Cohiba

[big bopper]

Been wondering about this.

By common consent, Cohibas seem to need laying down for anything up to 5 years before consuming.

As I understand it, the tobacco that goes into them is aged for longer than other brands before rolling - hence the premium price.

With that in mind and the price premium, shouldn't that make them ready to go while they're young?

Am I missing something?

[rascal]

Been wondering about this.

By common consent, Cohibas seem to need laying down for anything up to 5 years before consuming.

As I understand it, the tobacco that goes into them is aged for longer than other brands before rolling - hence the premium price.

With that in mind and the price premium, shouldn't that make them ready to go while they're young?

Am I missing something?

I am under the impression that the tobacco is not aged differently from other marcas just that it is a different blend. They are not the only cigar that needs laying down/greatly benefits from 5 years plus

[butternutsquashpie]

I am under the impression that the tobacco is not aged differently from other marcas just that it is a different blend.

Aye. Also different tobacco''. But after a while, you start to wonder what the hell that means. Sure different land means different growing protocols. But, I mean, is VR tobacco REALLY "worse" than Cohiba? :/

Sent from my BlackBerry Q10 using Tapatalk for Android.

[Edamski]

I have no doubt that they will be better with age but the vast majority of the cigars I've smoked (plenty of cohibas) have been young and I've thoroughly enjoyed them all.

I think it's a bit idealistic and pie in the sky sometimes and good to do if you can.

[rascal]

The way I think about it like whisky, sure I love some of the 10 year old whisky I drink and they are very nice and I could drink them all day but when you try one the same but 21 or 30 year old it is so much nicer. See its not that they are not nice its that they can be so much better. But some CORO's I have had young have just been nasty but the rest of the box developed into something up there with the 30 year old whiskey

[butternutsquashpie]

pie in the sky sometimes and good to do if you can.

pshaw! i don't ALWAYS have my head in the clouds...
but i do admit, it IS good

[big bopper]

There is of course a general principle that more or less all cigars improve with age.

I suppose what I am getting at is:

There are plenty of cigars which are good to smoke young. Why not Cohiba if they age their leaves for longer?

[Edamski]

I think even though the individual leaves are aged longer before they go together will help mellow them it's once they are all together they develop together and evolve even more.

[ValeTudoGuy]

Great question, I read that Cohiba have a special third fermentation in wooden barrels that created a smoother and more well rounded flavour profile.

If that's the case then surely they should be a year ahead of other cigars.... Unless the wood imparts something that needs to age out?

[monkey66]

Been wondering about this.

By common consent, Cohibas seem to need laying down for anything up to 5 years before consuming.

As I understand it, the tobacco that goes into them is aged for longer than other brands before rolling - hence the premium price.

With that in mind and the price premium, shouldn't that make them ready to go while they're young?

Am I missing something?

What you are missing is that applying logic to Cuba is a slippery slope at best

Regardless there are many cigars that don't get close to smokeable for 3-5 years, not just Cohiba. Indeed (for me) this is probably true for at least half of Cubans on the market today.

Its worth noting that there has been a significant improvement in 2012/2013 production in regard to a proper aged leaf stock (2 years plus) being used in production. This has seen an improvement in 'smoking young' but by no means a catch-all.

This years crop is not looking so good due to weather conditions so we could see a downturn in quality in 2015/16. Buy 2013 boxes, going to go down as one of the great production years.

NB -I have a great looking box of 2013 Sig II's. I will try one soon (for reference) but don't anticipate smoking any more for at least 3-5 years. Currently my Sig II's and VI's from '08 are smoking great.

Some good info/discussion here:

http://www.ukcigarforums.com/showthread.php?12385-New-or-Older-Cohiba&highlight=cohiba+young

[PeeJay]

Another worthwhile post Monkey

[TJCoro]

Time Traveler!

Some good info/discussion here:http://www.ukcigarforums.com/showthr...t=cohiba+young

Oh My! I bet you had to borrower Mr. Peabody's "WaBac" machine to dig that one up!




Names Perro, el Perro, and if you have to ask, you're too young!

[big bopper]

Thanks for that Monkey, very informative.

What you are missing is that applying logic to Cuba is a slippery slope at best

Having travelled the length of the place you'd think I'd know this already!

[tippexx]

This years crop is not looking so good due to weather conditions so we could see a downturn in quality in 2015/16. Buy 2013 boxes, going to go down as one of the great production years.

I'm not so sure Monk. Cuban cigars are unique not because they are grown in good soil but because they are grown in poor soil which stresses the tobacco plant into releasing the excess sugars which govern flavour. Weather also stresses plants, so maybe (and it is just maybe) 2014/15/16 boxes might be better than you expect.

[monkey66]

I'm not so sure Monk. Cuban cigars are unique not because they are grown in good soil but because they are grown in poor soil which stresses the tobacco plant into releasing the excess sugars which govern flavour. Weather also stresses plants, so maybe (and it is just maybe) 2014/15/16 boxes might be better than you expect.

Could be. The info I heard is that the rain had damages a lot of the larger leafs meaning a shortage in good quality large size wrapper stock (going into the ageining/curing process this season). Cuba being Cuba means they will use poorer quality leaf rather than turn down the $$'s.