Smooth Review: Cohiba Siglo II

[Smooth]

I don't normally review cigars, I prefer to just sit back and be transported to a place in habanos heaven either at work or with a good spirit to drink and an empty mind once at home...

However, a few weeks ago I smoked a cigar I never normally reach for the Cohiba Siglo II and I typed a few thoughts into my phone to sms to a leaf loving friend in Melbourne;

Construction was brilliant, minimal veins, perfect medium brown wrapper and an ever so gental pull required on the draw.

With excitment I massaged the foot with the torch and was off and running.

The beginning of this smoke was akin to waking on Christmas morning as a 10 year old and discovering someone had pissed over all the gifts under the tree... A huge, surprising and disgusting let down.

I grabbed this smoke to experience sensually smooth Cohiba taste and aroma in a format I adore... Instead, I was greeted with nothing. Papery aroma and a very 'cheap' and uninspiring taste. To be honest I thought someone had switched the band on me!

Just after halfway through its bland balsa wood with hint of chocolate flavours I did a fart that can only be described as the closest I have come to shitting my pants for many a year.

I took this as a sign from god and threw the worst cigar I have smoked in months square into the back of the garden. Hopefully the annoying dog from next door finds it and eats it, it is all the Siglo II deserved.

Seriously, I love a good Siglo III and Siglo I, but this II was woeful. It’s a shame because I love the PC size and thoroughly enjoy the Cohiba flavours so thought it would be worth re-visiting.

While it was a disaster of a moment in time, it did remind me how bloody fantastic the recent offerings from Cohiba and other Cuban marcas have been recently. This smoke was such a massive disappointment, and a very very rare 'dud' cohiba. Hell, even Ferrari have a car sent back to the factory now and then! It happens...

I will write a review of a cigar I enjoyed in the coming weeks.

Smooth.

Disclaimer: Before the Cohiba Army declares war on me; I have never had a bad Siglo II before this one. They are usually a dream to smoke. I was just unlucky.

[shrink]

Just after halfway through its bland balsa wood with hint of chocolate flavours I did a fart that can only be described as the closest I have come to shitting my pants for many a year.

This pretty much sums it up...

[COJ]

» I don't normally review cigars, I prefer to just sit back and be

» transported to a place in habanos heaven either at work or with a good

» spirit to drink and an empty mind once at home...

»

» However, a few weeks ago I smoked a cigar I never normally reach for the

» Cohiba Siglo II and I typed a few thoughts into my phone to sms to a leaf

» loving friend in Melbourne;

»

» Construction was brilliant, minimal veins, perfect medium brown wrapper

» and an ever so gental pull required on the draw.

»

» With excitment I massaged the foot with the torch and was off and

» running.

»

» The beginning of this smoke was akin to waking on Christmas morning as a

» 10 year old and discovering someone had pissed over all the gifts under

» the tree... A huge, surprising and disgusting let down.

»

» I grabbed this smoke to experience sensually smooth Cohiba taste and aroma

» in a format I adore... Instead, I was greeted with nothing. Papery aroma

» and a very 'cheap' and uninspiring taste. To be honest I thought someone

» had switched the band on me!

»

» Just after halfway through its bland balsa wood with hint of chocolate

» flavours I did a fart that can only be described as the closest I have

» come to shitting my pants for many a year.

»

» I took this as a sign from god and threw the worst cigar I have smoked in

» months square into the back of the garden. Hopefully the annoying dog from

» next door finds it and eats it, it is all the Siglo II deserved.

»

» Seriously, I love a good Siglo III and Siglo I, but this II was woeful.

» It’s a shame because I love the PC size and thoroughly enjoy the Cohiba

» flavours so thought it would be worth re-visiting.

»

» While it was a disaster of a moment in time, it did remind me how bloody

» fantastic the recent offerings from Cohiba and other Cuban marcas have

» been recently. This smoke was such a massive disappointment, and a very

» very rare 'dud' cohiba. Hell, even Ferrari have a car sent back to the

» factory now and then! It happens...

»

» I will write a review of a cigar I enjoyed in the coming weeks.

»

» Smooth.

»

» Disclaimer: Before the Cohiba Army declares war on me; I have never had a

» bad Siglo II before this one. They are usually a dream to smoke. I was

» just unlucky.

Ouch...this sounds aweful...I have smoked many Cohibas too young and over humified....back in the days when I was new to cigars and didnt understood better...but I've never smoked a Cohiba in any size that even came close to what you describe...I'd suggest you try another...this must have been a dude...made the day after 1st of May :-D

[havanaclub7]

Smooth,

Don't give up on the brand or the vitola. I got a pack of Siglo II tubes as a gift (I normally don't smoke smaller cigars). The very first cigar that I fired up was the heaven that you previously described. I literally smoked it until I burned my fingers. The other two cigars in the three pack were good, but not as great as the first. There is still a little inconsistency out there, even though I think quality has overall never been better.

[smokum]

I have had consistency problems with almost every Siglo in the humi..some are over the top good...some are just ****...

[Mel]

» I have had consistency problems with almost every Siglo in the humi..some

» are over the top good...some are just ****...

I like the Siglo line and love the PC format but I do not smoke many Sig II. They are priced a little high and I like the Por Larranaga better. I would rather smoke the I, III V and VI and leave the PC and Corona Gorda to some other marcas.

All that said I have never had a Cohiba that was pitch worthy, dull, boring, bland, tight and all yes but an absolute cull, no.

[El Presidente]

I can relate Smooth. I have had the occasional Siglo II just as you described and I have pitched the green arsed son of a *****. It is an atypical experience but you do get it.

Cohiba can struggle from over production like most other popular Habanos. Only 33% of Cohiba's are made in El Laguito. I have no problem with Cohiba's from Upmann, Partagas, La Corona or El Habanero but I wonder about some of the other factories and stories I have heard from Habanos insiders just reinforces these fears.

[smokum]

Lurgy Man..if I request El Laguito...can you decipher ?

[El Presidente]

» Lurgy Man..if I request El Laguito...can you decipher ?

» Lurgy Man..if I request El Laguito...can you decipher ?

Here is what I would do.

I would get every box of Lancero and open them up. I would then check wrapper and construction. I would then take 5 Lancero's of the "approved boxes" and lift the 5 cigar "bunch" up to my probiscus and take a deep whiff. I will select the box that "rings my bells". Then I would look at the box code after having selected that box.

When it comes to Lanceros it is the only way to do it because an "El Laguito" codes (of which I am not permitted to disclose) is no guarantee of a superb Lancero. The top three factories right now in Havana are Upmann/El Habanero/El Laguito.

[smokum]

Hmmmmm...only the nose knows !!:-D