Cigars.ie

Cohiba 1966 2011 Edicion Limitada

I am going to take a break from the review series of the 2012 to smoke a cigar I have been waiting for since last February; the Cohiba 1966 2011 Edicion Limitada. In 1966 the cigars that had become Fidel’s favourites and were only given as diplomatic gifts to heads of states were given a name; Cohiba. Cohiba were not introduced in the market until 1984 and it did not take long for the brand to establish its status as the most premium brand in Habano’s portfolio. 45 years later, Habanos SA launched a cigar to commemorate the 45th anniversary from the birth of the brand, naming it “1966″ and making it part of the Limited Edition series. It’s size is unique, called Canonazo Especial, measuring 6.5″ in length by 52 ring gauge, with the characteristic pigtail we are used to since the Behikes came into our lives.

I first saw the 1966 last February during the Habanos Festival in Cuba. Launched along with the other to limited editions, the 1966 was definitely the most impressive. I became green with envy when I found out that they were handed out in the H.Upmann night, an event I missed; the idea of smoking the H.Upmann Half(arsed) Corona sounded to me as exciting as stomach ulcers! The reviews were mixed. Most of the people I spoke to said that this was the best cigar ever, while the opinions of those that I would trust more were that this cigar was way too young and way too acidic. And the ones that I inspected looked as if they were rolled not more than a week before.

Nine months later, the 1966 made it to our side of the world. It is expensive, retailing around the same price as the BHK 56, but hey, which Cohiba isn’t? The initial demand hasn’t matched that of the BHK a year and a half ago, a sign that smokers wont run around in circles every time a new and exclusive Cohiba is released! But enough with the ranting about the price, lets get down to business and see what this cigar is like…

The 1966 an impressive wrapper; dark and smooth, with no imperfections at all and so oily that it will make your fingertips shine! The pigtail that finishes off the cap of the cigar is looks impressive. It is well bunched and the wrapper is full of sweet aromas, with barnyard, grass and earthy scents emerging from the foot. The prelight draw is perfect.

The cigar lights up easily and quickly fills the room with smoke. It is complex from the start, with hay, earth and chocolate being the more dominant flavours. The body is milder than I would expect, I would say medium, and the finish is long and lingering with an aftertaste of white pepper. As I smoke into the first third, more flavours appear. Wood, earth, salt, chocolate, espresso, some white pepper and ammonia… Yes, the nemesis of young cigars couldn’t be absent from this Cohiba. Although all the leaves were aged for two years before being rolled, the cigar seems it has a long way to go to reach its maturity. The ash is good, thick and grey in colour, with a solid texture and reaches more than an inch in length. The coal is flat, but highly effective with the cigar burning really well.

I am smoking in the second third and the flavours get stronger. Tobacco, wood and earth are now more prominent, followed by a sweet mocha flavour, with a slight bitterness and more ammonia tingling the throat. I am surprised because this cigar does not taste like what I would have expected. The creaminess of the classic line is absent; however, I cannot say I am not enjoying it! The flavours are balanced and deep, but with some edge. The complexity of the 1966 is great, making me smoking it too fast!

In the last third the body turns to medium to full and the flavours remain the same as in the second third, but stronger. Wood, earth and hay, with grass and dark chocolate coming and going, and white pepper getting stronger. The finish is dry and salty, with the levels of ammonia are now higher. The 1966 still burns and draws remarkably well all the way to the finish, where the cigar tastes a bit too bitter to be described as dark chocolate.

Without a doubt the Cohiba 1966 WILL be a remarkable cigar. For the moment, it is way too young. It looks great and the flavours are deep and complex. But they still have an edge, that can only be taken away with time. They need some serious aging in order to reveal their full potential. They are pricey, too pricey for a young Edicion Limitada, but I am not going to start over again… If you are in the market for some, you should give one of them a try, but put the rest of them to sleep. Five years should be enough, with ten being optimal. The good things come to those who wait…

Score

As you may have noticed, the format of this review is different to the format I have been using recently and will be the format I will be using going forward. I have found that the scoring a cigar in the 100 point scale can be very inconsistent from time to time, so I have reverted to the old, trusty 1 to 5 star. In order to keep the 2012 deletion reviews consistent, I will use the 51 - 100 point rating for the remaining reviews and use this format after they are finished.
The relevance between the two scoring systems?
0 stars: 0 - 50 points
1 star: 51 - 60 points
2 stars: 61 - 70 points
3 stars: 71 - 80 points
4 stars: 81 - 90 points
5 stars: 91 - 100 points