Cohiba Red Dot | Cigar Review

By The Katman on January 23, 2014 • ( 1 )

Wrapper: African Cameroon
Binder: Indonesian Jember
Filler: Dominican Piloto Cubano
Size: 5 x 49 “Robusto”
Body: Medium
Price: $8.00

Diaz y Cia developed the Dominican Cohiba cigar in 1978. The cigar went through blending changes during the 1990’s.
The Cohiba web site, like most major cigar brands, is totally devoid of info on this blend. In fact, the Cohiba site automatically sends you to Cigar World Magazine’s web site for any small bits of info on the Cohiba cigars. Virtually, nothing exists on Cohiba’s site. That’s really odd.

Cigar Aficionado gave the Cohiba Red Dot 91 rating. This is what they had to say:
“Well made with a good draw, Cohiba has a solid core of distinctly nutty flavors that have an underlying creaminess. French peanut notes and a touch of caramel on the finish make this a very tasty medium-bodied smoke.”

Do you remember what French burnt peanuts tasted like from your childhood? I didn’t. I had to look it up. Once I saw the pictures, it all came back. They were first cousin to Boston Bean candy but made up of all these good ingredients: “Sugar, peanuts, corn syrup, tapioca dextrin, natural & artificial flavor, artificial colors (red 3, red 40, yellow 6, blue 2), salt, confectioners glaze.”

Now, how in hell can some staid reviewer at CA remember what French peanuts tasted like? Someone put him up to that.

The original Cohiba was blended by Eduardo Rivera for Fidel Castro. These cigars became the ultimate cigar choice for the 1% of the world.

Construction is rustic. Open seams, plenty of wild looking veins, and a sloppy cap. The wrapper is a medium dark brown. There is some sheen to it but not a lot. And it feels a bit sandy.

I clip the cap and find aromas of spice, cream, light cocoa, cedar, cinnamon, and barnyard.
Time to light up.

First puffs are sweet. Draw is on the money. And spice looms large…quickly building. Mostly black pepper but being drawn into red pepper territory. Soon after the attack of the Spice People, comes thick, luscious caramel.

The strength is classic medium from the start but seems to want to hit medium/full. I’m sure the PR machine that said this is a medium bodied cigar meant after you leave it in your humidor for 3 years.

At the 1” mark, a natural tobacco flavor pops up that gives this blend some girth. Like me. The char line is close to dead nuts. I whisper this on my laptop so as not to jinx it. Haven’t had perfect char lines in ages. I know there are a few of you out there who are proud to say, “I always get a perfect char line.” Boar shit!

Near the end of the first third, a bit of creaminess appears. Still waiting on those burnt peanuts. Of course, the problem is that I haven’t tasted them in over 50 years. Stick a few years smoking weed, and voila! A total waste land of a memory.

Speaking of a wasteland of a memory, I want to thank Garland at Atlantic Cigars for the smokes. A good day to you, sir.

Except on price controlled items, Atlantic usually beats the pants off of the other cigar sites. I keep telling you this; pop for the $60 a year VIP Club membership. It will shock the shit out of you how much you save. No not 10%, No not 20%. But that’s as far as I can go or Garland will stop being so nice to me. I will let it rest by saying they are major savings.

The second third begins and here are the flavors: Sweetness, caramel, creaminess, nuts (not burnt), Oooh…ooooh…wait. The nut flavor that just showed up is very strong. Add to that the creaminess and caramel and whaddya got? Burnt peanuts. Yeah, I know it’s a stretch.

The cigar is ultra smooth. The balance is perfect. It now has a very long and chewy finish. The cap ain’t so hot as it doesn’t seem to handle Jew slobber very well and I have to clip it once more so you don’t puke into your cereal while reading this.

The strength is a clip above medium body. It seems to have settled down.

The leaf stats are unusual and from my research, it appears that it took a long time to get the formula right. How long? I don’t know. I didn’t feel like spending 8 hours researching this stick. The A List reviewers make a call and it’s done. Me? I’m verklempt.

This is a superb tasting cigar and deserves flavor bomb status even though the list of flavors is small. But very potent and rich. That is the key word about this cigar…it is rich like the fanciest French pastry you’ve shoved in your open maw.

This stick is worth every cent of the $8.00. This first cigar of the day for me has put some sunshine in my eyes. They glitter. See? (Skype me)

Seriously, I now get the inference that CA made about the French peanuts. This is a real candy bar of a blend. I’m sure the small size has a lot to do with it this time. I’d like to get something larger. Because if a larger stick tastes like this, I want more time with it. So far, it’s been a 35 minute smoke.

The last third begins. The char line is dead nuts perfect.

The cigar doesn’t reach a deep level of complexity. But that extra-long finish makes this cigar a real winner. With 2” to go, there isn’t a hint of harshness or heat. It remains very smooth. And the strength will remain medium to the end. And not a hint of nicotine.

Wally, my boy, pony up to the bar and get you some of these. Just don’t play golf one day and you can buy a box.
The cigar band comes off without a struggle. Manufacturers need to be more cognizant of too much glue from their rollers trying to meet quota. Lately, I’ve had to cut off too many bands ruining the wrapper beneath.

But then, I’m sure the Cohiba folks don’t use #3 Torecedores.

The rest of the cigar is on cruise control. Pumping out delicious flavors. I don’t want this to end.

As I finish writing this review, the sun comes out. Gul durn it.

I highly recommend this cigar with the one criticism about the cap. I expected better construction. It came apart way too soon in the process. A cigar with this pedigree should have been 100% without a single criticism or problem.

Note: The char line goes in and out of being perfectly symmetrical. But my photos don’t always show it. I wanted to add this so you didn’t think I was out of my mind.