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The ever maddening Cohiba. Picked up a quarter box of PSP/HQ last November, they've been resting since I got them in December. Small, good construction, nice smell. V cut, paired with my black coffee. Debated a CoRo or a VI, but decided to try a lil fella. I don't know if it's expectations or what, but I'm rarely wowed by Cohiba. Lit well, was a bit of a hard draw at the beginning. Then I think I found a little bit of a tunnel, so it opened up after the first third. Not a ton of taste to it, some spongecake and coffee tastes (although I was drinking coffee too), maybe a tad bit of cream. Not overpowering, not a dud, just an average cigar. When I started this, of course I knew the name and have always tried Cohibas when I was out and about at LCDH's and such, but I think that either I need to let them rest more (as in years more) or just decide that the marca is hit or miss and focus more on other cigars that I've pretty much always enjoyed. I think I'll let the rest of my Cohiba's sit at the back of the stash and pretend I don't have any for another 6 months/a year or so and see how they taste then.

Though many brothers among us cherish the Cohiba marca, particularly the Siglo line, I have not met with success in the Cohiba line except for the Esplendidos. I have tried repeatedly to find something to like about Cohibas, but to no avail. This time around I picked up a little nugget that has been resting in my humidor for about a year since I received it in trade from a good BOTL. He continues to convey that he loves them, and that one day it will strike me like lightning, but I'm still waiting for the epiphany. The Siglo I is a perla, just 102mm - 4 inches in length by 42 gauge. This one is practically flawless and looks like milk chocolate. After cutting and lighting draw is near perfect, construction couldn't be better. I pair this selection with coconut water mixed with carbonated water, a neutral drink so it won't varnish my taste of the cigar, and it is rather refreshing and natural. First warm draws produced moderate smoke, with the initial aroma being somewhat herbal, a bit grassy. Flavor was earthy and rich, while the finish was dry. Within the first inch body started to pick up to a moderate medium, and flavor was distinctly grassy with a dried oregano aftertaste. The first half was virtually unchanged, and with every draw it left my tongue feeling dry. After each drag I felt I needed to rinse my mouth with my coconut water. The second half picked up a bit of body, and the aroma gave me a sense of rich toasted tobacco and dry meadow grass. The flavor continued to resemble golden hay, not a pleasing profile to my taste buds. I could sense rich earthy tobacco in the background, but I just couldn't get over the sensation of dryness on the tongue with every draw I took. I was downing the coconut water quickly, and I topped it up with more soda water. Approaching the end I got some nuances of coffee and charred wood, but my tongue felt dry and ashy throughout. I don't know how this can be a satisfying cigar for anyone, but it does have a following - so I'm in the minority I suspect. I ended the dramatic experience early, putting about an inch and half into the ashtray and setting it at the far end of the table. I glanced at it a couple of times with grimace, wondering whether my taste buds are betraying me, or if this was simply a poor example. But immediately I recalled similar unpleasant experiences with other Cohibas, so maybe my mind is bending my taste buds, or this brand of cigars is just not for me. Sadly, I give this a 5 out of 10 on my personal scale - I don't look forward to another. My sincere thanks to Dirk for the vitola - sorry to let you down brother, but I'm calling this another Cohiba strikeout in my humidor.