Stogie Reviews: Cohiba Siglo VI (Cuban)

25 Feb 2008

You would hard-pressed to find a list of today’s top cigars that didn’t include the Cohiba Siglo VI. This thick Cuban toro (also known as a canonazo) features generous six inch by 52 ring gauge proportions.

Prior to the three I smoked for this review, my last Siglo VI was on New Year’s Eve a few years ago in Barcelona. That cigar was the most expensive I’ve ever purchased – over 50 US dollars – a function of a bad exchange rate and the inflated prices of a fancy hotel bar.

While never inexpensive (if someone offers you a great deal on one of these be very wary…Cuban deals that are too good to be true usually are), fortunately the Siglo VI is can normally be had for far less than $50 each. Packs of three, presented in cedar-lined aluminum tubes, can be found online for about $75, and boxes of ten or 25 cost around $220 and $480, respectively.

For this review I sampled the Siglo VI that’s presented in an ornate gold and black aluminum tube. Inside I found a wrapper with a beautiful caramel brown color. These particular sticks have a bit of age on them as evidenced by a fine layer of plume.

Pre-light I found an aroma of cedar, barnyard, and a subtle fruit taste that reminds me of cognac. The cigar is firm to the touch and the wrapper has only a few small veins.

After lighting up the canonaza I find a full-flavored smoke with earth, subtle spice, and plenty of cedar. While similar to the flavors found in the Cohiba Robusto or the other Siglo vitolas, the Siglo VI is more full-flavored.

It is also is more complex than the Cohiba Robusto. In addition to the initial flavors, I found that underneath the Siglo VI has deep coffee, earth, Burgundian fruit, and even some creaminess creating a remarkably complex, yet smooth, flavor profile.

The construction was equally impressive. The draw was firm and the solid gray ash was sturdy. On occasion the burn became a little uneven, but never to a distracting level.

This Cuban certainly lives up to its reputation as one of the best cigars in the world. Accordingly, the Cohiba Siglo VI earns an impressive rating of five out of five stogies.