Cohiba

Not every cigar wearing a prestigious name lives up to the reputation — and this Cohiba was a perfect example of that.

To put it bluntly: this cigar was a turd.

From the beginning, the experience was frustrating. The cigar struggled to light properly, and once it finally did, the draw remained stubbornly tight the entire time. Instead of relaxing into the smoke, I found myself constantly fighting with it just to keep it going.

Things only got worse from there.

The burn was uneven almost immediately, requiring repeated corrections while the wrapper canoe’d and drifted unpredictably throughout the smoke. Construction issues can sometimes be forgiven if the flavor is exceptional, but unfortunately, this cigar failed there as well.

Simply put, it tasted awful.

The profile came across harsh, unpleasant, and completely lacking the smooth richness normally associated with the Cohiba name. Whatever subtle nuances may have existed were buried beneath bitterness and poor combustion. Rather than becoming enjoyable as it progressed, the cigar only became more aggravating.

And perhaps the most disappointing part of all?

It cost $8.

At that price point, I expect far better construction, far better flavor, and frankly, a cigar I actually want to finish. Instead, this felt like a complete waste of time and money.

Needless to say, I was not happy.