Stogie Reviews: Cohiba Robusto
Monday, January 22nd, 2007Without getting into too much history here, there are many cigar brand names that transcend their “country of origin.” Due to an uneasy legal environment and the U.S. trade embargo against Castro’s communist regime, you can find Cuban and non-Cuban versions of, among others, Romeo y Julieta, Montecristo, Hoyo de Monterrey, and – most notably – Cohiba.
In that spirit, U.S.-based General Cigar Co. introduced a premium stogie called “Cohiba” to the American market in the 1990s, despite a precarious feud with Fidel’s state-owned tobacco company, Cubatabaco, over trademark rights.
A few days ago I sat down with a five inches by 49 ring gauge Cohiba Robusto. This handsome cigar, which retails in the expensive $8 to $13 range, sports a Mexican binder, a Dominican filler, and a flawless Cameroon wrapper (like I said, there’s nothing Cuban about it).
One of the most noticeable characteristics of the stick is its tight, firm feel. After clipping the head with my double guillotine cutter, I was barely able to make out the pockets of space between the cramped tobacco leaves.
After the cigar was carefully lit, the first thing I noticed – aside from the perfect burn – were mild notes of creamy coffee and light honey. A shiny mascara indicated the tobacco leaves were fully matured when cultivated.
The flavor remained subtle and airy throughout the hour and ½ smoke, living up to its light- to medium-bodied billing. As such, this is the sort of stogie I would recommend pairing not with hard liquor, but with beer or wine (I chose pinot noir).
Fortunately, the perfect burn I noticed after lighting remained fabulously even right down to the very end. And while the ash held nicely off the foot for up to an inch and ½, the draw was a bit difficult, surely due to the cigar’s tight packing.
Overall, this is a fine cigar – especially if you’re looking for something light – but it doesn’t live up to the expectations it sets in price. So while I wouldn’t rush out to your local B&M to stock up on these, I also think they can be a nice change of pace every now and again.
I give the Cohiba (Dominican) Robusto three and ½ out of five stogies.
[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]
I completely agree with this review.
I like the Dominican Cohibas, but I always feel like I’m overpaying just because of the name.
Robby-
I definetly know what you mean. It feels like a $5-$8 dollar cigar not the $8-$13 that Patrick A says.
Still I’ve had good experiences with this. Very creamy in my opinion.
[...] Cohiba (Dominican) Robusto [...]
[...] Original post by The Stogie Guys January 23rd 2007 Posted to 7 Cigars [...]
[...] The winner gets a “Final Four” pack of premium and super-premium smokes that will include a Montecristo Classic, a Cohiba (Dominican), a Gurkha Regent, and a mystery cigar to be named at a later date. [...]
[...] As promised, Dave will receive these Final Four smokes: a Montecristo Classic Robusto, a Cohiba (Dominican) Robusto, a Gurkha Class Regent Torpedo, and a rare Dona Flor Robusto. Some excellent smokes for an excellent bracket. [...]
[...] shape (four and 7/8 inches with a 50 ring gauge), the it bears little similarity to the Dominican Cohiba Robusto made by General Cigar. General Cigar and Habanos, S.A. have been feuding over the rights to the [...]