Well here is my Cohiba Piramide LE 2006 review, with apologies to Viper.
The weather was 14 C (55 F) and sunny with no wind, so I went for a walk in the stream valley beside my house to try the new Cohiba.
I took along 3 small flasks of spirits to see which on matched the cigar, Macallan Cask Strength, Cuban Barrel Select, and Hennessy Cognac. Oh yea, and I took my my wife along to get her opinion at each stage of the cigar testing.
I selected the one cigar from the batch of 10 that was noticeably fatter by 2 or 3 gauges. I decided to pick on the fat guy. Whenever I cut a cigar, I take a few pulls on the unlit stogie to taste the flavor. Right off the bat it was sweet and left a nice taste in mouth, and the pull was perfect, not too lose and certainly not tight. This is a good start. The CP LE 2006 is a dark cigar with minimal veins, not to oily, and supple to the soft squeeze.
I lit the cigar with a small torch and took a few pulls, and found it spicy and robust, Not a mellow cigar, and I was a bit worried that the spiciness would become over powering and leave a bad taste in mouth. The draw was perfect and the spicy start settled down quickly to a nice full dense flavor with a mild sweetness. I handed the cigar to wife without saying a word, and her initial report was exactly what I experienced. The burn was even and the the ash held on for the first 1.5 inches before dropping off, and smoke blowing out of my mouth was dense and white. I do not know about you, but I like to watch the thick white smoke hang in the air for a moment before it dissipates, and this smoke did not disappoint.
The spirit paring was interesting. I started with the Cuban rum thinking this would be a good match. Nope. Took a few more puffs and tried the Macallan Cask Strength. Close but no cigar. Finally after a few more pulls, I tried the Hennessy, and bang on, I found the match. Again my wife agreed with the cognac sweeter flavor matched the Cohiba perfectly. She is a rum drinker so this was a bit of a surprise.
At the half way point the Cohiba changed. The flavor mellowed out completely, but remained dense and opulent. It was like smoking a completely different cigar. Once again, without saying a word, I handed the cigar to my wife, and she commented how all the spiciness was gone and the cigar was opulent and mellow. The smell was unlike any cigar I had smoked in the past, with hints of leather, not musty, but rich and full. The ash held on each time to 1.5 inches before dropping off and the burn was consistently even.
I tend to agree with James Suckling’s review that the CP LE displays a balance and richness, and that it is a powerful smoke. I did not get the earthy or nutty undertone flavor though. Maybe this is the spicy flavor I experienced? This is definitely a rich and opulent smoke, and some may consider it a bit over powering. This is not a cigar for people who prefer mellow creamy smokes with a light flavor.
Towards the end, the Cohiba gained back some of the spice, but the robust flavor remained, right up until I burned my finger tips on the last half inch nub. This is great cigar out of the box and will only get better with 2 years in one of my 3 humidors.
My rating: 92 to 93 (might be higher with a year or two in the humidor) Predominant Flavor and taste: Full flavor and balanced powerhouse smoke (definitely not a mellow smoke) Would I buy it again: Probably, as my wife is going back to Cuba in February for week Advice: Like a few people recommended, leave for 1 to 2 years and enjoy. But try one now if you want to spoil yourself Overall:Highly recommended Spirit paring: XO or Fine Cognac Similar cigars: Siglo 6, Salomones, Previous LE’s I have smoked with rating in (): Hoyo Piramide 2003 LE (95), Monti C (93) and D (85), and Partagas Series D No 4 (2000) (89)
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Steve Cohen,
"Bud spelers of the word unight, and remumber: cabron is most abundent elemant in hte youknwverse"
Recently smoked two of these. Both at a constant 72 degrees temp and 70 degrees humidity, which is what I maintain in my home. Found them to be a better than average smoke, but not greatly so. Many others better IMHO.
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming--Wow--What a ride!!"
Posts: 574 | Location: St. Louis, Mo area | Registered: November 17, 2006
Sort of curious Smoker99, what you consider out standing cigars, that are below or at the same price point, and are still available on the market?
Almost wish CA would have a on-line survey which would allow CA members to rate all currently available cigars, and see what makes the top 10. This would be the ultimate un-biased review.
Regards,
Steve
"Bud spelers of the word unight, and remumber: cabron is most abundent elemant in hte youknwverse"
I have never tried a Sublime, but have heard that they are fantastic. Sorry cannot give you advice here. General rule would be to leave the Cohiba EL Piramide for a year or 2 in your humidor.
Maybe one of the guys on the board here can help you out, if they could only pull themselves away from the "Top 25 Joke" or "Suckling" thread.
There is a very strange rumor going around on the internet that the CA forum actually contains relevant threads on cigars. Let's see if this is true.
Regards,
Steve
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Steve Cohen,
"Bud spelers of the word unight, and remumber: cabron is most abundent elemant in hte youknwverse"
Steve, thanks for your response. I tried the Sublime for the first time a few weeks ago and found it smoked like a dream. It had terrific cocoa bean and coffee flavors. I smoked it completely to the nub.
The Oncoming Storm
Posts: 314 | Location: Ohio | Registered: February 14, 2007
I'll have to be on the watch for that one. I just received a box of the Monte. Petit Edmundos and thought about trying one now and putting the rest away for later.
The Oncoming Storm
Posts: 314 | Location: Ohio | Registered: February 14, 2007
Originally posted by chrisguinther: I'll have to be on the watch for that one. I just received a box of the Monte. Petit Edmundos and thought about trying one now and putting the rest away for later.
Hi Chris,
That's what I would do to get a frame of reference from the Petit Edmundos cigars. Sometimes just looking, smelling and feeling a cigar from a fresh box gives you a good indication if they are smokable.
My wife just came back from Cuba with a hand full of Edmundos, Monti #4's, R Y J tubo Churchill's, and Cohiba Robustos for me. Also waiting for a 1/2 box of Por Larrañaga Petit Coronas to arrive. Ordered these after James said they were like Gummi Bears.
Too many cigars and so little time. Also, Southern Ontario is in the grip of -20 Celsius weather, and this puts a damper on my winter smoking.
Regards,
Steve
"Bud spelers of the word unight, and remumber: cabron is most abundent elemant in hte youknwverse"
The Sublime is getting rave reviews, and is also sold out everywhere. If it becomes available again I may try to pick up a 10 box.
I'm 95% sure the Sublime only came in 25 boxes. Nothing to stop you from picking up 10 sticks, and someone can feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but I'd be wary of 10-boxes.
That being said, LCDH Toronto has them, if you're looking for a B&M source. Online, I'm not sure.
Posts: 301 | Location: Toronto | Registered: February 02, 2007
A few of the HK and Swiss on-line shops offer to break a box and sell the Sublimes in bundles of 5 and 10. Never had a problem with a previous purchase.
I buy half my supply this way, the other half comes direct from Cuba when I vacation there once a year.
LCDH Toronto is located in Wankerville (aka Yorkville), a rather snooty part of town. But, I may venture there to make a purchase to ensure that I like the Sublime's.
Regards,
Steve
"Bud spelers of the word unight, and remumber: cabron is most abundent elemant in hte youknwverse"
Originally posted by Steve Cohen: A few of the HK and Swiss on-line shops offer to break a box and sell the Sublimes in bundles of 5 and 10. Never had a problem with a previous purchase.
Sounds good, just wanted to make sure. What's wrong with going to LCDH and seeing the snooty rich who think they're more important than they are?
Posts: 301 | Location: Toronto | Registered: February 02, 2007
