How does a regular release cigar compare to a Reserva series? Today, we’ll try to answer this question by reviewing the Cohiba Robusto Reserva Cosecha 2014 and comparing it to the regular release Cohiba Robusto.
But first, let’s set the scene. It’s about 11 in the morning, and we’re past the first half of September. I’m with a friend in Monaco (see why). The Hotel Metropol has a nice little terrace where we can smoke a cigar—and we won’t say no to that!
We’re both smoking a 5-year old Cohiba Robusto Reserva Cosecha 2014, paired with a double espresso and sparkling water (thanks to smoke.ch for the cigars).
A few words about Reserva series cigars: they’re made with the highest quality tobacco leaves, aged for a minimum of three years, all from the same harvest. This is supposed to enhance the flavor profile, giving them a more refined taste compared to regular releases.
The Cohiba Robusto Reserva Cosecha 2014 is a 50 × 124mm (4⅞″) robusto vitola made from tobacco harvested in 2014. It comes in a numbered black lacquered boîte nature box of 20 cigars, of which only 5,000 were produced.
I make a punch cut in my cigar, while my friend prefers a deep straight cut. My draw is loose, his is tight, but we’re both satisfied.
Cold draw
On the cold draw, I get leather and hay, with hints of spice.
First Third
We light up our cigars. My first impressions: spicy, peppery, and slightly acidic, with a very earthy taste.
The tobacco tastes like it’s of higher quality, and it feels smoother than a regular robusto. I pace myself to avoid overheating the cigar.
Compared to its regular counterpart, I feel it’s richer and the flavours are more complex. My friend says it’s lighter and more elegant.
As we keep smoking, I get a spicy, clove-like note.
Second Third
We enter the second third. The flavour intensifies, and I get some gentle numbing of the tongue. Love it!
It burns uniformly, but one thing to be careful of with this cigar is how fast you smoke it. I was enjoying it so much that I smoked it faster than I should, and it overheated.
My friend smokes slower than I do and has no overheating issues.
Final Third
The flavour is still complex, spicy, acidic, and slightly stronger. I’ve learned my lesson and smoke slower now. Retrohaling reveals the full aroma.
Towards the very end, it’s even stronger, yet still full of flavour and with no bitterness at all. I smoked it all the way to the end—I’ve never gone that far with a regular-release robusto.
Conclusion
I’ve smoked many regular release Cohiba Robustos aged 2–4 years. The Reserva series, while maintaining the core characteristics of the original, definitely takes things up a notch in terms of complexity and refinement. If you’re a fan of the regular release and can get your hands on some Reservas, I highly recommend them.
