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Cigar Review: Cohiba Edición Diamante Toro

11 Nov 2013

The year is 1980. The U.S. boycotts the Summer Olympics in Moscow to protest the Soviet Union. Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” is topping the charts. President Jimmy Carter bails out the Chrysler Corporation. Yours Truly is three years away from being born. And the Cameroon wrapper on this cigar is harvested.

CohibaYes, you read that right. General Cigar launched the Cohiba Edición Diamante in December 2011 as an ultra-premium line with a wrapper that pre-dates the Reagan Administration. Originally, two sizes were available in the $22-25 range: Robusto (5 x 50) and Toro (6 x 54). Two new vitolas have since been added: Gigante (6 x 60) and A (8.25 x 49). All four feature an Indonesian binder and Dominican Piloto Cubano filler.

But the real star of the show is the ancient wrapper. “It is a widely held belief that the 1980 crop of Cameroon wrapper tobacco remains one of the most exemplary leaves ever cultivated,” reads a General Cigar press release from the summer of 2011. “In the more than thirty years since this outstanding tobacco was harvested, General Cigar’s tobacco masters have cloistered these rarified leaves, nurturing them for the perfect occasion. That time is now…”

You’d expect a cigar with a 33-year-old wrapper to look old, and the Cohiba Edición Diamante Toro does. Its wrinkles, green splotch, lumps, and dry, toothy exterior all suggest age. But don’t get me wrong. This is a great-looking smoke that I’ve had the pleasure to admire through my glass-top humidor. It begs to be smoked. And it’s not exactly like any additional age is going to make much of a difference.

So with no reason to further delay this Toro’s fate, I light it and take note of its flavors. The outset is characterized by a dry, woodsy profile of oak, cream, and toast. The body borders on mild-medium yet there’s ample cedar spice on the lips—particularly on the aftertaste. Faint sour notes come and go, as does a fleeting sweetness. The texture is bready and the resting smoke has a pleasant, sugary aroma.

The Toro’s construction is flawless, as one might expect from General Cigar (especially on a stick with a price tag north of $20). The burn is straight, the draw clear, and the white ash holds well off the foot. Smoke production is above average with each easy puff.

Given its price and age, it’s impossible to light up the rare Cohiba Edición Diamante without high expectations. While my experience with the Toro didn’t disappoint, I can’t quite say this cigar is worth double the many excellent smokes that can be had for half the price. Still, there’s some undeniable novelty and intrigue associated with smoking such an ancient specimen. All this adds up to a rating of four stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

2 Responses to “Cigar Review: Cohiba Edición Diamante Toro”

  1. Ashburn Dave Monday, November 11, 2013 at 11:43 am #

    I was fortunate enough to smoke a few of those Partagas 150s and I still stand behind my believe that the money's better spent on aged cigars instead of aged components. Still, these at least are priced within reason considering the line so I might have to spoil myself, though I can't say I've ever been all that impressed with either Cuban or Dominican Cohibas.

    • Andy Monday, November 11, 2013 at 2:04 pm #

      Thanks for raising the notion of aged cigars vs. aged components. I had never thought of this before. Makes sense.