Which Cohiba?

[Nightwingvyse]

I have only been smoking cigars since March, and have had two of the Cohiba range; the Maduro 5 Secretos and the Siglio I. I wasn't really impressed by either of them and found that there were nicer cigars of other brands of better value, but I'm convinced i'm missing something with their reputation and expense.

Can any Cohiba aficionados point me towards the best one in the range. I'll put a price cap of say, ?20. But the cheaper the better.

[SmokeyDave]

My absolute favourite Cohiba is a Corona Especiale, a thin ring gauge which needs careful smoking to not overheat and destroy the flavour.

Ideally they need a few years age to reach their best, I've found young Cohiba cigars to have a much more pronounced grassiness.

The secretos is a great little smoke, I had a box of 25 which disappeared over 18 months, they latter sticks benefitted a lot from sitting compared to the younger ones.

Dave

[Nightwingvyse]

Ideally they need a few years age to reach their best, I've found young Cohiba cigars to have a much more pronounced grassiness.
Dave

A little off the specific topic, but i don't understand why so few cigars are aged even a little between rolling and selling.

But anyway, tbh i don't feel comfortable spending ?16 on anything with a 38 ring guage lmao.

[Smallclub]

Can any Cohiba aficionados point me towards the best one in the range.

I'm not a Cohiba aficionado, as I find them too inconsistent and overpriced (specially the Siglo line), but you must give a try to the Robusto. If by chance you get a really good one you will understand what it's all about.
My favorite is the Lancero but I wouldn't recommend it to someone new to this hobby. Even if you get one that has some age and draws perfectly, it's a demanding cigar that requires a bit of "savoir faire" and your full attention.
For the moment, forget the Siglo line, the Maduro line and the ELs.

[Smallclub]

… i don't understand why so few cigars are aged even a little between rolling and selling.

In the case of the Cohiba, it's because they sell like hot croissants in a good Parisian bakery. No time to age, and the majority of customers won't notice, as they smoke the band, not the tobacco…

[Zigatoh]

I'd also suggest the Robusto, for a combination of price and the more general nature of this cigar you're more likely to get an idea of whether or not you want to try further Cohiba without blowing the budget.

[patrickspark]

there are other brands of equal / superior quality out there. buy the cigar, not the band / brand

[SmokeyDave]

Personally I found the robusto too harsh compared to others in the range.

Also don't make a direct link to the amount of tobacco in a stick to the quality of the smoke, the latest trend for fat ring gauges is diverting attention from some sublime 'thinnies'.

At the end of the day though follow what you feel and fancy at the time, you will learn which smokes you enjoy and which you would turn your nose up to, everyone is different and part of the fun is hunting for that elusive 'wow' moment when you try what you thought was a so so cigar and turns out to be a belter.

[Styler]

...tbh i don't feel comfortable spending ?16 on anything with a 38 ring guage lmao.

Not quite sure what you mean by this, are you going on the assumption that a larger RG means more tobacco which means more value for money?

You can't judge the quality of a cigar on it's size. Unless it's a 60RG NC monster in which case feel free to judge away

[Nightwingvyse]

My favorite is the Lancero but I wouldn't recommend it to someone new to this hobby. Even if you get one that has some age and draws perfectly, it's a demanding cigar that requires a bit of "savoir faire" and your full attention.

That's not really something that would bother me. I smoke my cigars out in the back garden on a sunny warm day with a good beer or bourbon, with my ipod in my ears, all for the sheer sake of smoking one, so i''ve usually got my full attention on what i'm smoking anyway.

the majority of customers won't notice, as they smoke the band, not the tobacco…

He he that's cute

The point i was poorly making in the other thread was that i mentioned that i had both the geniune and the pseudo ones, and liked them both for different reasons, so it didn't really matter. In fact, i actually preferred the fake.

Not quite sure what you mean by this, are you going on the assumption that a larger RG means more tobacco which means more value for money?

Nah i mean more that you can get far more lasting smokes from a great cigar for waaaay less.

[monkey66]

I would park Cohiba for now and revisit in a year or two. They are often nasty young and will put you off for sure

[Nightwingvyse]

I would park Cohiba for now and revisit in a year or two. They are often nasty young and will put you off for sure

That could explain my previous experiences. I found them okay, but not worth it.

[Stevieboy]

.... the majority of customers won't notice, as they smoke the band, not the tobacco…

Ha ha. Brilliant SC. Get that man a saucer of milk

[Simon Bolivar]

Some interesting points made in this thread.
1/ 'I'll put a price cap of say, ?20. But the cheaper the better.'
Cap of 20 quid, cheaper the better eh? Well if you paying UK prices then you're limiting yourself drastically there. A good cheap Cohiba? Have you ever tried the fakes?

2/ '...with my ipod in my ears, all for the sheer sake of smoking one, so i''ve usually got my full attention on what i'm smoking anyway.
It could be argued that however pleasant a tune your listening too, having your IPod plugged in isn't giving the cigar 100% of your attention, some must be going to the music. If you want to savour the whole spectrum of the cigar, unplug occasionally.


3/ In fact, i actually preferred the fake.'
Oh, you have tried the fakes & liked them! Well now we have someone to snap up all the glass top souveniers that get offered for sale on here More useful comment would be, what about the fake did you prefer? Was it just that it was cheaper of was it milder, less harsh than a green Cohiba can be ect? That would give us a direction to point you in, for abrand that might suit you more.



Originally Posted by Styler
Not quite sure what you mean by this, are you going on the assumption that a larger RG means more tobacco which means more value for money?



4/ 'Nah i mean more that you can get far more lasting smokes from a great cigar for waaaay less.'
I don't think even Habanos would claim Cohibas represent best value for the money, they are meant to be the top of the Habana range, a luxery item, made with the best tobacco & by the most experienced rollers. Are they too expensive for what they are? If you think so then they are not for you. I would guess most C.A.'s have a selection of Cohibas in there portfollio & smoke them occasionally for birthdays, anniversaries & other celibrations. They aren't for most of us, our everyday smoke. Even if we could afford to do so most of us wouldn't want to limit ourselves to a single brand, let alone this brand.
Tobacconists literature used to state various full bodied cigars as 'not for beginners'. Some would heed that & start on the mild to med & then move on, no doubt some over estimated their experience & had one too soon, perhaps you haven't reached that stage yet. However my suggestion FWIW, small & flavoursome, try the Siglo No1

[TJCoro]

Wise Words!

...At the end of the day though follow what you feel and fancy at the time, you will learn which smokes you enjoy and which you would turn your nose up to, everyone is different and part of the fun is hunting for that elusive 'wow' moment when you try what you thought was a so so cigar and turns out to be a belter.

So true, senor davieboy.

Follow your heart, young brother.



TJCoro

Hey TJ! No problem asking for guidance, right?

That is correct juggler boy, but as don Juan used to say, "The magic is in the journey, not the destination."




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