Cohiba Sublime EL

{by anonymous}

Shape: Toro
Wrapper: Cuban Maduro
Binder: Cuban
Filler: Cuban
Suggested Retail: $22-25.00
Availability: Authorized Habanos S.A. Retailers

This evening I decided to open a box of December 2003 Cohiba Sublimes I had purchased a month or two after these cigars were released from Habanos S.A. as one of the Edicion Limitados for the Year 2004. Knowing the very real possibility of these rare cigars being in their “sick” period, I realized I was taking a chance at disappointment. I was hardly disappointed!

Opening the box I was overwhelmed with the aroma of a chocolaty, manure-like aroma, not uncommon to a number of the better Edicion Limitada I have sampled since their original release for the millennium. At about six and a half inches long with over a fifty ring gauge, the Cohiba Sublime is a giant cigar in comparison to the regular production line of this world-recognized blend. The wrappers are a dark, Colorado maduro shade with a rich aroma and heavy tobacco flavored prelight draw.

Although the first light produced a hint of bitterness, the flavor rapidly shifted to a spicy, cocoa-like seasoning, demonstrating the strong presence of the aged maduro wrapper. This expertly-rolled cigar offered a wide-open draw of smoke, producing thick, billowy clouds of intense tobacco flavors, with a smooth cocoa finish. Subtle complexities began to appear at about the half-way point of this oversized cigar.

CAt just over a year old, this cigar showed an excellent balance of flavors with incredible potential for a truly outstanding cigar after several more years of age. Through the ever present maduro flavors, the full blend of this cigar really began to shine during the final third of the smoke. Being a regular Cohiba smoker, I found this cigar an incredibly pleasant change of pace from the normal, smooth buttery flavors of the Esplendido and the Siglo line of Cohiba.

I enjoyed the varying taste of spicy cocoa and hints of coffee flavors as the flavors grew toward the end of the cigar without an overpowering strength of nicotine. The burn continued evenly until my fingers began to heat up and my mustache singed. The finish was outstanding and left my palette totally satisfied.

I plan to rest the remainder of these fine cigars for another year or two before sampling another. I have no doubt these will develop into one of the finest cigars Habanos S.A. has produced during the past ten years.