Traditional Cuban blends are all about the battle between Corojo and Criollo, but in the Dominican version of Cohiba cigars from General Cigar Co., things are done a little differently. The Cohiba Black is clearly cut from a different stalk.
Actually, scratch that. This is Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro, so leaf isn’t cut from stalk until way later than normal.
For those who don’t know, Maduro leaf is often stalk-cured. Instead of pulling tobacco leaves from the stalk in the field, the whole plant is chopped down so leaves can continue to develop and pull nutrients out of the stalk while they cure. Only after this curing and dehydrating process is complete are leaves separated from the stalk to begin the fermentation process that will take them from light brown to the rich, dark color that we all know and love.
And boy, is this one super dark and oily. This is a real Maduro fan’s Maduro, right here.
The binder also receives some special treatment in true Dominican Cohiba fashion. It’s a Sun Grown Dominican Piloto that’s aged in tercio, which are burlap bales lined with palm bark. It’s Cohiba’s signature fermentation setup. This binder is rolled around a Mexican and Dominican filler blend that rounds things out and brings a ton of flavor to the cigar. The smoke from the Cohiba Black is ultimately medium to full-bodied, a touch spicy, and carries a distinct sweet raisin note.
For those who are ready for a departure from traditional Cuban-style blends, this stogie is ready to rock.
