost immediately after the lighting. Through the half way point, the nicotine strength picks up, but the flavors are amplifying accordingly. Also absent is any hint that this might be a Cohiba. It almost reminds me of a Montecristo C from when I smoked one young back in 04. Power, sweetness, and nicotine, in quite an imperfect balance were what I recall from that smoke and my impressions are similar with this one. After 5 years, those Cs have morphed into fantastic cigars. Hopefully the raw materials will marry into something similar in these Cohibas.

Overall, I'd have to give this an 85/100 with a 50/50 shot of improving to 92 or staying at like 87. Too young to really enjoy right now.

[El Presidente]

Thanks mate

I have noted plenty of variability in these cigars. The varialbility is primarily with the flavour profile and they fall toward Bitter chocolate/cocoa/coal or charred wood/leather/chemical

I run my personal Maduro 5 at 60% RH as opposed to my other stock at 65% which I dry box for 2 days.

I don't know why but the Maduro 5 appear to perform better at lower humidity levels than normal stock.

Give it a try. I would love to hear feedback.

[pnutbutrsangwich]

» Thanks mate

»

» I have noted plenty of variability in these cigars. The varialbility is

» primarily with the flavour profile and they fall toward Bitter

» chocolate/cocoa/coal or charred wood/leather/chemical

»

» I run my personal Maduro 5 at 60% RH as opposed to my other stock at 65%

» which I dry box for 2 days.

»

» I don't know why but the Maduro 5 appear to perform better at lower

» humidity levels than normal stock.

»

» Give it a try. I would love to hear feedback.

That is an interesting suggestion, Rob. Perhaps the processing of the wrapper leaves produces a leaf which responds to humidity levels in different ways from the mainstream strain. I'll have to check this out for myself.