Cohiba Maduro 5 Secretos

The US market (ie no cuban cigars allowed) has long been saturated with 'maduro' cigars - ie cigars that have only one shade of wrapper - a dark one. The cubans have never been too fussed about giving their cigars one specific colour - they would just select wrappers that were consistent with the blend and model of cigar and make sure that these were homogenous throughout every cigar box. So a box of Hoyo du Maire could be a light shade, and the next one a dark shade (so we have seen). With this cigar, first released in 2007, Habanos S.A. have responded to the demand for models exclusively dressed in maduro wrappers.

However, as a model of the luxury brand, Cohiba, not only is it a wrapper aged 5 years, but the filler leaves are also aged 2-3years and have undergone an extra fermentation (3 instead of 2 for all the other brands). So here is a rather expensive little cigar with a bit of a pedigree for you.

Taste: A well constructed cigar with a deceptive strength. Vanilla and chocolate underscore the usual Cohiba layers of flavour. Enjoy the clouds of cedar smoke, with a touch of burnt cinnamon.

20-40mn smoke.
Size: "Reyes" - Length: 11cm; Ring Gauge: 40 (110mm x 15.87mm)
Strength: Full-bodied (or heavy-medium).
Drink match: Something with a bit of body to it
From a box dated Jan 2008.

Brand:
The word "Cohiba" is derived from the Taino (caribbean "indian" people) word for tobacco. A new brand which was introduced only in 1968, Cohiba quickly became the flagship brand of the Cuban cigar industry. Developed initially as a medium bodied protocol cigar for presentation only by officials of the Cuban government, Cohiba was marketed widely beginning in 1982 as The luxury brand. The third fermentation of the filler leaves makes for a unique flavour and the mystique associated is used to command a higher price.