Rating: 93p
2016 marks the 50th anniversary of Habanos S.A.’s most prolific brand, Cohiba, and the Cuban cigar enterprise has pulled out all the punches as part of the celebration. The first is a regular-production cigar called the Cohiba Medio Siglo - with a name that means half century. At 4 inches long by 52 ring gauge, this small robusto can be considered a cross between two Cohiba Siglo Series cigars, as it is rolled with the length of the Siglo I and the girth of the Siglo VI, though it's blended as part of the Siglo Series (Línea 1492). It will come packaged in slide-lid boxes of 25 or in three-packs of tubos in a “clipped and modern format” that is estimated taking 30 minutes, but can nicely last 40 minutes or slightly more, to smoke while delivering a mild strength profile.
It should also be highlighted that this represents the first launch within Línea 1492 since 2002, when the Cohiba Siglo VI was presented. With this launch, Cohiba strengthens its offer in smaller formats, and offers its smokers an interesting vitola in line with current trends.
Initially you get primarily corn flakes and cereal grain with a bit of sweet, dry sugar. There’s a bit of wood to be found as well and a light peach note. Flavours here lean towards cream and an offering that sits between cereal grain and croissants, with a good bit of black pepper, wood, leather and a touch of sourness being the most prominent. The bridge from second third to final third is one of the highlights of the cigar, as all the notes from the start are now in harmony, and thankfully without any of the sourness.
- Shape: Pajero
- Vitola de Galera: Petit Robustos / Medio Siglo
- Length: 102 mm (4")
- Ring Gauge: 52 (20.64 mm)
- Weight: -
- Body: Medium to Full
- Origin: Cuba
- Filler: Cuba
- Binder: Cuba
- Wrapper: Cuba
- Color: -
Cohiba is the flagship brand of Habanos.
It was created in 1966 for President Fidel Castro himself and was made at the then top secret, but now world famous, El Laguito factory. At first, it was only seen outside Cuba as gifts for heads of state and visiting diplomats. Since 1982 Cohiba has been available in limited quantities to the open market.
The name is an ancient Taino Indian word for the bunches of tobacco leaves that Columbus first saw being smoked by the original inhabitants of Cuba – the earliest known form of a Habano.
The leaves for Cohiba are the “selection of the selection” from the 5 finest Vegas de Primera in San Juan y Martínez and San Luis districts of the Vuelta Abajo zone.
Uniquely amongst Habanos up to three of Cohiba’s filler leaves, the seco, ligero and the rare medio tiempo, undergo an additional fermentation in barrels. This unique process produces a special aroma and flavour you will only find in Cohiba.
Cohiba encompasses four different Líneas or Lines. First there is the Línea Clásica whose six sizes were introduced between 1966 and 1989. Then there is the Línea 1492, five sizes of which were launched in 1992 to commemorate the 500th Anniversay of Columbus’s arrival in Cuba before one further size, the iconic Siglo VI, was added in 2002.
The Línea Maduro 5 consisting of three sizes each wrapped in dark maduro leaves specially aged for five years was launched in 2007. And most recently, the Línea Behike, whose three sizes made their debut in 2010, was added as the most exclusive line of all. In its filler blend it uses the rare medio tiempo leaf, which is found only amongst some of the top two leaves of sun-grown tobacco plants and brings an exceptional richness to the taste of the Habanos.
Through such constant innovation, Cohiba has held its position at the leading edge of the cigar world. It was also the first Habanos brand to offer a Reserva cigar in 2002 and a Gran Reserva in 2009 made with tobaccos specially aged for a minimum of three and five years respectively.
All Cohiba sizes are Tripa Larga , Totalmente a Mano – long filler, totally hand made.
Flavours:
- Línea Clásica: Medium to Full
- Línea 1492: Medium
- Línea Maduro 5: Medium to Full
- Línea Behike: Full
Occasions: Timeless
Handmade: Yes
