Posted: 6/5/2013 5:15:34 PM EDT
No not the people, the cigar....
On my recent trip to the Virgin Gorda I stumbled across Cuban Cohiba Siglo Ii at the resort I was staying at. They actually had them in a nice display humidor with 70% humidity so the condition of the sticks looked great so I splurged on one. Now, granted its been a while since I've had a Cuban Cohiba so my taste buds were a bit dim on the last one I had had years ago. Overall I give it a solid 88 but I was a bit disappointed. Construction, draw and burn were near perfect and all the marking proved it was authentic. The flavor was medium but somewhat subtle, the strength never came. Flavor wise it was very 'toasty' with a hint of pepper on the back-end but it was not a flavor-bomb by any means. I paid $30 USD for it so I wasn't terribly ripped off but honestly I would have rather had a Padron or Camacho any day for about half the price. Many of you likely know this but 'the Cuban Cigar' of lore is no longer, if import restrictions are lifted here in the states, Cuban manufactures are going to face a up-hill battle in the long-run. Sure, sure there will be a rush of US. Cigar smokers ordering and paying premiums for 'the forbidden fruit' but IMO you're better off spending your money on better Dominican and Nicaraguan smokes. So I give it 3.85 of of 5.00 |
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Scofflaw. You violated federal law.  Meh, I'm already on 'the list.' Funny, while sitting at an outdoor bar enjoying my Cuban, a bartender and several customers got into a conversation about how silly the whole 'law' was. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile Agreed. |
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You can pick them up for $8 or less a piece if you buy a box. However you were on vacation, out of the country, at what I hope was a trusted source, so I am not surprised by the cost. As to the strength most cubans are not power houses, and the siglo line is especially lighter. I wouldn't even consider the siglo ii medium bodied, I would say it is on the heavy end of mild. As for the flavors, 70% humidity is too high for most smokes and unfortunately it is (IMO) way to high for a cc. Would have been much better off in the low 60s, if you had a chance to buy it earlier in the day and let it sit out/dry box til that evening or the next day I think you would have enjoyed it more. As for the cuban cigar of lore being no longer, I would strongly disagree. Cuban cigars are no different than any other countries cigars brands. You will have hits and you will have misses. Great smokes and not great smokes. You also will have many variances from year to year. On top of that cubans typically need much more time after purchase date than many of the brands you are buying local. Many of those cigars we enjoy from our local B&M are aged before and after rolling quite a bit more than most of current production ccs. There are exceptions. The 2011 early 2012 PSD4s were smoking awesome out of the box, way better than I would have expected, but for the most part, I would say 2-4 years for most ccs.
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| To and from home in South America and work in Europe (sort of) I pick up boxes of Siglo I, my absolute favorite petite corona at a price very competitive with the Illusione 68 I buy in CONUS. Can't get decent "legal" sticks quite often, but depending on which sticks where you buy, I think many of the legit export ISOM brands can compete. But I've found nothing better than some of the Padron anniversary sticks. |
| I would almost guarantee you bought a fake, but even if you didn't, a Siglo is far from a flavor bomb. They are a light to medium creamy smoke with that classic Cuban tang when the real deal. As said they should run about $8-10, but if on vacation it's not a big deal to get ripped off a little. However it seems like you enjoy a full flavor NC anyhow. I don't even mess around trying to find them on vacation any more as they (fakes ;)) can be had much cheaper at home and honestly I also prefer a nice TAT, Liga or Padron to ISOM's anyhow. I just went to Europe and enjoyed some Tat's, Liga's, etc while I was there. However when the real deal ISOM's are still fantastic sticks and offer a flavor nothing else can. |
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Quoted: Thank you for supporting a Communist Dictatorship. A Cuban -American  Oh brother, here we go. How many products in your home say made in China? How many sneakers and t-shirts made by basically slave labor in some third world hole? Do you support capitalism? Should the free market not decide through supply and demand? Do you enjoy being told by or democrtic government what you can and can't buy? Keep your high horse in your stable.
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We will buy from the enemy the rope that they will hang us with  Meh, more for me. I keep most of my sticks at around 63%. And my "fakes" at around 57%. I haven't paid more than $10 for a Siglo II. And I find them rather tasty. That being said, smoke what you like, like what you smoke.
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