Cohiba Maduro 5 Secretos 2009
Date Reviewed: March 5th, 2011
Cigar Date: November 2009 (SMG NOV 09)
Just to set the scene… imagine a blue sky with minimal thin wispy clouds, and the sun is starting to head down. There are twelve hot air balloons floating overhead. Add a hammock, and a cigar. How could this cigar possibly be bad under these circumstances?
The dark wrapper of the Maduro 5 Secretos isn’t overly clean, but it is nice to see such a unique wrapper coming out of Cuba. Pre-light, a quick draw generates a thick chocolate flavor, like a solid block of dark chocolate. The draw is great, and once lit, quickly generates enough smoke to billow dense clouds the size of a softball.
Immediately the Secretos starts highlighting a complex buffet of notes – cocoa, of course, as well as hints of cinnamon and almond buried underneath. Early on there is a bit of oak or cedar as well.
The ancillary flavors that add to the complexity seem to dissipate and fade away, and the cigar settles into a core flavor profile of cocoa, espresso, creme, and almonds. In some regards it reminds me of a heavy rosado wrapper with cocoa and espresso mixed in.
There is a “tingle” on the lips… can’t think of a better word to describe it. It is distinct from the “twang” people usually mention, and reminds me just slightly of getting stuck by a couple of cholla balls.
The construction proved to be great. The draw started off nicely, and the burn continued down a very even path. In this regard, and due to the size, it reminded me of a Reyes. And on the topic of Reyes, which is a highly regarded cigar, I’d pick the Maduro 5 first.
Final Thoughts: While cigar enthusiasts tend to just “like” the Maduro 5 line, finding them “ok” to “good” but not “great”, I don’t think it gets the appreciation it deserves. The core flavor profile is underpinned by cocoa, and includes a nice combination of espresso, creme, and almond. The flavors are well married, which is nice for a cigar from late 2009. I know the maduro wrapper is purportedly aged five years, but it seems like these have started to mature.
Aging Thoughts: As I mentioned, these already have some age on them, at least in the wrapper. Still, it seems that they haven’t really been ready ROTT. However, this 2009 stick was quite enjoyable. Sure, a little bit more time will help them, but I think by and large they’re ready to smoke.
Being a fan of longer, length and time, sticks, I’ve tended to overlook these.
Now, I think I need to give them a second look.
Out of curiosity, how long did this stick last?
Thanks for the insight into the Cohiba Maduro line.
I’m with you on size… I generally don’t go smaller than a robusto, corona gorda, etc., and generally prefer the longer lengths.
I was gifted one of these and the flavors were great, so when the opportunity arose to get a few more, I did. They work well for a short smoke, and they aren’t particularly strong so they make a great lunch or social dinner cigar. I usually take around 45 minutes to get through a PC, although conditions vary so I’d add a 10-15 minute standard deviation on that.
Drop me a line at orangedog.hp at gmail.com with your address and I’ll send a couple out to you to try.
EMS