Cohiba Piramide LE 2006

[Habanos2000]

Here's my first attempt at a cigar review for FOH.

I chose a Cohiba Piramide 2006 LD that I have a 10 pack of.

I actually had this cigar and wrote the review back in October when it was still nice and warm in Chicago. About 82 degrees F and windy. While I don't like smoking in windy conditions, I spent the afternoon in the back yard and lit up anyway. It was deserved, at least in my opinion.

My first impression of the cigar was the delicious dark brown wrapper. I love the look of a dark wrapper... just mouth watering. It looked like dark chocolate and was a bit toothy in texture. Very inviting.

The taste at prelight was sweet leather and cedar along with a nice firm feel the length of the stick.

Upon lighting the cigar displayed a nice spicy flavor with a hint of grass in the background. I realized the cigar was young when I took it out but decided to give it a shot anyway. Full speed ahead!

The first 3rd left me with impressions of dark chocolate and mint. It provided a relatively even burn and a perfect draw. All in all a fine start.

The 2nd 3rd led a bit more to an espresso bean flavor with a light/medium body. The ash was light grey and it was at this stage that the ash first dropped off. While it was tasting smooth, it unfortunately wasn't dominating.

The final stage showed the cigar starting to burn slightly unevenly and expose some bitterness although there was some vanilla still in the background. Time to say goodbye and wait for this ones brothers to rest another year before trying again.

All in all I should have been more patient in letting these cigars rest a bit longer and hopefully the experience may have been more rewarding. I certainly hope to have something to look forward to in 2009.

[Colt45]

Over the past sixteen months, I've tried two from an ROA OCT 06 box. I've been underwhelmed by both.

To be honest, I have little expectation for the remainder of my particular box.

Thanks for the review.

[shrink]

Thanks for the review, Habanos 2000. Excellent pix.

Sorry to hear of your disappointment, Colt. I have smoked a half-dozen of these, and they are among the best cigars I've ever had. These are legendary. And I'm not a Cohiba fan. I always find it curious when opinions diverge so signficantly. It's hard to attribute it entirely to "inter-rater reliability" or "different strokes". You have good taste in cigars, Colt and a discerning palate. The cigars must be the variable. You must have gotten an "off" box.

[Colt45]

The cigars must be the variable. You must have gotten an "off" box.

Shrink, thanks for the kind words. I agree with you about my particular box being an aberration of the norm for this

cigar. I posted a review of my ROA OCT 06 fairly recently. At the same time, Tomwaits posted a review of one of his

POS OCT 06s. You wouldn't think they were the same cigar.

But there was a marked difference between cigar one and two from my box, and they are still evolving. I think when

I said underwhelmed and that I have little expectation, it is more relative to high grades this cigar has been given by

yourself and others, rather than my concrete feeling on this one.

I'm actually looking forward to seeing if / how these will continue to evolve over the coming years, though right now,

I doubt they will become the cigars you've been enjoying - we shall see.

[BobbyRitz]

Thanks for the review, H2000. Excellent discourse guys. I've smoked a handful from November and December boxes (codes evade me at the moment). They were fairly similar and very good cigars, but IMHO need several years of additional maturation to really see whether we have a good cigar or, as Bob said, a potentially legendary cigar.

I'll have to pull one out soon and check there progress, as it's been 6 or so months since my last.

[sanjeppu]

I just purchased my second box of 10 after smoking one. Pretty close to a perfect cigar, an instant classic. Different from the golden-wrappered Esplendido and Robusto. Richer flavors, less grassy and more nutty. Less beany and more fruity. And, most obviously, beautiful dark oily wrapper. Perfectly rolled for an exemplary roll and burn, The smoke smells like rare French cologne -- like Vetiver.

-------------------------

sanjeppu

http://www.cigarsdirect.com

[Mel]

My experience has been more like Colts. The ones out my first box were overly tight and some of the worst rolled Cohibas that I have ever seen. Because of the construction issues they were damned from the start since the flavors could not be released with proper oxidation. My opinion is that these were sold under the Cohiba name and EL marketing scheme and with out these two props these cigars would never be worth mention. I need to wait on my second box till the memory of the first is gone and hope they recieve a miracle from above.

[Ken Gargett]

very sorry to hear of those not enjoying these smokes. i'm most of the way through a box ROA AGO 06 and i'm with shrink on this. they have been superb. have a few different boxes but don't have those codes to hand and yet to try them but will certainly keep a close eye on them. shame as when they are good, as has been my experience, they are very very good.

[Guest rob]

i'm with shrink on this.

they have been superb.

they are very very good.

I agree with the above statements.

[Mel]

very sorry to hear of those not enjoying these smokes. i'm most of the way through a box ROA AGO 06 and i'm with shrink on this. they have been superb. have a few different boxes but don't have those codes to hand and yet to try them but will certainly keep a close eye on them. shame as when they are good, as has been my experience, they are very very good.

You remember the old tired joke?? I got the ones Rob set aside for you.

[Ken Gargett]

You remember the old tired joke?? I got the ones Rob set aside for you.

[Ken Gargett]

sorry, nothing happened with that last one for some reason.

mel, was going to say that i think i may have got them in havana. have to check.

[DocRKS]

I'm enjoying these - am well into the 3rd box - and while I grant that the appearance of some of these is very 'un-Cohiba like' - some of the ugliest caps I've seen on a Cohiba - I haven't experienced construction problems or bad burns as described above. My only disapointment in these cigars is that they don't measure up to the ORIGINAL Cohibamides...... that was/is a classic.

