Having just returned from the Cohiba 55th Anniversary festival in Havana, the black, gold, and yellow labels were on my mind, and on my fingertips for the better part of the week. With that being said, three out of the four picks this month are by Cohiba. In order to ensure that most readers had easy access to the cigars chosen, the new releases by the flagship brand were not included. As I was living with these cigars for the week, I realized that these classic cigars often get overlooked. Mostly due to price, or just because we’ve gotten so used to hearing about all things Cohiba. Look at this way, the Led Zeppelin IV album is a classic rock album, that most of us have had our fair share of. However, when you put it on, boom! It still sounds killer. As is with these classic Cohiba cigars featured here.
On the New World Size, my pick is a size that I absolutely love, and from a brand that has a history that stands alone. Arturo Fuente’s Spanish Lonsdale.
Playing it safe? Maybe, but try these cigars “again for the first time”. You will see why they are considered the classics they are.
Be sure to see the photos of the Cohiba Laguito Factory at the end of the article!
CUBAN
COHIBA “ROBUSTOS”. Part of the Cohiba “Linea Clasica”.
Size: 50 x 4 7/8
FACTORY NAME: Robustos
For many years, the best-selling Cuban cigar has been the Partagas Serie D No. 4. A cigar with the exact same size as the Cohiba Robustos. Through many discussions with friends and clients about robusto sized cigars, there is always one common denominator. “I love that “Robusto”, but there are always some from the box that are not on point. That is true for many of the robustos from the Habanos lineup.
Well, that is what separates the men from the boys. A box of Cohiba Robustos will 99% of the time be consistent, with both flavor and cigar construction. The fact that they come in a cabinet box also makes them that much more special.
Flavor and strength profile: Medium to Full bodied. Flavors from the Cohiba Robusto include cedar wood, floral notes and hints of roasted almonds.
NEW WORLD CIGAR
Arturo Fuente “Spanish Lonsdale”
Size: 42 x 6.5
Wrapper: Cameroon
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Country Of Origin: Dominican Republic
From the flagship series of the brand, the Gran Reserva series, this elegant size really allows the experience and depth of the Fuente family to shine through. The blend of tobacco they use for the Gran Reserva series is aged and of high quality. I can imagine that, given the smaller ring gauge of the cigar, most of the tobacco used in it are full of flavor.
Flavor and strength profile: Medium bodied cigar. I tasted dark chocolate, espresso and lots of nutty type flavors on this cigar. Towards the end, the richness of the aged Dominican tobacco were present as the cigar intensified.
OFF THE BEATEN PATH CIGAR
Cohiba “Siglo II” Tubos
Size: 42 x 5 1/8
FACTORY NAME: Marevas
Country Of Origin:
When the majority of cigar lovers decide to smoke a Petit Corona cigar, they more often than not lean towards the Montecristo No. 4, or a Bolivar Petit Corona, perhaps a Partagas Petit Corona Especial. But let’s say you want a petit corona sized cigar, and you want that to be extra special? Cohiba Siglo II is the answer.
Due to the size, the flavors are not too far apart from its Montecristo and Bolivar counterparts. However, the Siglo II remains slightly milder, and the construction is usually above the pact. I also find there is more evolution on the SIGLO II which is always a treat.
Flavor and strength profile: Medium to full bodied. The one sampled for this article was from a tubos, and so the cedar notes were more present than usual. A very nice way to spend an hour indeed.
SPECIAL CELEBRATORY CIGAR
Cohiba “Esplendidos”. Also from the Cohiba “Linea Clasica”
Country Of Origin: CUBA
Size: 47 x 7
FACTORY NAME: Julieta No. 2
Go ahead. Name a cigar that is more special to light up than a Cohiba Esplendidos. Sure, a few cigars come to mind and will hold up a good argument, but this Churchill sized cigar is the staple in the Cuban cigar world and one that is hard to beat.
The other two current production “Churchill” sized cigars coming from Cuba are also classics, the H. Upmann Sir Winston, and the Romeo Y Julieta Churchills. But there is something about the flavor and construction of the Esplendidos that makes it sit a little higher than the rest.
Flavor and strength profile: Medium Bodied. In typical Cohiba fashion, the Esplendidos is floral, woody, and carries an elegant evolution throughout the close to 2 hours of smoking.
During the Cohiba 55th festival, there was a visit to the Laguito Factory where our treasured Cohiba cigars are made. Here are a few photos from that visit.
Excellent post!