15 out of 15 people found this review helpful.
Is it just hype???
Date of Review: Dec 24, 2005
The Bottom Line: Must try. Next on my list is its bigger cuban cousin - Cohiba Esplendidos
Absolutely not.
I am fairly new to smoking cigars, but I have smoked cigarettes for 6 years and cigars on and off (because cigar smoking was nothing too special for me). I do, because of that, have a very good sense for the smoke taste and effect.
About a year ago, I was in Chicago for a trip and the hotel only had 2 cigars. The cohibas and something else (I can t remember). Anyways I bought the cohiba for $22, went to the patio with a cup of coffee (very warm weather) and that was it. Amazing is the word to describe the experience. From the nice thick smoke, to the soft and easy draw. Wow it seems like yesterday. I am now addicted to cigars. Needless to say I bought a box (and a humidor right away) in order to avoid the high cost per stick.
This cohiba is made at Dominican Republic (DR) and it cost around $20-$23 a single stick or about $7-$12 per stick in a box of 25 (I can recommend a good web site for $7 per stick: www.payless-cigars.com).
Now a lot of people say that this is all hype and buyers get carried away because of the world know brand, but in my opinion, this is the best cigar I have had to date (only once I have had a bad one, but it was so bad I had to throw it away). I have tasted a Cuban (or at least that is what my friend claimed), and plenty of other cigars that cigar store owners recommended ($8-$20 range) and I have not found anything remotely close to that. It is like the cigar is on a league of its own with a major gap behind it. Now, I ask people that recommend cigars to me if they have tried the red dot cohiba, and if they say no, I don t listen to their opinion. In my opinion if you have not tried a red dot cohiba, you have not experienced what a really good cigar should taste/feel like (but then again maybe I am wrong). Dont get me wrong, there are many more good cigars out there but since this is the best I have had, this is my standard. If you have tried the cohiba and know of something better, please let me know because I am desperately looking for something in that price range or lower.
I dont want to start talking about the flavor and the leather taste and earthly nut flavors that all the other reviewers talk about because it makes me laugh (how funny). A good cigar is a good cigar. There are heavy cigars and light cigars with a tight or soft draw. That is it. Every cigar of course tastes a little bit different and affects people a little different.
I always bring these to friends and everyone loves it. I know for a fact I have gotten few people addicted to cigars because of this (is that good or bad???).
The only other good cigar i have had is the Punch Monarchas (not the cuban) which comes on a aluminum tube. It is a really good cigar as well but very very light (for me at least). Probably an excellent choice for a girl or a beginner.
If you dont mind spending the $$, this is a must try.