[Guest gorob23]

I'm enjoying these - am well into the 3rd box -

Well No wonder I haven't seen you around much! How ya doing Sir? Ok thank You for the thread jack. I have only tried one and while I really am a HUGE fan of Cohiba and Partys I wasn't all that excited about these.. maybe I'll give them another shot. Heavens knows I have been wrong before.

Rob

[ehdg]

I'm enjoying these - am well into the 3rd box - and while I grant that the appearance of some of these is very 'un-Cohiba like' - some of the ugliest caps I've seen on a Cohiba - I haven't experienced construction problems or bad burns as described above. My only disapointment in these cigars is that they don't measure up to the ORIGINAL Cohibamides...... that was/is a classic.

Good to see you around sir. Sorry I missed you at the Christmas Herf the boy's had.

Well No wonder I haven't seen you around much! How ya doing Sir? Ok thank You for the thread jack. I have only tried one and while I really am a HUGE fan of Cohiba and Partys I wasn't all that excited about these.. maybe I'll give them another shot. Heavens knows I have been wrong before.

Rob

You and me both Rob!! I need to revisit these one of these day's as well. But the one I smoked about 3 months ago I thought needed a couple years to really come around. I did see potential in them but not sure if they will be as good as the Originals where.

[shrink]

sorry, nothing happened with that last one for some reason.

Ken, you're shootin' blanks!

[Ken Gargett]

Ken, you're shootin' blanks!

just as well i have no target.

[jwm8592]

Colt or anyone else;

I just came across this thread and your post. I also have a box of these same box codes as yours ROA OCT 06, I have yet to try one. Would one suggest trying one to see what might be down the road w/additional storing, or maybe because its better to get the disappointment over with now rather than 2-3 years from now, or let them rest in hopes of beating the odds. Just wondering what choice others might choose. I have to tell you, this was one cigar that I was most looking forward to trying at some point down the road, so to learn of its possible "not living up to high expectations" kinda sucks.

[shrink]

jwm:

I strongly recommend that you try one now. Here's why:

If yours are anything like mine, you will be more than happy. The ones I've tried have been perfectly approachable, and if anything, taste like aged cigars. There is a little bitterness, but more than overcome by the richness of flavor and creamy sweetness. Plus, there's always the chance that they will decline with age. I've seen other cigars, like the Hoyo Piramide EL, do this.

If they aren't to your liking, you will have little trouble selling them. They are one of the most popular EL's ever rolled.

[Colt45]

jwm:

I strongly recommend that you try one now.

jwm, I agree completely. Try one for yourself, without any preconceived notions - don't allow yourself to be subliminally influenced by

any opinions. I do hope that if you try one, you'll share your thoughts with us by posting a review.

[Ken Gargett]

jwm, I agree completely. Try one for yourself, without any preconceived notions - don't allow yourself to be subliminally influenced by

any opinions. I do hope that if you try one, you'll share your thoughts with us by posting a review.

am in complete agfreement with colt on this, if not the quality of the smoke itself. definitely try one and let us know.

it should be easy to do it without any preconceptions here as there are such conflicting reports, who knows what sort of box you got. there really must be variation. shame, i love 'em.

[jwm8592]

Thx Shrink & Colt & Ken (didn't see you sneak in there), I will try one as you suggest. I'm attending a small herf w/a few guys not far from where I live wkend after next, it'll be a good time to sit back, relax and enjoy smoking one of these. Man, if the look of a cigar was the precursor to the quality of the smoke this stick would be heavenly. I will also snap a few photos and write up my first review.

[jwm8592]

Well as a follow up to my post above I decided to go ahead and fire one of these up versus smoking w/a group of guys. Figured I could give this cigar my full attention. Now keep in mind this is my first review, and my palate is still evolving, learning.

Paired this w/a Sam Adams winter lager, I'm a beer guy. At cold this cigar has a luscious brown coating, but lacks the oily sheen of some of the others in the 10/pk. Has some large & long protruding veins, rough to the touch the entire length of the cigar that take away from the appearance. Smell at cold is consistent w/typical Cohiba grassiness, smelled like I was in a barn. Firm all the way through. Clipped the cap clean, draw slightly muted/tight, and gave off a spicy taste.

First third: initially burn took off crooked from the get go, and never really recovered (not a good sign). The tastes were of burnt grass, almost pungent. I have read many of you describe an ammonia taste, I'm really not familiar w/that taste and maybe that's what I was tasting. WOW, not what I was expecting, smoothness and creaminess doesn't exist. Smoke was actually hard to come by, the ash was very black (even though the photos don't show it that way) @ the foot, almost appears to be wet? I dry boxed it for about 12 hours, prelight.

Second third: draw is still muted, again as if its wet (65/63%), the burn is horrible and still has a pungent taste, really nothing has changed. No cocoa, no chocolate, or cream etc.., nothing good. Approaching the end of the 2nd third the cigar is splitting right down the center along a large vein. Picked up some slight spice along the way. OMG, can't take the tastes anymore, had to tray it. Probably the worst Cohiba I've ever had, never had a LE prior. So maybe its not ready?? Thought these had 5 year aged wrappers already. Even with being somewhat new at this, bottom line is the tastes were just bad. Couldn't call it a night on that note, so I brought out old reliable CoRo DIC 2006, it definitely picked up the slack, very enjoyable.

CoRo

I'll just let them rest and try in another in 3-6 months.

[shrink]

It's hard to tell from your pix, but I see some indications that the cigar you smoked might not be authentic. Were these from an unimpeachable source?

If not, I'll defer to Wilkey for his opinion on these.

[jwm8592]

PM sent

It's hard to tell from your pix, but I see some indications that the cigar you smoked might not be authentic. Were these from an unimpeachable source?

If not, I'll defer to Wilkey for his opinion on these.